Who Is Liable In A Multi-Vehicle Accident – Road Accident Claims
Last updated 13th December 2024. Have you been injured in a chain-reaction car accident? Are you wondering who is liable in the event of a multi-vehicle accident?
To make a personal injury compensation claim for a road traffic accident of this kind, it will be helpful to learn who is liable in a multi-vehicle accident. Due to the large number of vehicles involved, it can be difficult to know who caused it. There are many factors that can help to decide this, which this guide will explore.
Before reading this article, you may have questions such as:
- How is fault determined in a multi-car accident?
- Who is at fault in a chain reaction accident?
- Can you be personally liable in a car accident?
- How can the whiplash reforms affect my claim?
In 2021, the government introduced new legislation changing the way that drivers and passengers over the age of 18 can claim for any injuries that are valued at £5,000 or below. In accordance with the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021, any claims of this nature must be made through the government’s new online portal.
This guide will answer these questions and more to give you as much clarity, understanding, and support as possible. If you want to start a personal injury claim today, our advisers are here to help.
Get In Touch With Our Team
If you’re not liable in a multi-vehicle accident and suffered injuries due to someone else being negligent, you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim. Compensation for personal injuries are usually awarded by the faulty parties vehicle insurance.
Our friendly team of advisers can offer you free legal advice surrounding who is liable in a multi-vehicle accident. If your claim is valid, an adviser could forward you to our panel of personal injury lawyers to begin working on your personal injury claim.
To get in touch with our team of advisers, we recommend you:
- Call 020 3870 4868. An adviser is always available to offer free legal advice.
- Start your claim online to receive a reply as soon as possible.
- Chat with one of our advisers via our online chat pop-up box for an instant response.
If you discuss your case with our team of advisers, there is no obligation to continue to use our services. However, our team of advisers could be able to connect you with our panel of personal injury lawyers.
Services And Information
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- Who Is Liable In A Multi Vehicle Accident?
- Causes Of Multi-Vehicle Pile-Ups And Accidents
- Multi-Vehicle Accidents Caused By Poor Weather
- Calculate Compensation For Multi-Vehicle Accidents
- How Insurance Companies Could Attribute Who Is Liable In A Multi Vehicle Accident
- Split Liability Accident Claims
- Time Limits To Make A Multi-Vehicle Accident Claim
- Claim For A Multi-Vehicle Accident On A No Win No Fee Basis
- Related Guides
Who Is Liable In A Multi Vehicle Accident?
You may be wondering who is liable in a multi-vehicle accident. Well, in a multiple vehicle collision, a road user will be considered liable if they breached their duty of care.
All road users owe one another a duty of care. This means that everyone must abide by the rules in the Road Traffic Act 1988 and The Highway Code in order to keep one another safe while on the road.
For example, if a driver was on their mobile phone at the wheel and not paying any due attention, this is a breach of duty of care. Therefore, they would be at least partly liable if a multiple-vehicle collision were to happen in which another road user was injured because they failed to notice the traffic ahead of them.
As such, here are the road traffic accident claims eligibility criteria:
- You were owed a duty of care by another road user.
- This duty of care was breached due to negligent actions/inactions.
- You suffered an injury as a direct result of this breach of duty.
The criteria above also forms the definition of negligence.
So, if you believe you meet the criteria, please contact us today. Speak to an advisor about the multiple-vehicle collision you were in, and they might be able to confirm your claim eligibility.
Causes Of Multi-Vehicle Pile-Ups And Accidents
There are various different ways that a driver can be liable in a multi-vehicle accident. Travelling too close to the car in front can mean that you are not leaving enough braking distance. If the car in front had to stop suddenly this could have a domino effect. This is because the vehicle behind them may crash into them, then the vehicle behind may crash into that car, etc.
These accidents can be prevented by:
- Vehicles keeping significant space between each other. This is so that if a vehicle stops or crashes, the vehicle behind has time to brake.
- Driving at the speed limit. This is a legal requirement as it can help prevent accidents (or lessen the severity of potential accidents).
Multi-Vehicle Accidents Caused By Poor Weather
Poor weather means poor road conditions which have the potential to cause multi-vehicle collisions. Poor weather conditions, such as rain or fog, can make it hard for drivers to see the road properly. This could cause them to drive too close to the car in front of them.
Therefore, they may not allow themselves enough time to stop if the car in front suddenly brakes. Similarly, this could happen if they fail to see hazards on the road, such as a pothole or debris.
Alternatively, the driver may be able to see the road but poor weather may cause dangerous road conditions, such as ice or rain causing a slippery surface. If a driver does not leave extra room for braking when there are poor road conditions this may cause them to crash and could result in a multiple vehicle accident.
Calculate Compensation For Multi-Vehicle Accidents
If your road traffic accident compensation claim is successful your settlement will comprise of potentially two heads of claim. Firstly we look at general damages that look to compensate for the pain and suffering caused by your injuries.
We’ve included a table including figures taken from the Judicial College Guidelines. The JCG is a document used by legal professionals to value what a claim could be worth, as it presents a list of injuries alongside guideline compensation brackets. You can find some examples of these brackets in the table below.
It’s important to note that none of these figures can be guaranteed since every claim is unique, and that the top figure is not from the JCG. Additionally, we’ve also provided two examples of the tariffs found in the Whiplash Injury Regulations as the last two figures.
| Injury | Severity | Guideline Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries with special damages | Serious | Up to £1,000,000+ |
| Brain damage | Very severe (a) | £344,150 to £493,000 |
| Moderate (c)(i) | £183,190 to £267,340 | |
| Back | Severe (a)(i) | £111,150 to £196,450 |
| Moderate (b)(i) | £33,880 to £47,320 | |
| Neck | Severe (a)(i) | In the region of £181,020 |
| Moderate (b)(i) | £30,500 to £46,970 | |
| Leg | Severe (b)(i) | £117,460 to £165,860 |
| Less serious (c)(i) | £21,920 to £33,880 | |
| Whiplash injuries with psychological harm | Lasting between 18-24 months | £4,345 |
| Whiplash injuries | Lasting between 18-24 months. | £4,215 |
Compensation for the injury itself and the physical and mental impact it’s had on your life is called general damages. The amount you receive is generally dependent on the severity of your injuries and the length of your treatment time.
Compensation for the financial effect the injuries have had on you is known as special damages. It’s difficult to qualify for special damages without providing sufficient evidence to prove your financial loss. An example of this evidence could be bank statements to show that you spent money on prescription medication for your injuries.
How Insurance Companies Could Attribute Who Is Liable In A Multi Vehicle Accident
Insurance companies will begin their own investigations to see who is liable in a multi-vehicle accident. Firstly, they may assess the timeline of the events that took place, as identifying what order the events took place can help significantly in understanding who caused the pile-up.
The police report can help identify the timeline of events and outline who may be negligent. Recovering costs from the other driver’s insurance companies can prove difficult when it’s unclear who is liable in a multi-vehicle accident.
If it’s found that more than one driver is at fault for the road traffic accident, a split liability claim may be introduced. So fault will be split. This can be between multiple drivers.
If you are making a personal injury claim when partially at fault for the accident this may mean you will only be awarded a reduced percentage of the compensation to take into account your part in the incident.
What evidence could support a multi-vehicle accident claim?
- Police reports: The police will accumulate a police report when they visit the scene of the accident.
- CCTV footage: CCTV footage from the accident can help determine who may be liable.
- Witness statements: Taking the details of any potential witnesses can be helpful. This ensures they can make a statement later on in the claim.
Split Liability Accident Claims
There are multiple ways that more than one driver could be liable in a multi-vehicle accident. For example, when the front vehicle has to stop suddenly but the vehicle behind and the vehicle behind that vehicle are not leaving enough room this can mean vehicles 2 and 3 are share some liability.
It may not always be clear who is liable or whether liability is shared in a road traffic accident. If you have any questions about liability for a multi-vehicle road accident call our trained advisors. They can assess your case and provide free legal advice with no obligation.
Time Limits To Make A Multi-Vehicle Accident Claim
The general personal injury claim time limit is three years. That counts as three years from the date of the accident or three years from when you realise your injuries are a result of someone else’s negligence. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.
If you’re under 18, the three-year time limit begins from your 18th birthday. Similarly, if you’re mentally incapacitated, the three-year time limit begins when your recovery commences. Alternatively, someone you trust can become a litigation friend to claim on your behalf if you’d like to claim earlier.
Claim For A Multi-Vehicle Accident On A No Win No Fee Basis
Our panel of personal injury lawyers can discuss working on a No Win No Fee basis with you. No Win No Fee is a contractual agreement between you and your solicitor in which you pay no upfront or ongoing fees to your solicitor.
If your case loses, you won’t have to pay any of your solicitor’s fees. If your case succeeds, your lawyer will take a success fee from your compensation. This fee consists of a small percentage with a legal cap.
To get in touch with our team of advisers, you can:
- Call 020 3870 4868. An adviser is readily available to chat with you.
- Chat with an advisor on the chat pop-up box. An adviser is ready to talk to you today.
- Start your claim online. Our team of advisers will respond as soon as possible.
Related Guides
How Does The Road Traffic Accident Claims Process Work? – This article provides more information for those wondering how road traffic accident claims work.
When And How To Report A Car Accident – Road Traffic Accident Compensation Claims – Have you been in a car accident that wasn’t your fault? Our guide explains how you can make a personal injury claim.
Pedestrian Hit By A Car At A Junction – If you’ve been hit by a car at a junction, our article can explore who may be eligible for compensation.
How do I know if I’ve Broken a Bone? – If you suspect you may be suffering from a broken bone, this NHS guide includes the signs, treatment, and recovery for a bone fracture.
Road Traffic Act 1988 – This piece of legislation contains the laws, rules, and regulations of the road.
Thank you for reading this article about who is liable in a multi-vehicle accident.
