A multi-car collision, also called a pileup accident, describes a traffic crash that involves three or more vehicles. These accidents often result in severe injuries to multiple parties. Determining who is liable, or financially responsible, for a multi-car crash can be difficult. You may need assistance from an experienced Las Vegas car accident attorney to recover a fair amount in damages from one or more parties.
Common Types of Multi-Car Collisions
Motor vehicle collisions are often caused by driver negligence, or the failure to operate a vehicle with reasonable care. Examples include breaking traffic laws, speeding, distracted driving, drowsy driving and driving while intoxicated. These dangerous actions can lead to many different types of accidents that involve three or more vehicles, such as:
- Highway accidents
- Intersection accidents
- Merge or on-ramp accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Chain reaction crashes
- Head-on collisions
- Side-impact crashes
- Truck jackknife accidents
- Vehicle rollovers
- Drunk driving accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Work or construction zone crashes
In Nevada, the fault-based car insurance law holds the driver who caused a crash liable for a victim’s damages. When a car accident involves more than two drivers, however, identifying the liable party or parties can be difficult.
How Is Liability Determined in a Multi-Car Crash?
Collecting financial compensation for a multi-car crash in Nevada begins with an investigation into who or what caused the accident. Generally, in a multi-car crash, the person who caused the initial collision will be held liable for all subsequent collisions that occur thereafter. However, some multi-vehicle accidents involve more than one liable party. In a chain reaction accident, for example, the driver at fault for the first rear-end collision will be liable for every other driver’s medical bills and property repairs, even if the first driver’s vehicle did not touch the other cars that were affected. Had the initial crash not occurred, the collisions between other vehicles involved also would not have happened – making the first driver liable for every other driver’s losses. In an intersection crash, however, more than one driver may share responsibility for a multi-vehicle collision. In this scenario, Nevada’s comparative negligence law may assign a percentage of fault to two or more drivers. Any driver found to be less than 50 percent at fault could still recover financial compensation, but the amount awarded would be reduced by a percentage that matches the driver’s degree of fault.
What to Do After a Multi-Car Collision in Las Vegas
While you are still at the scene of the accident, take photographs of all vehicles involved and exchange information with every other driver. Call 911 to report the accident. Do not admit fault for the crash in any way. Write down your police report number before you leave. Then, contact your own car insurance company to report the crash. If you get injured in a crash involving more than one other driver, it is in your best interest to contact a personal injury attorney in Las Vegas for legal advice and guidance. Your attorney can investigate the crash to determine who is at fault. Then, your lawyer can file a claim with the correct insurance provider(s) and negotiate for fair financial compensation. If another driver’s insurance company attempts to blame you for the accident, your lawyer can protect your rights with a personalized legal strategy. To discuss a multi-car crash and your legal options with an attorney at no cost, contact Koch & Brim, LLP at (702) 451-3100.