While multi-vehicle collisions involve unique challenges, the general rule of thumb in a chain-reaction is that the first car to rear-end the other is the at-fault party. However, there may be other liable parties depending on the findings of the analysis. There are also complicated insurance issues that injured parties may face, which means that hiring a car accident lawyer is a practical step toward getting answers about your accident.
In This Post
Car accident lawyer Marc A. Grano helps you understand the causes of multi-vehicle car accidents, how New Mexico laws might apply, proving fault, and where you can find legal help. All cases are different, which means that you should seek legal advice from an attorney as soon as possible if you have questions or want someone to protect your rights. Grano Law Offices, P.C. wrote this post to help injury victims gather as much information as possible after an accident.
Table of Contents
What Are the Causes of Multi-Vehicle Collisions?
Although a multi-vehicle car crash can stem from an infinite number of reasons, they are rarely caused by “acts of God,” or circumstances outside of anyone’s control. In general, car accidents should rarely happen, since they mostly stem from negligence. Claimants should hire a car accident injury attorney to help them establish where and how negligence occurred.
Examples of causes of multi-vehicle collisions include:
- Lane changes without checking blind spots
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Reckless or careless driving
- Neglected roadways and highways
- And more
In many instances, an initial accident can be established as the event that triggered the accident. However, the at-fault driver and any incidental drivers involved will each have their own version of events regarding their roles. Ensure that you do not speculate about your case if asked to make a formal statement by insurance companies.
What Laws Apply to Multiple Car Accidents in New Mexico?
Since New Mexico is a comparative negligence state under NMSA § 41-3A-1, our laws will affect the outcome of your car accident injury or wrongful death case. Comparative negligence means that you can receive compensation for your damages even if you are partially at fault for the accident. You can still obtain an award based on the percentage of fault attributed to the plaintiff.
This information matters in the context of a multi-car crash, as your role will be analyzed. A common defensive tactic is to prove that the at-fault driver was less liable by a percentage, thereby reducing the amount of money an insurance company has to pay to injury victims.
How Do You Prove Fault in a Multi-Vehicle Car Accident?
Winning a personal injury claim requires you to establish liability and prove fault. Whoever is ultimately at fault will be legally responsible for compensating injured parties for their financial, physical, and emotional losses.
Triggering a Chain Reaction
Keep in mind that the insurer will defend their client to pay as little as possible for your injuries or your family member’s death. However, the person who triggered the chain reaction is the at-fault party unless other circumstances are involved.
Let’s take a look at an example:
Driver 1 hits Driver 2 due to tailgating. Driver 1 is responsible for the accident. Distracted Driver 3 comes along and does not notice the accident, resulting in him hitting Driver 1. During the second accident, Driver 3 is at fault.
Preserving Evidence Is Critical
As you can see, the case’s details and nuances are not always evident until an investigation uncovers the truth. Assigning fault in a multi-car or chain-reaction accident is challenging to handle alone. Gathering the requisite evidence to prove your allegations can be difficult to handle without the help of an attorney.
Types of evidence that you may need to obtain include:
- Police and accident reports
- Eyewitness statements
- Expert testimony and accident reconstruction results
- Black box and CPU results
- Accident scene photos
- Medical evidence
- And more
If you or your family members were injured in a multi-car crash, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Since numerous parties are involved in the claims process, it is challenging to determine where your compensation is coming from. Get a legal professional on your side to help you handle the negotiations while focusing on your recovery.
Speak With a New Mexico Car Accident Attorney Today
As you can observe from the post above, multi-vehicle collisions can result in a tangled web of finger-pointing and blaming. Instead of leaving your case to chance, speak with Grano Law Offices, P.C. to help. Contact us for a Free Case Evaluation by calling (505) 426-8711 or messaging us below.
