When multi-car crashes occur in Texas, one of the first things that victims will need to do is find out who was liable. The following information may help them do this and thus speed up the filing of a claim.
It all starts with knowing what negligence is. In a driver, this can range from speeding and tailgating to distracted driving and drunk or drugged driving. When drivers fail to exercise reasonable care on the road, they are negligent. In multi-vehicle crashes, it’s obvious that negligence may be spread out between multiple drivers.
For example, Driver A is rear-ended by a tailgating Driver B, but Driver B is, in turn, rear-ended by an inattentive Driver C. Both B and C contributed to the force of the impact against Driver A’s vehicle, so Driver A may pursue a claim against both. Even Driver B might be able to file against Driver C.
Sometimes, of course, there may be an innocent driver caught in the middle. Driver B may be forced into Driver A by the negligence of Driver C, in which case A can only hold C responsible.
Gathering evidence is crucial to determining fault. This can range from the police report and drivers’ phone records to any eyewitness testimony or physical findings at the crash site.
Under the comparative negligence rule in Texas, victims of car collisions can be eligible for compensatory damages as long as their degree of fault does not exceed the defendant’s. If they did contribute to their own injuries, such as by failing to wear a seatbelt, then whatever plaintiffs do recover will be proportionally lowered. To ensure a good settlement, victims may want to retain a lawyer. The lawyer might speak on their behalf during negotiations or during the trial.
