How Is Liability Determined in a Car Accident Involving Multiple Vehicles?

Multi-vehicle accidents are chaotic. Sometimes, figuring out who is responsible can feel like putting together a jigsaw puzzle.

Whether a pile-up on I-80 during a whiteout or a chain-reaction crash on a rural road, establishing liability in these accidents requires an examination of the facts.

How is liability determined in a car accident involving multiple vehicles? If you have been in a car accident in the Cowboy State, here’s what you need to know about proving liability.

How Fault Is Determined in Multi-Car Crashes

To find out the at-fault parties, you and your legal team must look at all the pieces of evidence from the accident. These may include:

The Police Report

Law enforcement officers responding to the scene will document what happened. This report may include information on road conditions, witness statements, and driver citations. This will carry weight in insurance investigations.

Eyewitness Statements

Third-party eyewitnesses can often help clarify the sequence of events that unfolded. Their accounts will be needed if drivers have conflicting stories.

Video Footage

Any footage from dashcams or nearby traffic cameras can show what occurred.

Vehicle Damage and Accident Reconstruction

Where the vehicle is damaged can indicate which vehicle collided with the other first. In some cases, accident reconstruction experts can analyze skid marks, debris patterns, and vehicle positions to establish a timeline of events.

Common Liability Scenarios

Once you have all the evidence, does that give a clear picture of who is at fault? Not always. Even with police reports and witness statements, it can be hard to pinpoint the responsible person. In some cases, the type of accident can give clues about the liable driver.

For example, the driver who caused the initial impact is usually at fault in rear-end collisions. However, if other drivers were tailgating or not paying attention, they might share responsibility.

If a driver switches lanes and causes a pile-up, they may be at fault. However, the behavior of the other drivers may also be examined. If other operators were speeding or distracted, liability could be split.

Drivers should adjust their speed in bad conditions. If someone were driving too fast on the icy roads and caused a chain reaction, they could be held responsible.

In almost all cases, liability falls on drivers who ignore traffic laws.

Insurance Claims After a Multi-Vehicle Crash

Insurance companies don’t make it easy, especially when multiple vehicles are involved. Since they conduct their own investigations, they often try to shift the blame to minimize payouts. You’ll want to make sure that you’re protected during this process.

Remember to:

• Never admit fault: Even if you think you may have contributed to the crash, let the investigation determine liability.
• Always take photos: Document vehicle damage, skid marks, and weather conditions.
• Get contact info from witnesses: Their account of what happened may be vital to prove who was at fault.
• Consider hiring an attorney: If liability is disputed or injuries are involved, a personal injury lawyer can help navigate Wyoming’s modified comparative negligence laws.

How Wyoming’s Laws Impact Liability

The state follows a modified comparative negligence rule. With that, you cannot recover damages if you are assigned 50% or more at fault for an accident. However, if you are less than 50% responsible, you can still seek compensation, but your percentage of fault will reduce it.

For example, take a three-car crash near Evanston. If you were speeding but another driver rear-ended you while texting, you might be assigned 20% of the blame. If your damages total $10,000, you can only recover $8,000, which is your total minus 20%.

This rule is applied in multi-vehicle accidents, and the fault is often divided between multiple drivers.

With that in mind, you want to ensure that liability is fairly distributed among the responsible parties.

Stay Safe on Wyoming’s Roads

Multi-vehicle accidents in Wyoming are often unpredictable. Knowing how liability works can help protect you if you’re ever involved in one.  Unfortunately, these incidents can quickly escalate into legal battles, especially when several insurance companies are involved.

Having a professional on your side can make a difference.

If you’ve been in a multi-car accident, take a deep breath. Edwards Law Office, PC, is here to determine liability in your claim and make sure you’re not unfairly blamed for someone else’s mistakes.