Setareh Law
May 12, 2025
Any car accident scene is chaotic, and this is particularly true at the scene of a multi-car accident. There can be several injured people among the vehicles involved and several investigators trying to determine what happened, including understanding the role of each driver involved. However, determining fault can be tricky after a multi-car accident.
Typically, fault in a California multi-car accident lies with the driver who caused the first impact with another vehicle. However, there can be errors caused by multiple drivers, vehicle defects, and other issues that can make other parties liable as well. If you’ve been injured in a multi-car accident that was caused by someone’s negligence, an experienced car accident attorney at Setareh Law can help you understand the legal process of seeking compensation for the financial and psychological costs of your injury.
Introduction to Car Accidents
Car accidents, including multi-vehicle accidents, can be complex and devastating, resulting in severe injuries, property damage, and even fatalities. In California, determining fault in a multi-vehicle car accident is crucial in pursuing financial compensation. The state’s fault-based system requires the driver who caused the accident to cover the damages. Understanding the legal process and key factors involved in determining fault is essential for injured parties to recover compensation. A car accident lawyer or personal injury lawyer can help navigate the claims process and ensure fair compensation.
Why Fault Matters In California Car Accidents
When it comes to car accidents, California is considered an at-fault state. What this means is that when a car accident occurs, the one who caused the accident is generally responsible for compensating others for the physical harm and property damage they incurred as a result of the at-fault party’s negligence. The source of this compensation is almost always the liability coverage on the at-fault party’s auto insurance policy.
Assigning liability in such cases can be complex, involving multiple parties and various factors that need to be carefully examined.
However, it’s important to work with a skilled lawyer during this time, especially if you were harmed due to another party’s negligence. There may be multiple parties who are liable for the accident, such as the vehicle manufacturer, a pedestrian, or even a government entity. Comparative negligence can also affect who is at fault.
Investigating Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Investigating multi-vehicle accidents involves a thorough examination of the evidence, including police reports, witness statements, and physical evidence from the scene. The goal is to determine the sequence of events leading up to the accident and identify the at-fault driver. In California, the police report plays a significant role in determining fault, and insurance companies rely on this report to assign liability. A thorough investigation is necessary to establish fault and ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable. This process is critical in multi-vehicle accidents, where multiple drivers and vehicles are involved, and the fault may be shared among several parties.
Understanding Comparative Negligence
California follows a comparative negligence system, which means that fault can be divided among multiple parties involved in a multi-vehicle accident. Even if a driver is partially responsible for the accident, they can still recover compensation from the other at-fault drivers.
The amount of compensation awarded will be reduced in proportion to the driver’s degree of fault. Understanding comparative negligence is essential in determining fault and ensuring fair compensation. A personal injury lawyer can help navigate the complexities of comparative negligence and ensure that injured parties receive the compensation they deserve.
The Role of Eyewitness Accounts in Determining Fault
Eyewitness accounts play a significant role in determining fault in multi-vehicle accidents. These accounts can provide valuable insights into the accident, including the actions of the drivers involved and the sequence of events leading up to the crash. Eyewitnesses can also help identify the at-fault driver and provide evidence to support their claims. In California, eyewitness accounts are considered crucial in determining fault, and insurance companies often rely on these accounts to assign liability. A personal injury lawyer can help gather eyewitness statements and use them to build a strong case for their clients.
Chain Reaction Crashes
Chain reaction crashes are a common type of multi-vehicle accident, where one vehicle crashes into another, causing a domino effect. These crashes can result in severe injuries and property damage, and determining fault can be complex. In California, chain reaction crashes are often caused by rear-end collisions, where one driver fails to maintain a safe following distance. The at-fault driver may be liable for the damages caused by the chain reaction crash. A personal injury lawyer can help determine fault and ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable.
How Fault Is Determined
When an accident occurs in which someone was injured, there are often three types of investigations that take place. The police will investigate in order to determine if someone has broken the law. Insurance companies will investigate to determine whether they’re on the hook for the insured’s liability and the value of the losses they’re obligated to cover. Then, the injured party’s attorney will investigate in order to determine who was liable and how to prove that liability. Determining liability involves assessing the actions of each driver and the evidence collected from the scene.
Liability refers to the legal responsibility an individual has to compensate others they have harmed through carelessness in a given circumstance. All drivers who operate vehicles on California roadways have what is known as a “duty of care” to take responsible actions in order to avoid harming others. This duty includes not only following local, state, and federal laws but also ensuring that their vehicle is properly maintained and capable of being operated safely on the road. The driver’s insurance company will also conduct its own investigation to determine the extent of its policyholder’s liability.
The evidence that an attorney can use to prove liability in a car accident injury case includes the police accident report, photos from the scene, witness testimony, the testimony of accident reconstruction specialists, and video footage from traffic, business, or residential surveillance cameras. Attorneys can use this to help determine fault after a multi-car accident.
The Services an Attorney Can Provide
Proving that someone else was at fault for causing an accident that resulted in injuries is a crucial part of having a successful car accident claim. When an experienced personal injury attorney handles the claims process for you, they will provide a number of services to establish liability, starting with the investigation that they perform on the accident. They will analyze the available evidence to determine all sources of fault and all insurance resources that can be accessed to compensate you. Many personal injury attorneys offer a free consultation to discuss the details of your case and the best course of action.
Having as many insurance resources available as possible is important, as all auto liability coverage is subject to policy limits, which place a maximum value on the amount of coverage the insurer will provide for the claim. Many people operate their vehicles with only the minimum coverage that is legally required in their state, which is often insufficient to adequately compensate the claim if there are serious injuries requiring missed time from work and extensive medical treatment.
If You Were Injured In a Multi-Car Accident, Contact Setareh Law
Being injured in a multi-vehicle accident is a distressing and chaotic event. Being injured in a multi-vehicle accident can result in significant medical expenses, which our legal team can help you recover through a successful claim. The legal team at Setareh Law can help you receive the maximum amount of compensation that is available for your claim. We understand you likely have questions about your claim, and we are available to meet with you where it is convenient, whether that is our office, your home, the hospital, or even at the nursing home where you’re receiving rehabilitative care. Our team also speaks Spanish.
Let an experienced car accident attorney explore your legal options with you. For a free case evaluation, call Setareh Law at (310) 659-1826 or contact us online.
