Chain Reaction Car Accidents
Most car accidents are pretty complex. Even when just two vehicles are involved in a crash it can be difficult to sort out issues of liability, because involved parties are usually quick to point the finger at another party. The complexity of a car accident only multiplies when three or more vehicles are involved, as is the case with a chain reaction car accident.
Since chain reaction car accidents can result in substantial damages, it is essential to identify who is at-fault. The Bellevue, WA, car accident lawyers at Quick Law Group, PLLC, investigate the details of a chain reaction crash and gather evidence that allows us to demonstrate liability so that our clients can be justly compensated for accident damages.
What Is a Chain Reaction Car Accident?
A chain reaction car accident is one where three or more vehicles collide in a crash. What sets this type of accident apart from other multi-vehicle crashes is that a chain reaction car accident involves a domino effect. The crash starts with one impact (most often a rear end collision) and then continues as vehicles within the vicinity of the crash collide with one another - extending down the line of traffic like a chain.
Chain reaction car accidents usually occur because the force of the initial accident impact causes the vehicle that was struck to collide with the vehicle in front of it, and so on and so forth. However, a chain reaction can also trail from the back of the initial accident. If a driver is unable to stop on time as they approach a collision, they can rear-end one of the vehicles involved in the first crash, extending the chain of involved vehicles.
Chain Reaction Accident Liability: Is the First Driver Always At-fault?
Many people assume that the driver who causes the initial impact of a chain reaction car accident (referred to here as the first driver) is automatically at-fault for the entire chain of collisions and all resulting damages. While it would make things a lot simpler if that were the case, it is only true in certain circumstances.
Sometimes a driver comes to a sudden stop without any cause or warning, and a trailing vehicle is unable to respond quickly enough to prevent a collision. In this case, the lead driver may be found liable for the crash instead of the first driver. Even drivers further down the line of a chain reaction car accident may share partial liability for the crash if they failed to take necessary evasive actions to prevent accident involvement, or if they acted recklessly or negligently and it led to their involvement in the collision.
Evidence to Determine Liability
Chain reaction car accidents involve multiple vehicles, which means that there are several parties involved and various factors that could have contributed to the collision. To sort out liability in complex cases such as these, our Bellevue car accident lawyers work with accident recreationists to gather important evidence. Common sources of evidence in suits involving chain reaction car accidents include:
- Testimony from involved parties
- Witness testimony
- Road conditions at the scene of the accident
- Vehicle damage
- Photos or video footage of the accident (including surveillance videos or dashboard camera footage)
- Police reports
Learn More
If you have been injured in a chain reaction car accident and are unsure of who is responsible for covering the costs of accident damages, the car accident lawyers at Quick Law Group, PLLC, would be happy to assist you in determining liability and pursuing appropriate compensation. To discuss your accident and consider your best course of legal action, send us a message online, or call our Bellevue law firm at (425) 576-8150 to schedule a legal consultation.