Multi-Vehicle Accidents

Some car crashes involve multiple vehicles, and sorting out liability in these cases may be a complex effort. Afterward, the drivers may not be truthful about precisely what happened, and outside witnesses' memories may not be fully trustworthy. There are likely to be serious conflicts among the various accounts, and some drivers may not know or remember what happened, especially if head trauma is involved. Although you may be entitled to compensation, it may be difficult to know from whom to pursue it. At the Hartsoe Law Firm, Maryville car accident attorney Mark C. Hartsoe stands ready to help you recover compensation after a multi-vehicle crash.

In most cases, you will need to establish negligence by a preponderance of the evidence. This means that you will need to show the other driver's duty of care (drive safely), a breach of duty (negligent driving), causation (injured from the wreck), and damages (medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc.). In Tennessee, the doctrine of joint and several liability was abolished in 2013, and each driver is held only severally responsible for damages. This means that a driver is only held responsible for damages up to their actual percentage of fault for an accident.

In many multi-vehicle collisions, it may be necessary to retain an automobile accident reconstruction expert. These are knowledgeable people who take a scientific approach when looking at debris marks, damage to vehicles, their resting positions on or off the street, injuries, police reports, witness testimony, and other evidence to determine what happened to cause the accident and why. They are usually trained to evaluate the data related to the accident and provide a report or testimony about liability. This may include conclusions about the speed that each vehicle was going or how a driver was positioned in the car, which may make a driver's account of what happened believable or not believable.

They may also determine whether the police report makes sense. Although you are required in some cases to report your accident to the police, sometimes the officers who respond to the scene incorrectly assess fault, particularly if one driver is injured and does not know what happened. Sometimes the report may not make it clear that a driver acted recklessly, and this affects how an insurer evaluates the case.

Once liability is established, you may be able to recover economic and noneconomic damages. These may include reimbursement for medical bills, lost income and lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of activities that you used to be able to do. However, a lot depends on which attorney you choose and how well they establish the defendants' liability.

Our firm stands ready to fight for damages on your behalf if you were injured in a multi-vehicle accident. Call the Hartsoe Law Firm at 865-804-1011 or contact us through our online form for a free consultation with a motor vehicle collision attorney. Maryville car accident lawyer Mark C. Hartsoe represents victims throughout East Tennessee, including in Knox, Blount, Monroe, Loudon, Jefferson, Grainger, Cocke, Campbell, Hamblen, Greene, Anderson, Cumberland, and Fentress Counties.