Determining fault in a car accident can be difficult even when there are only two vehicles involved. As with many situations, the more parties involved in an accident, the more difficult it can be to determine the cause and who was at fault.
Proving fault is a primary facet of determining claims and resolving disputes. Whoever is deemed at fault for the accident is legally responsible for compensating the injured party for the damages they sustained. Typically, insurance companies will jump to say their insureds were not the party at fault.
While it’s often found that there was one driver responsible for the initial crash, there are instances where the actions of others contributed to the accident, especially in a multi-car collision. As such, it will be important to make sure you have an experienced attorney to help you navigate the multiple potential directions you can take with your case.
Further,Virginia is one of just five states that follow the law of pure “contributory negligence” which essentially means if your actions at the time of the accident are able to be considered even 1% at fault, it’s possible that the entirety of your claim could be denied.
So, what should you do if you get caught in a pileup?
It’s advised that you always cooperate with investigators who are on the scene, however, try to avoid speculating and stating information that is not factual or direct to their line of questioning. Aside from instances where there is imminent danger, stay in your vehicle with your seatbelt on. After emergency workers or the police clear you to exit your vehicle, try to take photos and videos to gather information for your claim. Capturing the aftermath of an accident on video can be extremely useful when trying to detail the scene and note any witnesses, vehicle types, and registration numbers.
Make sure to see a physician after the accident even if you don not believe you’ve been injured. Then contact your insurance company to notify them of the accident, but again avoid any speculation on fault or injuries until you have spoken with your personal injury attorney.
If you have been injured due to a tractor-trailer, multi-car pileup, or car accident contact our personal injury attorneys at ReidGoodwin today for a free, no obligation consultation.