Cincinnati is a beautiful city located in Ohio. It is well known for the Ohio River and a passionate sports culture. The busy streets, highways, and residential roads make accidents an unfortunate reality here.
When multiple parties are involved in a car crash, things can get complicated. If you are facing a situation like this, consult a car accident lawyer in Cincinnati to get guidance on the legal process following the accident.
Multi-vehicle crashes are challenging not only for those directly involved but also for insurance companies, legal teams, and law enforcement.
Knowing how they determine liability and how insurance implications will be done in these cases is important. We will discuss it in detail in this blog.
Understanding Comparative Negligence
Negligence plays a major role in determining who is responsible for paying the damages to a victim of a multi-vehicle car accident.
Ohio follows a comparative fault rule, which means that if more than one party is responsible for the crash, the fault will be divided among the parties. Each party will be assigned some percentage of fault according to their actions.
For example, suppose Driver 1 runs a red light, and Driver 2 is speeding and collides with Driver 1’s car. In this case, both drivers are partially responsible for the crash.
If Driver 1 is determined to be 60% at fault for running the red light and Driver 2 is 30% at fault for speeding, the responsibility for damages will be shared according to this percentage.
Determining Liability
When multiple people cause a car accident, finding the liable party will be difficult. Here are some of the primary factors that help determine liability:
- Traffic Violations: If any driver breaks a traffic law, that violation can help establish fault. For example, if someone runs a red light, fails to yield, or speeds excessively, these violations can play a vital role in determining liability.
- Witness Testimonies: Eyewitness statements from passengers, pedestrians, or people nearby can help clarify how the accident occurred. Their statements help in finding which driver is at fault.
- Physical Evidence: Skid marks, vehicle positions, and even the damage to the vehicles can help to determine how the accident occurred or which person may be responsible for causing the crash. For example, rear-end collisions often suggest that the driver behind wasn’t paying attention, which led to a crash.
- Traffic Cameras or Dashcam Footage: Footage from traffic cameras or dashcams can offer details about the sequence of events leading to the crash. Video evidence can accurately show what happened in the accident spot.
How Does Insurance Work?
In a multi-vehicle crash, the insurance process becomes more complex. It says that the person who is found responsible for the collision must pay for the damages. Ohio is an at-fault state for car accidents.
If you are found partially at fault, your insurance will typically cover some of your damages, but the at-fault driver’s insurance should cover the rest if they are found more responsible. This can vary by state. If all the drivers involved are to blame, then the negotiation process can get tricky.
All the parties involved in the accident have to negotiate with the insurance company to determine how to share the financial responsibility for the damages.
However, the insurance provider may downplay the claim, so having a car accident lawyer will help you claim the compensation you deserve, even if you are partially at fault.
Conclusion
Handling a car accident claim involving multiple parties can be stressful. Don’t try to manage it alone; it requires evaluating complex things to find the liability.
It is better to hire a car accident lawyer to find the liability and get the maximum compensation you’re owed.
