Whether caused by poor visibility, inclement weather or simple driver inattentiveness, multiple vehicle collisions are one of the most dramatic road incidents that can happen on Colorado highways. Curvy mountain passes with limited visibility, sudden and severe snowstorms causing whiteout conditions or simple driver error can all contribute to these intense and serious accidents on highways throughout the state. In fact, these types of accidents often generate national media coverage because of the significant number of vehicles involved and the array of injuries and fatalities that often result.
But once the aftermath of a multi-vehicle pile-up is cleared and the television cameras disappear, the lingering question on everyone’s mind remains – who is responsible for the property damage and personal injuries.
In Colorado, the answer is both simple and complex.
Whether the accident involves two cars or twenty, the driver that caused the collision is liable. In some cases, such as a collision involving only two vehicles, liability can usually be determined relatively quickly and accurately. However, when an accident involves multiple cars, determining who is at fault can get a lot more complex.
In multi-vehicle accidents, determining liability begins with looking to the driver farthest back in the string of collisions. Why? Because the assumption is that if this driver had been in control (in other words, not negligent), the accident would not have happened in the first place. However, liability may be spread across multiple drivers, depending on actions that occurred during the pile-up. For example, if the driver in the middle of the pile-up was viewed to be following too closely to the car in front of him/her, this driver can be cited for this. In cases like this, there can be multiple parties at fault for causing various aspects of the accident and injuries. In these situations, determining comparative negligence and apportioning liability becomes critically important.
If you have been injured in a multi-vehicle pile-up in Colorado, it is imperative that you seek advice from a seasoned personal injury attorney who can study the facts of your case and properly advise you. Often times, determining who is at fault requires complicated analysis and zealous advocacy on your behalf to ensure you receive the compensation to which you are entitled.
If you have been injured in a multi-vehicle accident, call one of the expert Personal Injury Attorneys at McDivitt Law Firm for a FREE consultation. We have been helping auto accident victims for over forty years.
