Multi-Vehicle Collisions: How Car Accident Lawyers Untangle Complex Cases

Multi-vehicle accidents can leave you battered, bruised, and worse. In July 2024, a chain reaction car accident in DeKalb County, GA, involved 6 vehicles. Tragically, it left 1 person dead and 5 others in the hospital. 

If you have been involved in a similar car crash, we understand that you will be experiencing a wide range of emotions and grappling with physical pain. Additionally, you may face a monumental legal challenge – determining fault when multiple parties are involved.

In this complex scenario, you need an experienced car accident lawyer with the skills to untangle the resulting mess and clear the path to justice. This post will examine how a car accident lawyer can pick apart your chain reaction accident and pursue the compensation you need to rebuild your life.

Defining a Multi-Vehicle Collision

A multi-vehicle accident, sometimes called a chain reaction crash, involves 3 or more vehicles. Accidents involving only two cars are stressful enough. But when multiple parties are involved, tensions at the accident scene can rise and the aftermath can be complex.

Multi-car accidents can happen in many different ways. What happened in the moments before the crash can impact the determination of fault and the legal process that may follow.

Determining Fault in Multi-Vehicle Accidents

For a driver to be found at fault in a multi-car accident, an insurance company or car accident attorney must prove he or she acted negligently. Sometimes, negligence may be easy to prove – such as when a driver was drunk or texting at the time of the multi-car crash. Yet, sometimes the situation is far from clear-cut and multiple drivers may share liability.

Four common scenarios, listed below, can easily lead to multi-car accidents. During your initial free consultation at Hoffspiegel Law, one of our car accident attorneys will listen carefully to your account. How the accident played out will help him or her get an initial idea of who the at-fault driver or drivers may be.

Rear-end collision

A classic chain reaction traffic accident can occur when one vehicle brakes suddenly and the vehicle behind does not stop in time. One after another, multiple vehicles rear-end each other. 

Rear-end accidents can cause serious injuries including:

• Whiplash
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Back and spinal cord damage

The effects of these personal injuries could last for months or even years, resulting in huge medical bills and other expenses. If your car is caught in the middle of a chain reaction, it may sustain damage to the front and rear, potentially resulting in a significant property damage claim.

Although all drivers involved may be partially at fault, a car accident attorney would usually begin by focusing on the lead driver and the one who drove into the back of him or her. 

In a rear-end collision case, the driver who crashed into the rear of the lead driver is usually at fault. However, there may have been mitigating circumstances that caused the lead driver to suddenly brake. For example, if children or animals run out into the road, and the lead driver slows to avoid them, this may reduce his or her liability.

Examples like this show why working with an experienced car accident attorney who can look at your case from all angles is so important. He or she can search for the strongest legal strategy to pursue that has the best chance of success at the negotiating table or in the courtroom.

Head-on multi-car crash

Head-on collisions happen when the front ends of two vehicles collide. On a busy road, this may escalate into a multi-vehicle accident. In a study of crashes between 2016 and 2018, 85 percent of head-on fatal accidents occurred on undivided roads. 

Drivers may veer or swerve into oncoming traffic for several reasons, including:

• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Fatigue
• Distracted driving
• Passing improperly
• Reckless driving

When determining fault, car accident attorneys typically start by focusing on the driver traveling in the wrong direction. Other factors, such as road conditions, may also play a role in determining liability.

Side-impact accident

Side-impact or T-bone accidents typically occur when a driver fails to yield, rolls through a stop sign, or runs a red light. Multiple vehicles may get involved on a busy road, further complicating the situation.

The most obvious at-fault driver will be one who violated traffic law. Police reports may help establish who that was, allowing your legal team to pursue him or her for compensation.

Pile-up accidents

Pile-up crashes involve multiple vehicles and can result in fatalities and serious injuries, as one 2002 accident illustrates. In the biggest pile-up in Georgia history, 125 vehicles collided on the I-75 near the Tennessee line in northwestern Georgia. Sadly, 4 people lost their lives on that occasion while 15 were seriously injured.

Initial reports suggested a combination of speeding and poor visibility due to foggy weather caused the accident. If you were involved in a pile-up accident, it would take time for your car accident attorney to untangle how much liability can be attributed to each of the parties involved.

A car accident lawyer may work with an accident reconstruction expert to piece together what happened that day.

An attorney may review the following evidence to build an accurate picture that could be used to prove liability:

• Dashcam footage
• Eyewitness accounts
• Police reports
• Closed-circuit video camera footage
• Physical evidence from the crash site

In Georgia, the Georgia State Patrol Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) investigates fatal crashes. There are 5 SCRT teams located throughout the state, and SCRT testimony can be used in court.

If the pile-up you were involved in did not cause fatalities, the SCRT may not get involved unless requested by other agencies. However, an experienced car accident attorney will choose an accident reconstruction expert who meets the standards required by Georgia state law and can present evidence in court.

How the police can help

The responding officers will compile a report that could help to determine fault. They will interview the drivers and passengers. The police may also consider video footage from various sources to determine what happened.

The main focus for the police is whether any criminal activity took place. For example, did reckless driving, malicious behavior, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol play a part? If so, the responsible driver or drivers could face criminal charges.

A car accident attorney will request a copy of the police report after your accident as part of a thorough investigation. However, remember that the insurance adjusters will also be hard at work looking to shift the blame from their drivers to others, including you. So work with an experienced car accident attorney who has faced these tactics in the past and knows how to fight against them.

Other Factors Affecting Liability

Other factors may affect liability, making multi-car crashes even more complex:

• Poor visibility: Smoke, rain, fog, snow, and other factors can reduce visibility
• Road conditions: Poor road maintenance or environmental factors such as ice and snow could cause one or more drivers to lose control of their vehicles
• Commercial entities: If a vehicle involved in a multi-vehicle accident was being driven by an employee, the owner or maintenance company may be partially liable for the accident

If a Georgia car accident attorney agrees to take on your case, he or she will carefully examine all possible sources of compensation. Your lawyer will guide you through the legal process and can handle all conversations with insurance companies on your behalf.

Comparative Fault in Georgia

One key benefit of working with an experienced attorney in Georgia is his or her understanding of Georgia state law. States handle questions of liability differently, especially when multiple parties are involved.

Georgia follows the legal principle of modified comparative fault. This means that a claimant must be less than 50 percent liable for the accident to pursue compensation. However, the good news is that even if you were 49 percent at fault, you can still try to claim some compensation.

The only caveat is that the amount of compensation you are awarded will be reduced by your level of liability. For example, if you were 40 percent at fault, a court would only award you 60 percent of the damages you would have received if you were not liable.

There’s no need to conclude that you do not have a case because you were partially liable – come talk to us first. An experienced Georgia car accident lawyer is qualified to explain your legal options.

How to Protect Your Rights After a Multi-Vehicle Accident

If you were less than 50 percent responsible for a Georgia multi-vehicle collision, you have the right to pursue fair compensation for your losses. This may include medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering.

However, the steps you take after your car accident have the potential to either help or hinder your chances of success.

Seek medical attention

Multi-car accidents can cause serious injuries and even fatalities. If you are seriously injured, you will likely be taken to hospital in an ambulance. However, even if you think you escaped with only cuts and bruises, it is essential to get yourself checked out.

Some injuries do not produce symptoms immediately. The adrenaline coursing through your body can mask the pain. Hours or even days later, you may begin feeling unwell.

If you fail to receive immediate medical attention, that could make it harder to establish a link between your injuries and the accident. To protect your health and your legal rights, get checked out as soon as possible.

Do not talk to the insurance company

Talking to your insurance company after an accident may seem like the most natural thing to do. After all, you pay your insurer to protect your rights. However, they have an agenda – keeping their costs as low as possible. Your insurance company may record what you say after an accident and use it against you later.

Seek qualified legal advice

An experienced car accident attorney can help you from day one after your accident. He or she can handle all conversations with insurance companies, protecting your rights. A lawyer can begin the investigations right away and start moving your case forward, freeing you to focus on getting better.

Let Hoffspiegel Law Help Make Things Right

A chain-reaction traffic accident has the potential to drag on without the right legal representation. You need to focus on your recovery while a trusted legal team untangles your case and fights for fair compensation on your behalf.

At Hoffspiegel Law, we bring over 40 years of personal injury law experience to the table. Headed up by father and son team Lloyd and Alex Hoffspiegel, our legal team stands ready to hear your story and determine whether you have a case. If we agree to take on your auto accident claim, our legal team will create a personalized action plan, work on determining fault, and pursue the right parties for fair compensation.

Your next step is to schedule a free case consultation with a Hoffspiegel automobile accident lawyer. Get started immediately by calling (762) 315-4620 or filling out our online contact form.