Most motor vehicle collisions involve two passenger vehicles. However, sometimes crashes end up involving numerous vehicles. There may be an initial incident involving two or three vehicles, and then multiple other drivers may end up involved as well.
Multi-car pileups often occur because of issues with commercial vehicles. A semi-truck that jackknifes or rolls over can strike multiple vehicles and block an entire highway. Crashes that occur during inclement weather can also end up impacting numerous other drivers who may not be able to stop quickly or adequately monitor their surroundings because of weather conditions.
Can one driver end up personally responsible for a multi-vehicle collision?
One driver may be primarily to blame
Multi-vehicle collisions frequently involve numerous people with a degree of fault. One motorist might be to blame for the initial crash. Other drivers who end up involved in the pileup might be to blame for their own involvement.
Frequently, multi-vehicle collisions involve numerous drivers who all make the same mistakes. They operate their vehicles at inappropriately high speeds given traffic conditions. They may also get too close to the vehicles ahead of them in traffic. The failure to maintain an appropriate following distance significantly increases the likelihood of a wreck. The driver who cuts off another vehicle or fails to yield could easily be responsible for the initial collision.
Every driver who strikes the disabled vehicles may also have a small portion of responsibility for the crash. Those who approach a collision too quickly and cannot slow down before striking the involved vehicles are likely at least partially responsible for their involvement in the crash. Under contributory negligence rules, anyone with partial fault for a crash may not be able to take legal action against the driver who caused the incident.
Discussing the circumstances that led to a multi-vehicle collision and the aftermath of the incident can help drivers evaluate their culpability and their options for compensation. One driver is unlikely to bear the full responsibility for the entire incident. The sooner that those involved in multi-vehicle crashes secure assistance, the better their chances may be of limiting their losses and holding the right party accountable for the wreck.
