When a car accident in Las Vegas involves three or more motor vehicles, the number of drivers and insurance companies can make it more difficult for victims to recover fair compensation. Whether you are hurt in a large-scale pileup on the freeway or a serious chain-reaction crash, you may need help from an experienced Las Vegas multi-vehicle accident lawyer to achieve a positive case outcome.
What Makes Multi-Vehicle Accidents Unique?
In an ordinary Nevada car accident with two drivers (or a driver and a bicyclist/pedestrian), fault and liability only need to be decided between two parties. In a multi-car pileup accident, a liability dispute can arise among three, four, five or more parties and their insurance providers. This can make it more difficult for those involved to get the auto accident settlements that they need.
In addition, once liability is determined, it may be up to just one driver’s insurance policy to cover the damages suffered by everyone else involved in the crash. Numerous injured drivers and vehicle passengers can mean a shortage of insurance coverage available, as Nevada law only requires a motorist to carry $50,000 in bodily injury liability per accident and $20,000 for property damage. This is often not enough to compensate multiple victims.
How Liability Is Determined for a Multi-Vehicle Accident
Common causes of multi-vehicle accidents include distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving and traffic law violations. As is the case after any harmful car accident in Nevada, an investigation will need to be done to determine who is at fault and financially responsible.
Nevada is an “at-fault” insurance state, meaning the driver or party at fault for causing the crash is required to pay for all victims’ damages. When a collision involves three or more vehicles, investigators will assess the scene, property damage patterns and evidence to determine which driver caused the initial crash that triggered all subsequent collisions.
The available evidence will be analyzed to determine which driver acted negligently first to set the chain of events in motion. If a distracted driver rear-ended another car with enough force to propel it into a third and fourth vehicle, for example, the distracted driver would be held accountable for everyone else’s damages.
Comparative Negligence and Multi-Vehicle Accident Cases in Nevada
In Nevada, multiple parties (including the plaintiff or filing party) can share fault for a car accident. In this scenario, each party can still receive compensation from the other at-fault parties. However, each person’s financial recovery will be diminished by a value equivalent to his or her individual percentage of fault under the state’s comparative negligence law. If any person is found to be 51 percent or more at fault, that individual will not recover any compensation at all.
Financial Compensation Available After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Las Vegas
Motor vehicle accidents can result in significant injuries and losses. These collisions often occur at high speeds, which increases the severity of the damage caused. A successful multi-vehicle accident claim in Nevada could lead to financial compensation for losses such as present and future medical expenses, lost income, property repairs, and pain and suffering.
Multi-vehicle accidents in Las Vegas can easily turn into complex car insurance claims or car accident lawsuits. You may benefit from hiring an LV injury attorney to handle your case for you, especially if you suffered catastrophic injuries or there is a liability dispute. A lawyer can take over all legal efforts for you while you focus on your recovery.