Car accidents occur all the time on West Virginia roads. Often, these crashes involve only one or two vehicles. However, sometimes more than two vehicles are involved in a collision, which can complicate the situation when it comes to securing compensation for injuries. Here, we want to discuss who may be liable in the event of a multi-car crash in West Virginia. We will discuss determining fault in a three-car collision as well as determining fault in an accident involving more than three vehicles.

Determining Fault in a 3-Car Crash

Vehicle accidents involving three drivers are generally going to be more challenging to navigate than a crash involving only two vehicles. In a two-vehicle crash, usually one driver is at fault while another is a victim, with various nuances complicating the scenario. However, in a three-vehicle crash, liability is not as easy to determine. There may be multiple drivers who share fault for the accident, or one driver can be liable for the damages of the other two drivers in the crash.

Fault in a three-car collision will largely depend on who caused the primary accident. For example, one driver may be responsible for causing a chain reaction collision that impacted the other two drivers in this scenario. A chain-reaction crash often points to the liability of only one driver, the first one to make contact with another vehicle.

However, there are other scenarios in which multiple parties may be at fault for a three-car collision. For example, if Driver A was texting and driving and failed to see the erratic alcohol-impaired driving of Driver B, both drivers could share fault if they get into a crash and any other party gets caught up in the collision.

Determining Fault in a Multi-Car Pile-Up

If there are more than three vehicles involved in a car accident, determining liability can become immensely complex. Every driver may have a different version of events, and these stories can become convoluted, especially when taking into account eyewitness statements. Determining liability in a multi-car crash may require an in-depth investigation by law enforcement officials and accident reconstruction experts. This could include considering:

  • Statements from eyewitnesses
  • Photographs from the scene
  • Video surveillance of the incident
  • Vehicle “black box” data
  • Mobile device data

West Virginia operates under a modified comparative negligence system, which means that a driver can recover compensation so long as they are not 50% or more at fault for an incident. That is why it is crucial to determine who was liable in a multi-car crash, as well as exactly how much liability they had for the incident.

Getting Help from a Charleston Accident Attorney

If you or somebody you care about has been involved in a multi-car collision in or around Charleston, West Virginia, contact the team at Tiano O’Dell for help today. Our experienced Charleston car crash attorneys are ready to use the resources of our office to investigate every aspect of your case. We will work to determine liability so we can secure the compensation you deserve.