A multi-vehicle collision can be catastrophic, causing thousands of dollars in vehicular damage, leaving lasting injuries, and inducing emotional distress. If you’ve been involved in a multiple-vehicle accident and are wondering who is at fault, an Allentown truck accident lawyer may be the best solution for helping establish fault, supporting a case, and receiving compensation for an insurance claim. 

Why Liability Is Important

Establishing liability may seem inconsequential at the time of your accident, but it could mean the difference in affording repairs and/or replacement of your vehicle and coping financially if you have significant injuries and have to miss work. 

Liability is determined differently from state to state. Pennsylvania is a no-fault state. That means that regardless of liability, each driver’s insurance is responsible for covering their own damages. However, these laws are nuanced. Pennsylvania also has a choice no-fault insurance option that allows drivers to choose between two types of insurance and influences their ability to sue for damages. 

Who Is At Fault In A Multi-Vehicle Accident?

There can be more than one party at fault in a multiple-vehicle accident. There are also numerous reasons why a driver may be found at fault. Potential reasons a driver may be found at fault include the following:

Speeding

If you are exceeding the posted speed limit at the time of an accident, you could be found at fault, at least in part, for causing the accident. 

Failing to Obey Traffic Laws

If your failure to obey a traffic law results in a vehicle crash, you could be found at fault. Traffic laws include obeying traffic signs and lights, yielding the right-of-way, maintaining a safe distance between vehicles, obeying speed limits, avoiding aggressive driving, and wearing a seat belt. When operating a vehicle, it is in your best interest to obey all traffic laws so that if an accident does occur, you have a better likelihood of being found innocent. 

Distracted Driving

Texting, using a mobile phone, or the use of other electronic devices is banned in many states while driving, including Pennsylvania’s texting-while-driving ban. Even if you are traveling in a state where the use of these devices is not banned, you could be found at fault for a car crash if you were using one at the time of an accident. When you are driving, put your mobile phone away, do not attempt to use any devices, read any material, or otherwise look away from the road. 

Not Maintaining a Safe Distance

Although not all rear-end collisions are the fault of the rear driver, many of them are. Rear-end collisions may happen if you are following too closely or if you are not maintaining a safe speed. As such, make sure you follow the four-second rule and leave four seconds of space in front of the bumper of your car and the car in front of you. 

Being Intoxicated

If you drive under the influence and are above the legal limit for your state, you could be found at fault for an accident. If you have too much to drink, call for a ride, take an Uber, or grab a taxi. It isn’t worth a potential multi-vehicle pileup to take your car home. 

How Fault is Determined

Fault is determined and interpreted differently in each state. In Pennsylvania, the choice no-fault system is unique in that it allows drivers to choose whether or not they want the option to be able to sue an at-fault party. For that ability, a driver must choose full tort insurance coverage. 

If you are involved in an accident in Pennsylvania that is not your fault and you have full tort coverage, you can bring suit against the at-fault party to cover your damages. If you choose limited tort coverage, you may still have the option to sue the at-fault party, but you may only be able to collect for certain damages. 

It is a driver’s responsibility to determine the best options for insurance coverage. If you are involved in a car accident, having a qualified car accident attorney can help you understand your coverage and how you can pursue a claim with an at-fault party if that option is available.

Who Is At Fault in a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, fault in a three-vehicle crash is generally determined in the same way it is for two-car crashes. In a “chain reaction” accident (multi-vehicle collision), more than two cars were involved and it probably happened pretty quickly. These are more common in highways, parking lots, and intersections and may cause pile-ups. 

Accounting for Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence system, the driver who hit the first car (the leading car) is typically responsible. The third driver could also be responsible if they didn’t stop in enough time unless they prove the second driver was distracted or at-fault for another reason. Third parties, like car manufacturers or mechanics, may also share part of the blame. 

Contact Your Attorney

An accident can happen to anyone, and a multi-car crash can be emotionally and physically damaging and cost thousands in expenses. Contact an attorney today to discuss your options.

Veeramachineni Lalitha

I am Finance Content Writer. I write Personal Finance, banking, investment, and insurance related content for top clients including Kotak Mahindra Bank, Edelweiss, ICICI BANK and IDFC FIRST Bank. My experience details : Linkedin