Jason Stephens | August 30, 2023 | Car Accidents
On busy highways in Texas, the effects of one car colliding with another often do not stop with just those two vehicles. Other vehicles can suffer damage, and their occupants can suffer injuries in a chain reaction accident. Obtaining compensation can present a challenge for innocent bystanders who are not involved in the initial collision but who are hurt by secondary collisions.
Injured drivers and passengers can file claims for compensation with their auto insurance carrier. These claims are paid up to the limits of the policy, but there is a downside to this method. Filing a claim against your policy will require you to pay your deductible, and your insurance company can increase your rates.
Following a chain reaction car wreck, true justice would involve those responsible for your injuries paying for the harm you suffered. But figuring out who is at fault can take some work in a complicated pile-up.
Texas’ Fault-Based Liability Laws and Chain Reaction Accidents
Like the majority of states, Texas follows a fault-based auto insurance system. This means that, following a car accident, the driver who is responsible for causing the crash and others’ injuries is responsible for providing compensation. In most cases, this compensation comes from the at-fault driver’s insurance.
In a chain reaction crash, an initial collision between two or more cars results in secondary and tertiary collisions between vehicles. This does not mean that only those drivers involved in the initial collision are at fault.
Others involved in the chain reaction may also have committed acts of negligence, such as:
- Following other vehicles too closely or failing to give other vehicles sufficient space
- Not getting away from a chain reaction crash when there is time and space to do so
- Failing to take appropriate steps after a collision, such as steering away from others
When multiple drivers are at fault in a crash, you must learn who was negligent. However, it is also essential that you come to understand the role that each person’s negligent actions played in causing your injuries.
The Role of a Reconstructionist in a Multi-Vehicle Crash
A car crash happens about every 57 seconds, and many of these are chain reaction crashes. Drivers and injured passengers may not see all of the events that take place in the crash, so it can be difficult to know who to look to for compensation.
Often, it will be necessary to gather evidence through means such as:
- Law enforcement reports
- Information gleaned from photographs
- Accident reconstructionists
Accident reconstructionists are experts who look at the available physical and digital evidence. They attempt to show how the accident occurred in light of the available evidence. With the assistance of a reconstructionist, you can demonstrate how each involved party’s actions contributed to the overall chain reaction.
Some of the evidence that a reconstructionist may use to complete their work includes the accident report and diagram, photos of the scene showing skid marks and debris, witness statements, and data stored in the wrecked vehicles’ event data records.
Your Financial Recovery Demands Each Responsible Party To Pay Their Share
Determining fault in a chain reaction accident can be a tricky business. For that reason, it often takes quite a bit longer to obtain the compensation you deserve after a chain reaction collision than it might for a two-car crash. Nonetheless, the effort is worth the delay because it keeps you from shouldering the burden for someone else’s mistakes.
An experienced Fort Worth car accident lawyer can consult experts and gather the evidence needed to prove your personal injury claim.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Fort Worth, TX
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth and need legal help, contact our Fort Worth car accident lawyers at Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents to schedule a free consultation.
Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 420-7000