Our Clarksville Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After Any Pileup
When multiple vehicles collide on busy Clarksville roads or highways, determining who caused the crash becomes more complex. Often, there are multiple parties who share the blame – and sometimes, you may even be one of them. Luckily, Tennessee follows a modified comparative fault system, which means you can still recover damages as long as you are less than 50% at fault for the accident. At Pete Olson Injury Law, our Clarksville car accident lawyers work hard to prove you did not cause the accident and to maximize your compensation for your injuries.
How Fault Is Determined in Multi-Vehicle Crashes
Insurance companies and legal teams examine several key factors when investigating multi-vehicle accidents:
- Physical evidence from the accident scene
- Vehicle damage patterns
- Police reports and witness statements
- Traffic camera and video doorbell footage (when available and applicable)
- Accident reconstruction analysis
- Weather and road conditions
- Cellphone records
- Driver statements
Each driver's actions are carefully evaluated to determine their percentage of fault. This includes factors like following too closely, speeding, distracted driving, or failing to adjust driving for weather conditions.
For example, say you are stopped at a red light, and the car behind you rear-ends you. You are pushed forward into the car ahead of you, rear-ending that driver. In this scenario, you may share little-to-no fault for the crash. But if you were speeding around a corner and rear-ended Car A, and Car A hits Car B, you could be found at fault for both crashes.
The Difference Between “Fault” and “Liability” in Clarksville Car Accidents
Many people use the terms "fault" and "liability" interchangeably when discussing car accidents, but there are important distinctions between these legal concepts. Understanding these differences can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation after a crash.
Fault refers to who caused the accident through their actions or inactions. For example, a driver who runs a red light and hits another vehicle is at fault for the crash. However, this driver might not be the only party legally responsible for paying damages.
Liability is the legal responsibility to pay for damages resulting from the accident. While the at-fault driver often bears liability, other parties might share legal responsibility:
- Employers may be liable when their employees cause accidents while driving for work.
- Vehicle owners can be liable when they let an unlicensed or incompetent person drive their car.
- Parts manufacturers might be liable if a vehicle defect contributed to the crash.
- Government entities could be liable for accidents caused by poor road maintenance.
- Trucking companies may share liability for accidents involving their commercial vehicles.
Consider this example: A delivery driver causes an accident while speeding to meet an unrealistic schedule set by their employer. While the driver is at fault for speeding, both the driver and their employer may share liability for the resulting damages.
This distinction becomes particularly important when seeking compensation after an accident. Your lawyer will investigate all potentially liable parties to maximize your chances of receiving total compensation for your injuries and damages.
The Impact of Fault Percentages on Compensation
Tennessee's modified comparative fault rule directly affects how much compensation you can receive:
- If you're found 0% at fault, you can recover 100% of your damages
- If you're found 25% at fault, your compensation is reduced by 25%
- If you're found 49% at fault, your compensation is reduced by 49%
- If you're found 50% or more at fault, you cannot recover any compensation
This makes it crucial to have strong legal representation to minimize your assigned percentage of fault. At Pete Olson Injury Law, we know how to build a case on your behalf that reduces or eliminates your percentage of fault, which may increase the amount of compensation you can receive.
Common Challenges in Multi-Vehicle Claims
Multi-vehicle accidents present unique complications:
- Multiple insurance companies become involved.
- Each driver may blame others.
- Evidence can be more difficult to preserve.
- Injuries may be more severe.
- Insurance coverage limits may be insufficient.
- Settlement negotiations become more complex.
An experienced Clarksville car accident lawyer can help you navigate these challenges while protecting your interests.
What Can I Do to Protect My Rights After a Multi-Car Accident in Clarksville?
You can’t always prevent an accident, but you can take actions to help protect your claim. We recommend that you:
- If possible, document everything at the scene. Take pictures of the car, your injuries, the scene, the weather—anything you can.
- Obtain contact information from all drivers and witnesses.
- Seek immediate medical attention. You want to start that history of your health and injuries as soon as possible.
- Keep records of all accident-related expenses.
- Avoid discussing fault with other drivers or insurance companies. Do NOT agree to any recorded interviews without calling a lawyer first.
- Get Pete on your side! We’ll deal with the insurance companies on your behalf and keep you apprised of any changes or movement in your case.