Multiple Vehicle Accidents in Georgia: Who's at Fault?
A multi-vehicle accident is any collision involving three or more vehicles. These accidents commonly occur at intersections and in areas with dense traffic. When multiple cars collide, the force of impact is especially likely to result in severe and potentially life-changing injuries.
If you have been injured in a multi-car pile-up in Georgia, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries by filing a car accident claim. However, obtaining the money you are owed can be significantly more complicated when multiple drivers and insurance companies are involved.
The Athens car accident lawyers at R. Alan Cleveland, LLC, our team has extensive experience handling all types of complex accident cases, including cases involving multiple parties. We can help you determine fault in your multi-car accident case and demand the compensation you need. Contact us today to learn more in a free initial consultation.
Determinations of Liability in Multiple Vehicle Car Accidents
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In car accident cases, someone is liable if their actions or failure to act contributed to the accident. Suppose a person is responsible for a Georgia car accident that causes injury or property damage. In that case, accident victims can file claims against the at-fault party to demand money for their losses.
Determining who is liable in a multiple-vehicle car accident can be tricky. The more vehicles there are involved, the more complicated liability can get. When liability is unclear, or multiple drivers each have slightly different stories about what happened, investigators may rely on the following types of evidence to piece together the facts:
- Photos of the accident scene, vehicle damage, and visible injuries
- Video footage of the collision from traffic cameras, dashcams, or cell phones
- Details from police accident reports, such as driver and passenger information, citations issued for traffic violations, and toxicology test results
- Statements from third-party witnesses who saw the crash occur
However, it is important to remember that insurance companies are for-profit businesses. They are ultimately looking for ways to deny liability and blame the crash on someone else.
Who Determines Fault in a Car Accident?
Even if you think it’s evident that another driver was at fault for the accident, determining liability is ultimately not up to you. Depending on the circumstances, any one of the following parties may be involved in determining fault in a car accident:
- Insurance adjusters – When you file an insurance claim against another party after an accident, an insurance adjuster investigates the crash on behalf of the insurance company to determine who is at fault. The other party’s insurance company can refuse to pay for the claim if the insurance adjuster determines the company or the policyholder is not liable.
- Attorneys – A car accident attorney can investigate the accident on the victim’s behalf. Experienced attorneys have networks of trusted experts and know how to identify and preserve valuable evidence. When an attorney develops compelling evidence of the fault in a car accident case, they can use it as powerful leverage to negotiate favorable settlements for their clients.
- Judges or juries – If the parties involved in a car accident case cannot reach a settlement or one party decides to sue, a judge or jury will be responsible for determining fault in the resulting civil lawsuit. However, lawsuits are expensive and involve elements of uncertainty for everyone involved. As a result, most car accident cases settle before ever seeing the inside of a courtroom.
Keep in mind that even if the police investigate an accident and make an official report, they are not responsible for determining who is at fault for a crash. Law enforcement agents certainly have influential and respected opinions, but they do not determine the outcomes of insurance claims or criminal cases.
What to Do If You Are Involved in a Multiple Vehicle Car Accident
Proving liability and demanding compensation tends to be complicated in multi-car accident cases, so it’s essential to begin thinking about protecting your rights as soon as possible. You can establish a strong foundation for your accident case by:
- Seeking prompt medical attention to have your injuries diagnosed, treated, and noted in your medical records
- Following your doctor’s care plan and attending all follow-up appointments
- Gathering evidence from the scene of the accident, such as photos, driver details, and witness statements
- Documenting your accident-related financial losses by hanging on to medical bills, bank records, pay stubs, repair estimates, and other paperwork
- Monitoring what you say to others about the accident before speaking to a lawyer
- Refraining from posting or sharing on social media while your case is pending
- Contacting a knowledgeable multi-car accident lawyer for legal guidance
What If I Am Partly at Fault?
In many cases, you can still seek compensation for your losses if you are partially at fault in a multi-car accident in Georgia. This is because Georgia negligence laws are based on a doctrine known as modified comparative negligence. Under this law, accident victims can recover money as long as they are less than 50 percent at fault for the crash.
If you file a claim after an accident for which you were partially at fault, the amount of compensation you can recover may be reduced based on your percentage of fault. For example, if you suffered damages of $100,000 and you were 10 percent at fault for the accident, your damages would be reduced by $10,000.
But, if you are 50 percent or more at fault, you are barred from seeking compensation for your losses in a personal injury lawsuit. If you are partially at fault for a wreck, a lawyer can help you review the specifics of your case to determine whether you have a claim. An Athens car accident lawyer can help.
Common Contributing Factors in Multi-Vehicle Collisions
Some common factors that can contribute to multi-vehicle collisions:
- Texting while driving
- Other forms of distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Driver fatigue
- Speeding and reckless driving
- Aggressive driving and road rage
- Following too closely
- Inexperienced driving and driver error
- Improper turns or lane changes
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Defective or poorly-maintained car parts
- Poor road conditions
Contact Our Car Accident Lawyer
The Athens personal injury attorneys at R. Alan Cleveland, LLC represent accident victims who have been injured in multi-vehicle car accidents throughout Georgia. Contact us to learn more about your legal options in a free initial case review. We can put our extensive experience to use to help you pursue fair compensation.
An Athens resident Alan Cleveland grew up in Rockdale County. As a founding partner of the personal injury law firm of R. Alan Cleveland, LLC he proudly serves his community and provides skilled representation to injury victims and their families all around Georgia. Alan earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and went on to graduate, summa cum laude, from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. He is also a graduate of Gerry Spence’s renowned Trial Lawyers College (TLC) in Wyoming. In his free time, Alan frequently speaks at continuing legal education seminars. He also volunteered as a youth baseball coach and assists with Georgia’s high school moot court competition held annually. Alan serves as a Trustee of Historic Athens and is a member of the Development Authority of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County.
