Who's Responsible in a Multiple-Vehicle Collision?

After any motor vehicle accident, there may be conflict over who is responsible. Each driver may be partly responsible. There may also be other responsible parties, such as the manufacturer of a defective vehicle part or the entity responsible for road maintenance where the collision took place. When there are three or more vehicles involved, untangling liability can be even more complicated. In some cases, a multi-vehicle accident will involve a large number of cars and trucks. If you are unsure about liability on a multiple-vehicle collision call one of the attorneys from Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz.

What About Multiple-Vehicle Collisions?

Multi-car crashes most often occur on interstates and other roads where traffic is moving quickly and may be congested. Weather often, though not always, plays a role.

Smaller multi-vehicle collisions are probably more common than you realize. Here are just a few recent Ohio crashes involving multiple vehicles:

In June, a 31-year-old Dayton woman was killed in a four-vehicle collision.
In June, a five-car pileup rolled at least one vehicle and temporarily closed a local road in Boardman.
In June, a four-vehicle crash involving a Ryder truck in Garfield Heights sent one man to the hospital.
In May, a deer crossing I-90 near Bratenahl triggered a six-car crash.
In March, an 11-vehicle pileup just across the Pennsylvania state line shut down parts of I-80–white-out conditions played a role in the collision.

Then, there are the massive pile-ups that probably spring to mind when you hear “multi-vehicle accident,” like in November of 2019 when Ohio saw a 50-car pile-up on I-80 and a 75 to 95 vehicle crash on State Road 8 on the same day. White-out conditions also contributed to those accidents.

What Are the Common Causes for Crashes?

A multiple-vehicle collision or pile-up can occur due to various factors. Here are some common causes:

Distracted driving. Traffic reports estimate that 13% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2020 were caused by distracted driving. This may include texting, talking on the phone, eating, or any other activity that diverts attention from the road. Normally, a distracted driver doesn’t notice an accident up ahead of time to stop, change lanes, or otherwise avoid colliding with other vehicles.
Tailgating. Following too closely can greatly reduce reaction time and increase the risk of rear-end collisions, which can escalate into multi-car crashes, especially in heavy traffic. This has a domino effect because other drivers could be also following too closely crashing into the line.
Poor weather conditions. Rain, snow, fog, and ice can reduce visibility and traction significantly. This leads to loss of control and chain-reaction crashes as vehicles struggle to stop or maneuver.
Speeding. Driving over the legal speed limit or not driving for road conditions reduces the driver’s ability to react to sudden changes. This increases the likelihood of collisions involving multiple vehicles, which is s particularly common when visibility is low and the road is slippery with rain, ice, or snow.
Drunk driving. Operating a vehicle while drunk or on prescription medication impairs judgment, coordination, and reaction time, contributing to multi-car crashes.
Mechanical failures. Malfunctioning brakes, tire blowouts, or other mechanical issues can lead to loss of control and trigger multi-car collisions, particularly if other drivers are unable to react in time.
Aggressive driving. Practices such as weaving in and out of traffic can start chain-reaction crashes as other drivers are forced to react quickly to avoid collisions.

Similarly, a driver who is fatigued, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or operating a vehicle with a medical condition that impacts response time can set off a chain reaction on the road, or miss an opportunity to break the chain.

These are just a few examples of the types of negligence that can set off a multi-car pile-up or turn a single-vehicle or two-vehicle collision into a multi-vehicle crash. The more drivers involved, the more complicated it can be to establish fault.

Can a Multiple Vehicle Accident Be Nobody’s Fault?

Some of the examples above probably make it sound like multi-vehicle accidents are something that “just happens,” with no one really to blame. It’s true that it’s not a driver’s fault when a deer jumps into traffic, and sudden white-out conditions may cause a collision no matter how careful a driver is. But, in most cases, at least one driver’s negligence plays a role. Often, more than one driver bears responsibility.

If a Car Hits You and You Hit Another Car, Who Is at Fault?

Usually, the driver who hits you and causes you to hit another vehicle is at fault. This is because the driver was expected to maintain a safe driving distance. However, the driver you hit might still file a claim to recover their damages from you. The best way is to enlist the help of a car accident lawyer to help establish liability and hold the negligent driver responsible for the damages caused to the driver you hit.

Shared Responsibility in Multi-Car Pile-ups

Here’s an illustration of how even a small multi-vehicle accident can be complicated:

Driver A is distracted by a text message and fails to notice in time that the light up ahead has turned red. When Driver A belatedly notices that there’s another car (Driver B) stopped at the red light, it’s too late to avoid rear-ending the stopped car. Driver B’s car is propelled into the intersection, where Driver C plows into Driver B. Driver C had the green light, but was speeding.

Driver B is seriously injured. Driver C sustains moderate injuries.

Liability for Driver B’s Injuries

Driver A will generally be found liable for Driver B’s injuries. It was A’s distracted driving that caused the initial contact with Driver B’s vehicle and pushed the car into oncoming traffic.

But, Driver A may not be solely responsible. Driver C was also negligent–C was speeding at the time of the accident. Perhaps, if C had been traveling at a safe speed, they could have avoided colliding with B when the vehicle was propelled into the intersection.

Unless the case is settled, it will be up to the jury to determine what percentage of the blame is attributable to each driver. If B suffered $200,000 in damages and the jury finds that A was 75% responsible, C was 25% responsible, and B bore no responsibility for their own injuries, then A will be liable for $150,000 (75% of $200,000) and C liable for $50,000 (25% of $200,000).

You can see how much more complicated this analysis might be if there were additional vehicles involved. We’ve also assumed here that Driver B was blameless, but that won’t always be the case–even a driver who is propelled into another car may share responsibility if that happened because the driver stopped in the wrong place, was following too close, or in some other way contributed to the accident.

Liability for Driver C’s Injuries

Driver A will generally also be found at least partially responsible for Driver C’s injuries. Without Driver A’s negligence in rear-ending Driver B, Driver C would not have been involved in a collision.

But, it’s unlikely that A will be found entirely responsible. As in the analysis above, C will likely share responsibility.

Ohio law works a bit differently when the injured person shares responsibility. C can still recover damages from A in proportion to A’s responsibility–but only if C was not more than 50% responsible. If C is found to have been more than half at fault, they won’t be able to recover any damages.

Non-Driver Liability in Multi-Car Pile-ups

Usually, one or more drivers will be wholly or partly responsible for a multi-vehicle accident. But, in some cases, third parties may share responsibility. Some possible examples include:

The entity responsible for design or maintenance of the roadway, if faulty design contributed to the collision–for instance if an unmarked blind curve meant drivers didn’t have adequate warning of the crash up ahead, or notice that they should slow down and exercise caution;
A road maintenance crew or the governmental entity contracting for the maintenance if drivers weren’t provided adequate warning and direction, leading to a pile-up where the road narrowed or there were obstacles in a lane; or
The manufacturer of a faulty vehicle component that contributed to the accident, such as an automatic braking system engaging without reason on the interstate and triggering a chain or rear-end collision.

Insurance Factors in a Multiple-Vehicle Collision

Insurance providers factor in some key things as they assess damages, assign fault, and provide compensation. Some factors they consider include:

Specifics of how the accident occurred. Insurance companies will review witness statements, police reports, and any available evidence. This helps them understand the events and each driver’s actions.
The extent of property damage and injuries. Insurance adjusters evaluate damages such as the cost of repairing or replacing damaged vehicles, medical costs, and others when determining compensation for the victims.
Insurance coverage is held by each driver. The insurance coverage held by the driver may include liability coverage, collision coverage, personal injury protection (PIP), or medical payments coverage. Insurers review each driver’s policy’s coverage limits and provisions to determine the available benefits and coverage responsibilities in the collision.

Gathering Evidence of the Accident

Gathering evidence following multiple-vehicle crashes can be challenging due to the complexity of the incident and the involvement of multiple parties. However, visual evidence, particularly photographs, can help build a strong case and determine liability.

Take photos of the accident scene, including the positions of the vehicles, road conditions, weather, and any relevant landmarks or signage. This documentation can help eliminate disputes or inconsistencies regarding the facts of the accident.

Your Ohio personal injury lawyer can help put together and present your evidence in a professional way.

Contact a Multiple Car Pileup Accident Attorney

If you’ve been injured in a multiple-car accident, determining who is or may be responsible for your injuries is a critical first step toward pursuing compensation. It’s important to identify all possible responsible parties because leaving someone out can mean you don’t get full compensation.

The best way to determine who may be liable is to talk with an experienced Ohio motor vehicle accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident. You can schedule a free consultation with one of our seasoned car accident lawyers right now by calling 937-222-2222 or filling out the contact form on this page.

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Before establishing Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz L.P.A., Doug Mann, a top Ohio Injury Attorney served as a bodily injury claims adjuster at a major insurance firm. With over 40+ years of experience, Doug’s background has proven invaluable in securing maximum cash settlements for his clients swiftly. Since leaving the insurance industry, Doug has devoted his entire legal career to assisting injured clients during their times of greatest need.