Who’s at Fault in a Three-Way Car Accident?

Multiple-car accidents can be more complex than collisions involving one or two vehicles. Determining fault in a three-way car accident involves investigating the collision and gathering evidence. While it is a natural assumption that the rear vehicle is at fault, this is not always the case.

Multiple parties may share liability after a three-way car accident. Several people may have the right to file a car accident lawsuit and pursue compensation for their injuries. Car accident victims should seek help from a personal injury law firm with experience in determining who shares fault in a three-way car accident.

At Zervos & Calta, PLLC, we offer clients more than 50 years of combined legal experience and a reputation as accomplished trial lawyers. If you suffered harm in a three-way auto accident, we’re ready to help. Contact us today and receive a free consultation.

What Is a Three-Way Accident?

A three-way accident is a collision involving three motor vehicles. Three-way car accidents often involve a chain reaction collision, in which one vehicle strikes another and pushes it into a third. For example, one vehicle may rear-end another vehicle that is stopped at an intersection, and push it into a third vehicle that is stopped ahead of it. Multi-car collisions can cause serious car accident injuries with high medical bills.

What Are Common Causes of Multi-Car Accidents?

Driver negligence is the most common cause of multi-car accidents. Negligence includes speeding, distracted driving, driving while intoxicated, fatigued driving, failure to yield the right of way, and other traffic violations. Typically, negligence occurs when a driver fails to realize that the vehicle ahead has stopped or slowed, and the driver fails to react and avoid hitting it.

Other common causes of these accidents are mechanical failures, such as brake failures, poor road or weather conditions, and malfunctioning traffic signals. Depending on the exact cause of the accident, several parties may be at fault and share financial liability.

What Are Common Injuries in Three-Car Accidents in Florida?

Three-car accidents in Florida can cause many types of injuries, including:

• Fractured bones
• Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Crushed limb injuries and amputations
• Lacerations and burns
• Internal organ damage.

You must seek medical attention after a three-car accident, even if you initially feel fine. Some neck injuries, such as whiplash, may not exhibit symptoms immediately. But you may wake up the next day with severe pain and swelling. Seeking prompt medical treatment can prevent your injuries from worsening. A medical assessment can also document the fact that your physical injuries occurred during the multi-vehicle car wreck.

What Types of Evidence Can Be Used to Prove Who Was At Fault?

Gathering the proper evidence is crucial for proving fault in a three-car accident. Some of the most valuable pieces of evidence include:

• Accident scene photographs depicting the position of the vehicles, skid marks on the road, and relevant traffic signs and signals
• Traffic, surveillance, or dashboard camera footage that captured the car crash or the events leading up to it
• Eyewitness statements from motorists, passengers, or bystanders that provide additional information about the crash
• Testimony on specific aspects of the accident from medical professionals, crash reconstruction professionals, and more
• Medical records detailing your injuries.

While police crash reports are generally not admissible as evidence in personal injury cases, they can be vital for identifying other lines of evidence for a car accident law firm to pursue. Information contained in these reports includes:

• The date, time, and location of the crash
• A description of the vehicles involved
• The names and addresses of the parties involved
• The names and addresses of witnesses
• A description of the responding officer’s initial assessment of the accident scene.

Can Multiple Drivers Be Held Liable for the Crash?

Multiple drivers can be held liable for a crash. However, it’s important to remember that Florida is a no-fault insurance state. Your first course of action after an accident is to file a personal injury protection (PIP) claim with your insurance provider to cover your initial medical bills. If you exhaust your PIP benefits and still have medical expenses and lost wages that need to be paid, you can file a car accident claim against the at-fault party’s insurer for those losses.

However, you can only hold another driver liable for pain and suffering, mental anguish, and inconvenience if your injuries meet the state’s serious injury threshold. Severe injuries are those resulting in:

• Significant or permanent loss of an important bodily function
• Permanent injury
• Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
• Death

When multiple drivers are held liable for injuries sustained in a car accident, each driver’s insurance may cover a percentage of your losses that is equivalent to their degree of fault.

What Should I Do Immediately After a Three-Way Car Accident?

You should take several steps immediately after a three-way car accident to strengthen your car accident claim, including the following:

• Start medical treatment for your injuries and get them documented in your medical records.
• Take photographs of the accident scene, paying attention to the damage done to the vehicles.
• Report the accident to the police and obtain a copy of the police report for your records.
• Finally, don’t wait to consult an experienced Florida car accident attorney at Zervos & Calta, PLLC. The sooner your lawyer can start working on your case, the better.

Contact a Florida Car Accident Lawyer

Attorneys Angela A. Zervos and Lauren Calta offer clients more than 50 years of combined legal experience and a reputation as accomplished trial lawyers. At Zervos & Calta, PLLC, our personal injury lawyers take an aggressive approach to dealing with insurance companies. We have recovered millions for our past clients, and while past results do not guarantee future outcomes, it shows we have the experience to tackle the toughest cases.

Clients frequently praise the firm for the professionalism of our lawyers and staff, our effective communication skills, and our dedication to securing fair compensation for clients. Allow our legal team to handle every aspect of your case, allowing you to focus on your recovery.

When times are tough, your lawyer should be, too. Get started today. Contact us at Zervos & Calta, PLLC, for a free consultation with an experienced Florida car accident lawyer.

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About the Author

Angela Zervos
Angela has spent more than 28 years of her legal career fighting for personal injury victims – and against big insurance companies. As a true trial lawyer, she takes on a wide variety of personal injury claims, including those involving motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, medical malpractice, traumatic brain injuries, and wrongful death. Prior to starting her own law practice, Angela secured more than $80 million in settlements and jury verdicts for her clients – a 90 percent success rate since 2002. Her efforts on behalf of her clients have resulted in numerous accolades. For example, Angela maintains a “Superb” 10.0 rating from AVVO, an “AV Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and she is ranked among the Top 100 civil trial lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Zervos & Calta, PLLC serves the entire Tampa Bay area – including Pinellas County, Pasco County, Hernando County, and Hillsborough County – from offices in Tarpon Springs, Spring Hill, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg.