Multi-vehicle accidents involve three or more vehicles.
One Dead, Three Others Injured in Accident in Kerrville
According to a KSAT News report, a driver is dead, and three others in injured in a 4-vehicle accident in Kerrville on State Highway 27.
The incident occurred on July 20, 2023, at around 11 a.m., according to the report. Police say that a four-vehicle pile-up accident left one driver dead at the scene and three others injured. A driver of a pickup made a left turn into another vehicle traveling on the inside lane. A van behind the pickup swerved to avoid the accident but ended up striking the vehicles anyway. One additional vehicle that was stopped on Blue Ridge Road was hit by a spare tire that fell from the pickup. The driver that was initially hit by the truck, 71 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene, and the three other drivers were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Did You Know?
There are almost 2 million multi-vehicle accidents in the United States each year, according to data from the NHTSA.
Multi-Vehicle Accidents in Texas
Multi-vehicle accidents occur when three or more vehicles are involved in the same accident and are unfortunately frequent. The most common reason that three or more vehicles are involved in an accident is that the force of one vehicle striking another pushes the vehicle into another in front or to the side. Or, as in the above case, the accident occurs because another vehicle is unable to avoid an accident that occurs in the roadway in front of them. So, how do you determine who’s at fault when multiple vehicles are in an accident?
Determining Fault in Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Texas law follows what is known as a ” modified comparative fault rule” when determining who is legally responsible for an accident when more than two vehicles are involved. Under this rule, the people involved in the accident are liable according to the degree to which they contributed to the accident in the form of a percentage.
Example:
Let’s say you were rear-ended while stopped at a traffic light because someone hit the car behind you, pushing them into your vehicle. In that case, because there was nothing you did to cause the accident and no way you could avoid it, you would not be at fault and would be able to collect damages.
Alternative Example:
Let’s say a jury finds you 30% responsible for an accident because you were driving distracted and didn’t react in time to avoid a collision. If you filed for $10,000 in damages, you would only be allowed to collect $7,000 for your injuries.
However, it is often the case that liability in these types of accidents is not always immediately clear. Additionally, if there was a significant time lapse between accidents, Texas law may see that as an entirely separate accident that the driver would be entirely at fault for. So how can you know for sure? That’s easy! Contact our firm for a free consultation today if you were in a multi-vehicle accident in Texas.
Multi-Vehicle Accident Attorneys Serving Texas
If you were injured in a multi-vehicle accident that was not your fault in Kerrville or across Texas, contact the auto accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw. We have 30 years of experience representing those injured in auto accidents, and we care. Contact the attorneys who put their clients first today via live chat or at 800-862-1260. We look forward to serving you.