If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you know how stressful and confusing it can be. Not only do you have to deal with the physical and emotional aftermath of the accident, but you also have to deal with the financial implications. From repairing your car to paying for medical bills and lost wages, the costs of an accident can quickly add up. And if you were not at fault for the accident, you may be wondering how you can get the other driver to pay for the damages. Unfortunately, determining fault in multi-vehicle car accidents is not always a clear-cut process.
In fact, it can often be quite complicated, as there are many factors that need to be considered. To help you better understand how fault is determined in multi-vehicle car accidents, our Atlanta car accident lawyers put together this handy guide. We’ll cover everything from the basics of negligence to the different types of multi-vehicle accidents and how fault is typically determined in each.
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Reasons Why Multi-Vehicle Accidents Happen
1) Obstructed Line of Sight
What is the most common reason for multi-vehicle accidents? It might surprise you, but it’s not bad driving. The most common reason for multi-vehicle crashes is actually obstructions on the roadways. Obstructions such as trash cans, parked cars, or even roadkill can cause drivers to swerve into other lanes of traffic or stop suddenly without warning other drivers that they’re there—and this can lead to multiple cars crashing into each other.
If you’ve ever driven through an intersection and seen a car coming right at you—only to slam on your brakes because someone decided not to stop at a red light or make a left turn without looking—you know how dangerous these situations can be. You also know how much damage they can do!
So what should you do if you’re involved in such an incident? First and foremost: stay calm! If possible, pull over somewhere safe so that no one else gets hurt in the process (or before someone else gets hurt). Then call 911 so that emergency responders can get there as quickly as possible.
2) Speeding
Speeding is one of the top reasons why multi-vehicle accidents occur in Atlanta. Speeding is defined as driving faster than the posted speed limit, but it can also mean driving faster than a reasonable and safe speed for the conditions of the road.
Speeding makes it more difficult for drivers to control their vehicles and reduces their ability to react quickly to sudden changes in traffic conditions. When drivers are speeding, they are less likely to be able to stop suddenly if another vehicle suddenly appears in front of them or if there is an object on the road that they have not seen before.
Drivers who are speeding also have less time to react if they notice something dangerous ahead of them on the road, such as another vehicle or person who may need help. This means that they might be unable to avoid causing an accident even if they tried hard enough because there was simply not enough time for them to do so.
Speeding is also dangerous because it increases the chances that someone could become injured during an accident if their vehicle was hit by another car while traveling at high velocities (i.e., over 50 miles per hour).
3) Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the biggest contributors to multi-vehicle car accidents in Atlanta. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 10% of all car accidents are caused by distracted drivers.
One of the most common forms of distraction is texting while driving, but there are other distractions as well. Talking on a phone or to passengers can be just as distracting as texting. Other common causes include:
- Eating and drinking
- Adjusting radio or CD player settings
- Looking at maps or directions
- Adjusting the temperature controls
- Grooming your hair or putting on makeup
4) Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence is one of the most common causes of multi-vehicle accidents in Atlanta. When you are driving after a few drinks or even just one drink, your judgment may be impaired. You may not be able to see clearly or react quickly enough to avoid an accident. You may be more prone to make mistakes—like hitting another car or running a red light.
This can cause serious injuries and property damage to other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and yourself. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a driver who was intoxicated, contact our Atlanta personal injury attorneys today for help filing your lawsuit against the responsible party!
5) Following Too Closely
Following too closely is a common cause of multi-vehicle accidents in Atlanta. It is important to understand what this means and how you can avoid it.
When you are following another car too closely, it means that you are driving within the same lane as the vehicle in front of you. This is not only dangerous for yourself; it’s dangerous for other drivers on the road as well.
The main reason why following too closely can lead to multi-vehicle accidents is that a driver may brake suddenly or change lanes without warning. If you are following too closely, then this sudden stop or lane change could cause you to rear-end the vehicle in front of you.
Another reason why following too closely can cause multi-vehicle accidents is that other drivers will think that they have enough space between themselves and the vehicle in front of them. If another driver thinks there is enough space between them and the vehicle in front of them, they may try to merge into that lane—and if there isn’t enough room, then this could result in an accident.
The best way to avoid being involved in an accident with another driver who was following too closely is by adjusting your own speed so that there is more distance between your car and theirs when approaching a turn or intersection. Be sure to leave yourself enough space between your car and the vehicle in front of you so that you can make any necessary adjustments to your speed if needed.
Determining Liability in a Multi-Vehicle Accident
If you’ve been in a multi-vehicle accident and are trying to determine fault, there are a few things you can do that will help you make an informed decision about how to proceed. The first thing to do is gather as much information about the accident as possible. If there were witnesses, get their names and contact information, and ask them for any details they can remember about the accident.
If there were any photographs taken at the scene of the accident—or if you took one yourself—that’s also helpful information. The more information you have on hand, the better able you’ll be to determine who was responsible for what happened in your accident.
Another thing you can do when trying to figure out fault in a multi-vehicle accident is talk with an attorney who specializes in car accidents. They’ll have access to experts who can help determine liability based on all of this evidence, which means they’ll be able to give you an idea of who might be responsible before they even meet with their client’s insurance company!
Injuries From Multi-Vehicle Accidents
When you’re involved in a multi-vehicle accident, there are several injuries that can occur. Here are three common injuries that you might suffer from after a multi-vehicle collision:
- Neck injury: Your neck is protected by your spine, but if it’s injured, you may experience pain or weakness in your arms and shoulders. You may also have trouble with balance and coordination. This injury can happen when the impact moves your head forward suddenly, which can cause damage to the vertebrae in your neck.
- Brain injury: If you’re involved in a multi-vehicle accident, there’s always the possibility of a brain injury—even if you don’t feel any symptoms right away! A brain injury can cause problems like dizziness, headaches, difficulty concentrating or remembering things, blurred vision, and hearing loss. These symptoms may not show up until hours or even days after the accident occurs because this type of injury is often undetectable at first glance.
- Spinal cord injury: The spinal cord controls movement throughout our entire body; therefore, a spinal cord injury can cause significant problems for anyone who suffers from one after being involved in an auto accident involving multiple vehicles at high speeds. Spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis, pain and numbness, loss of bowel and bladder control, difficulty breathing, and even death.
Contact Mabra Law Firm If You Were in a Multi-Vehicle Accident in Atlanta
If you were the victim of a multi-vehicle accident in Atlanta, it’s important to know who is liable for your injuries and damages. In many cases, this can be determined by looking at the facts of the case. However, there are also instances where it may be difficult to determine fault. If this is the case for you or someone you love, contact Mabra Law Firm today.
At Mabra Law Firm, we have years of experience helping our clients get the compensation they deserve after suffering injuries because of someone else’s negligence. We know how frustrating it can be when you are injured and feel like no one cares about your situation as much as you do. That’s why we take client satisfaction seriously—we want to help you get the justice you deserve so that you can move on with your life and get back to normal as soon as possible.
If someone else caused your accident in Atlanta, Mabra Law has a team of attorneys with many years of combined experience representing clients who have been injured by someone else’s bad driving habits or poor maintenance practices. We know how to get you the full compensation you deserve, and we will do whatever it takes to make sure that you are taken care of. If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact us today—we’re here for you.