Multi-Vehicle Accidents Attorney in Greensboro

If you were injured in a multi-vehicle or chain-reaction accident in Greensboro or elsewhere in North Carolina, you know how devastating they can be. However, you may not realize that they often result in more challenging legal cases. With multiple vehicles and drivers involved, and each driver and their insurer pointing the finger at the other, how can you prove which driver is at fault? Who pays in a multi-car accident?

The respected multi-car accident attorneys at Ward Black Law are ready to help you pursue maximum compensation if you’ve been hurt in a chain-reaction crash. We have decades of combined experience handling complicated cases and seeking fair and complete compensation for victims. No matter the challenge, we will aggressively pursue the at-fault drivers and hold them accountable for your injuries and other losses. That’s because we care deeply about our clients, and we know that they depend on us to help them through difficult times.

We want to help you too. Contact us today to speak with a multi-vehicle accident attorney in Greensboro, NC, at no cost or obligation.

What Is a Multi-Car Accident?

While any collision involving multiple vehicles could be considered a multi-car accident, the term is often reserved for crashes involving at least three vehicles. These accidents are also called chain-reaction crashes when they are initiated by one collision, which then causes one or more subsequent collisions. Multi-car accidents can involve three cars, 10 cars, or 100 cars, as well as other vehicles like tractor-trailers and motorcycles.

How Do Chain-Reaction Crashes Happen in Greensboro?

Chain-reaction crashes occur for many reasons, often because one or more drivers acted carelessly. Here are some sample scenarios that can lead to chain-reaction crashes:

• Following too closely – When one driver follows another too closely, they may be unable to avoid colliding with the car in front of them if it stops abruptly. This initial rear-end collision can quickly become a chain-reaction crash as cars are pushed into one another, and others slam into the initial wreck.
• Distracted Driving – Drivers who are not paying attention to changing traffic around them risk causing a collision that initiates a chain reaction of more crashes. Common roadway distractions include talking or texting on the phone, reaching for fallen objects, or attending to passengers.
• Speeding – When drivers speed, they give themselves less time and space to maneuver and decelerate to accommodate other motorists. Because force increases with velocity, a speeding car is more likely to send other vehicles skidding into each other after an initial collision.
• Driving under the influence – Drivers who are under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medications are at higher risk of losing control of their vehicles and causing multi-car crashes.

How Common Are Chain-Reaction Car Accidents?

The North Carolina Department of Transportation reports 247,214 crashes happened across the state in one recent year. There were 8,073 crashes in the city of Greensboro and 12,859 crashes in all of Guilford County, or about one crash every 30 minutes. Chain-reaction car accidents can occur anywhere there is sufficient traffic volume, especially on interstates such as I-40 and I-85, which carry thousands of motorists every day.

While there is little hard data about the frequency of chain-reaction crashes, we know they can be absolutely devastating. For example, one of the worst multi-car pile-ups in North Carolina’s history occurred on I-40 between Greensboro and Raleigh in March 2016. Over 130 vehicles were involved, and 25 people were hospitalized. Police attributed the accident to heavy rain, fog, and driving at unsafe speeds for the conditions.

Types of Multi-Vehicle Car Accidents in Greensboro

Some of the most common types of multi-vehicle accidents in Greensboro are:

• Rear-end collisions – When one car rear-ends another, it may set off a chain reaction of subsequent collisions as vehicles are pushed into one another, and the wreck becomes more difficult for other motorists to avoid.
• Intersection collisions – Because intersections involve vehicles traveling in multiple directions passing one another, they are a common site of collisions, especially multi-car crashes.
• Car malfunction collisions – A malfunction in braking, steering, or other critical systems can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle, potentially colliding with other cars around them.
• Inclement weather collisions – Inclement weather, such as rain, snow, sleet, or fog, can make it difficult for drivers to see changing traffic conditions and respond to them in time. Many of the most severe pile-ups are caused by subsequent drivers’ inability to see and avoid the initial wreck. Failure to reduce speed for the conditions is often a factor.

Determining Liability for Damages Caused by a Multi-Vehicle Car Crash

The more vehicles involved in a car accident, the more difficult it is to determine liability. Typically, the driver who caused the initial collision bears the most fault. Sometimes more than one driver is at fault for the accident. How do you determine who is at fault in a chain-reaction car accident, then?

A multiple-vehicle collision lawyer can conduct a thorough investigation to determine what happened and who is at fault by:

• Gathering photos and videos of the accident scene, including images of each vehicle involved and injuries suffered in the accident
• Locating and securing surveillance footage of the accident from traffic cameras, business security cameras, and dashcams
• Identifying and interviewing eyewitnesses of the accident
• Reviewing the police officer’s accident report
• Inspecting vehicles after the accident for evidence of car damage or malfunctioning parts
• Consulting with multi-vehicle collision experts and using accident reconstruction methods to determine why and how an accident occurred

Can More Than One Driver Be at Fault for a Multi-Vehicle Accident?

Yes, more than one driver could be at fault for a multi-vehicle accident. In North Carolina, drivers found to be at fault for an accident are responsible for compensating anyone injured as a result. Injured accident victims can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, or if an appropriate settlement cannot be reached, they can sue the driver directly. Because multi-car accidents involve several drivers, each of whom may be partially at fault, accident victims may need to file multiple claims for compensation from more than one driver.

North Carolina law bars any accident victim who is partially at fault for the accident from recovering compensation for their injuries – even if they were only 1 percent to blame. For this reason, insurers and other liable parties may try to avoid having to pay you compensation by accusing you of being partially at fault for the accident. That is why it is critical that you work with a knowledgeable multi-car pile-up lawyer who knows how to handle these complex cases and fight aggressively for your right to compensation.

Contact Our Experienced Greensboro Multi-Vehicle Accident Lawyers

If you were injured in a multi-car accident in Greensboro, the skilled attorneys at Ward Black Law are ready to help. Contact us today for a free consultation with one of our Greensboro multi-vehicle accident lawyers.