Multi Vehicle Accidents in Charleston
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While a car accident involving only two vehicles can be an open-shut case, accidents involving more than two vehicles are significantly complex. It can be extremely difficult to determine who actually caused the accident. If you suffered an injury in a multi vehicle car accident, Pierce | Sloan is ready to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Determining Fault in a Multi Vehicle Collision
So how can you determine who is at fault in a multi vehicle accident?
The following are common multiple vehicle accident scenarios in South Carolina:
- Rear car is at fault - In most cases, the person in the rear of the accident typically starts the chain reaction. What occurs is that one driver hits the back of another, which forces that person’s car to move forward into the car in front of him or her. Since only the car in the rear started the chain reaction, he or she will be charged with the accident entirely.
- Middle car is at fault – Sometimes, a middle car can cause a chain reaction by striking the car in front of him or her, forcing cars behind the middle car to collide with it and other cars. In this type of situation, figuring out who is at fault can be very difficult.
- Front car is at fault – If the lead driver brakes without warning for one reason or another, then causes the car behind him or her to collide into theirs and sparking a chain reaction.
- Phantom car is at fault – A driver may claim that he or she was hit by a phantom motorist, who drove off as soon as the accident occurred. While this type of case can be hard to prove, it can occur. One telltale sign is if the last car in the chain suffered any damage in the rear of the car.
It is important to also understand that there can be multiple parties at fault. If the evidence suggests that more than one motorist was at fault for an accident, a percentage of fault will need to be applied to each driver who caused the collision. This type of case can be hotly-contested when it comes to settlement discussions or court litigation, since the percentage of fault decides the amount of liability for each party involved.
However, if you were partly responsible for the accident, you may still be entitled to recover damages since South Carolina follows a comparative negligence rule. That means you are able to recover from any other driver who was “more at fault” for the collision than you were. In other words, if you are 50% or more responsible for the accident, you are not able to collect damages.
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Without the legal assistance of an experienced car accident lawyer, you can risk not getting a fair amount for your car accident injuries. At Pierce, Sloan, Wilson, Kennedy & Early, LLC, we can conduct a thorough investigation into your accident, gather crucial evidence, and interview witnesses at the scene in order to develop an aggressive and personalized case strategy to recover your entitled compensation.
Contact our firm and discuss your legal options with our Charleston car accident attorney today.