Multi-vehicle car wrecks happen all the time in Houston, especially on our freeways and highways. But who is at fault in a multi-vehicle accident or pile-up where multiple vehicles were damaged and people were injured? Which driver’s insurance company will ultimately pay for your property damage, medical expenses, and other injuries?

Unfortunately, the answer is not always simple, which is why it may be in your best interest to consult a Houston car accident attorney if you are involved in a wreck involving multiple vehicles. Texas car insurance policies and Texas car accident laws can complicate your ability to recover your damages, especially when multiple cars, trucks, or commercial vehicles are involved in the collision.

What if the Police Report Says Another Driver Was at Fault?

What if the police report or a police officer finds that another vehicle was at fault? Does that driver’s insurance company have to pay for your damages?

While a police accident report may be helpful in establishing liability, it does not end the debate over who caused a car wreck. Even if the police report or investigating officer puts one vehicle at fault, that driver’s insurance company may not agree and may refuse to pay for your property damage, medical bills, or other injuries.

This can become particularly complicated in a multi-car accident where more than one driver may share responsibility for causing the collision.

What if You Were Hit by Another Vehicle and Pushed Into Another Car?

While you may not be liable if another vehicle hit you and caused you to hit the vehicle in front of you, you may be found partially liable, or your recovery may be limited if, for example, you were found to be following the vehicle in front of you too closely.

Determining fault in a chain-reaction car accident often requires looking at how the collision started, the sequence of impacts, the actions of each driver, and the available physical evidence.

What if a Driver Caused a Multi-Vehicle Wreck and Then Fled the Scene?

If a vehicle caused a pile-up or multi-vehicle collision and then fled the scene, it may be difficult for the other drivers involved to recover anything unless they have uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.

Even if you have UM/UIM coverage, your own insurance company may dispute the claim or give you a hard time depending on the facts of your case.

A hit-and-run accident involving multiple vehicles can be particularly complicated because identifying the vehicle that caused the initial collision may be critical to determining what insurance coverage is available.

What if a Commercial Vehicle or Truck Is Involved in the Accident?

When a commercial vehicle, delivery truck, company vehicle, 18-wheeler, or other commercial truck is involved in a multi-vehicle accident, determining who is responsible can become even more complicated.

Depending on the circumstances, potential responsibility may extend beyond the driver to the company that owns or operates the commercial vehicle. Identifying the vehicle, the company involved, and the applicable insurance coverage can therefore be especially important after a commercial vehicle accident in Houston.

What Can You Do After a Multi-Vehicle Accident to Help Establish Responsibility?

To help untangle the complicated web of liability after a Houston multi-vehicle accident, you should get information for the driver and vehicle for every vehicle involved in the accident, not just the car or cars that hit your vehicle. This includes:

• the other drivers’ names;
• the other drivers’ contact information;
• the other vehicles’ license plate numbers; and
• the other vehicles’ insurance information.

You should also take as many pictures of the accident scene as possible, including photographs of the damage to the other vehicles. Pictures of the other vehicles may be particularly important if they are commercial vehicles, company trucks, delivery vehicles, or 18-wheelers and have a company name, logo, USDOT number, or other identifying information on the vehicle.

Other evidence, such as witnesses’ names and contact information or videos of the accident from nearby security cameras or dash cameras, may also help establish who was at fault for the accident, and you should obtain this information if possible.

Even though police reports normally contain the other vehicles’ information, police reports may contain inaccurate or missing information. Documenting the accident scene yourself and taking down the other parties’ information at the scene may help you later if there are discrepancies in the police report.

When multiple vehicles or commercial vehicles are involved, determining liability after a Texas car accident can become complicated quickly. Preserving evidence and identifying every driver, vehicle, insurance company, and potentially responsible business can be important to protecting your ability to recover compensation for your damages and injuries. Reach out to our team to learn more.