Wichita Falls Car Accidents With More Than One At-Fault Driver
Yes, more than one driver can be responsible for causing a car wreck in Wichita Falls, and throughout Texas and Oklahoma. It isn’t uncommon for multiple drivers to share fault for an accident when there are more than two vehicles involved in the accident.
Why is it important to know exactly who all caused a Wichita Falls accident? In order to properly and adequately pursue your claim and recover for your injuries, damages, and other financial losses, you must prove that the other drivers were the ones who caused the wreck. Proving who was at fault in a multi-vehicle accident can be complicated, but there are certain steps you could take to strengthen your case. Also, if there are multiple people at fault, this means there could be more insurance available to recover from.
If it is determined that you were at fault for the accident in some way, under comparative fault laws, your settlement amount could be lowered in proportion to the amount of fault you share for causing the accident. These cases can be reconciled with the help of an experienced car accident lawyer.
Examples of Multi-Vehicle Accidents in Wichita Falls
There are many types of multi-vehicle accidents, but below are three of the most common types along with examples of comparative fault:
- Accidents in Wichita Falls often happen on I44, US Hwy 277, and US Hwy 287. While one driver may be responsible for making the initial contact, other drivers could be held responsible for distracted driving or reckless driving and speeding. These drivers would share in responsibility for causing the crash.
- Even if there are only two vehicles involved, both drivers could share responsibility for causing the accident. For example, if one driver is backing out of a parking space and backs into another driver that was speeding through the parking lot, a jury may find that both drivers contributed to the accident.
- One driver slam on their brakes and is hit by another driver traveling too close behind. It may be determined that both drivers played a role in causing the accident.
Comparative Fault Laws in Texas and Oklahoma
Both Texas and Oklahoma have a modified form of comparative fault laws that will have an impact on a victim’s compensation for an accident. Under the laws of comparative fault, damages are divided between the parties involved according to the percentage of fault for the accident. If one driver was not responsible at all, they are eligible to receive full compensation. However, if you contributed in any way to the cause of the accident, your compensation could be reduced by the percentage of fault you are determined to have. And if it is found that you are 51% or more responsible, you are not eligible to receive anything.
Do I Need a Wichita Falls Car Accident Attorney?
While we recommend contacting a Wichita Falls car accident attorney, it is not always necessary to have one. If your injuries are not very serious and it is clear and documented that the other person was at fault, you probably do not need the help of an attorney. However, if you are being blamed for causing the car accident or if you suffered serious, life-threatening injuries, or even just injuries that will require extensive treatment, you should contact an experienced accident and injury attorney right away. The quicker you do so, the quicker the attorney can jump into action and secure the evidence that is needed to support your claim and secure you the compensation you deserve.
Insurance companies will often attempt to threaten the theory of comparative fault to deny your claim or at the very least, undervalue it. A common practice of the insurance adjusters is to get the victim to give them a recorded statement or to get them to sign an authorization so they can see the victim’s records, all of which they then use against them. They do this by acting like they truly care and like they are the victim’s friend. Once they get the victim to admit something, they then twist it and manipulate it to point the finger at you as the main cause of the accident.
An example of this trickery is best illustrated through an example. If you admit to the adjuster that your alarm didn’t go off and you overslept on the day of the accident, they may ask what all you had going on that day, and you may respond that you had an interview to go to. The two of you may discuss interviews and how they can be stressful, especially when something goes wrong like when you are running late.
While you may walk away innocently from that conversation not thinking much of it, the insurance adjuster just gained ammunition to use against you. Now, they can paint a picture to the jury that on the day of the accident, you were already stressed out and anxious about your interview and on top of that you were running late so you were speeding at the time of the accident. Without convincing evidence disputing this, a jury will likely believe this narrative and determine that you are at least partially to blame for the accident.
This is why it is a good idea to talk with a Wichita Falls car accident lawyer before you make any statements, answer any questions, sign any forms, or just generally talk to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. If the insurance company begins to questions your treatment or hints that they believe you may be at fault, simply stop all communications right away and contact a lawyer.
Call Us for a Free Consultation with a Wichita Falls Accident Lawyer
Car accidents involving multiple vehicles and comparative fault are often very complicated. In these types of accidents, insurance companies spend a lot of time and resources attempting to avoid liability. As a victim, you could be caught in the middle of their dispute and end up getting the short end of the stick. It is critical that you have an experienced and trusted attorney on your side who handles these types of issues all the time. We know the tactics of the insurance companies and we know what needs to be done to secure you fair compensation for your accident claim.
Booker Law helps accident victims in Wichita Falls and throughout Texas and Oklahoma. Contact our office today at 940-569-4000 or fill out our contact form to set up a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.