Car accidents can result in significant property damage and injury costs. The potential trauma is multiplied when a collision ends up involving multiple vehicles. Take a closer look at what’s involved in chain-reaction incidents as well as how fault is determined in such cases, below.

How Does a Chain-Reaction Car Accident Happen?

This type of wreck usually starts with one collision between two vehicles. However, the car accident causes additional automobiles to become involved. For example, driver A approaches a line of cars at a stoplight and ends up rear-ending vehicle B at the back. The jolt of impact causes vehicle B to then slam into driver C directly in front of them, which then crashes into driver D at the front of the line.

Who Is At Fault? 

Every car accident scenario is different. Yet, chain-reaction incidents are usually blamed on the driver behind the initial incident (driver A). In some cases, the fault may be shared with other drivers involved in the wreck as well as public agencies or businesses that may somehow contribute. There’s also the possibility of no one being legally considered at fault, which can happen with unexpected medical conditions or the intrusion of an external factor. 

To establish fault in a pileup, it’s important to identify negligence. Common examples include speeding, following too closely, distracted driving, and failure to maintain traffic signs. There are a variety of ways to prove such claims if the case goes to court. For example, expert testimony using crime scene photographs and accident reconstruction. Other potential sources for evidence include witness statements, photographs and video surveillance, and police reports. 

If you’ve been injured in a chain-reaction car accident, contact Nichols, Seidel & Nichols in Batavia, OH, for a case review. The local attorneys provide insightful and dependable advice and representation to personal injury clients across Clermont County. Find out how the team can assist you by visiting their website and calling (513) 732-1420.