Determining liability can be a challenge in any car accident, but the situation can quickly become even more complicated in multi-way crashes. Find out what you need to know about navigating liability in Virgil/Sunset/Hollywood multi-way crashes. The same advice could also apply to accidents at other multi-way intersections in Los Angeles.

What Makes Virgil/Sunset/Hollywood so Dangerous?

The multi-way intersection at Virgil/Sunset/Hollywood just north of Virgil Village in East Hollywood is largely considered to be one of the most dangerous in Los Angeles for several reasons. Partnering with a trusted Los Angeles car accident lawyer can help you navigate the aftermath of collisions that occur at these complex junctions. Traffic flows in six different directions, and several of the streets change names suddenly. Drivers have minimal time to take in information from many traffic signals and signs on multi-lane roads, and pedestrians must cross a 200-foot expanse, which is twice the average width of a city intersection.

To make matters worse, the intersection at Virgil/Sunset/Hollywood sees more traffic than many intersections in the area. Over 52,000 cars pass through it each day, and many of those drivers are not from the area. Tourists often have difficulty discerning what is happening quickly enough to avoid collisions.

Understanding Comparative Negligence

The question of who is to blame for multi-vehicle crashes is a complicated one. In California, multiple drivers can hold partial liability for an accident. It’s often the case that every driver involved in a crash holds some degree of liability.

The state’s pure comparative negligence rule allows accident victims to pursue compensation even if they are determined to be partially at fault for the crashes that caused their injuries. Each person involved in the accident gets assigned a percentage of fault. Your percentage of fault then determines how much of your final settlement you actually receive.

The amount of settlement you receive should be decreased commensurate with the amount of blame you held for the accident. In other words, if you were initially entitled to $100,000, but you were determined to be 20% at fault, you’ll only receive $80,000 in the end. This same logic applies until you reach 99% liability. If you’re 100% liable for a crash, you won’t be able to seek damages from any of the other involved drivers.

How Liability Is Determined in Multi-Vehicle Accidents

Multi-vehicle accidents are common at large intersections. Establishing liability in these cases requires careful consideration of California car accident laws and a detailed investigation of the accident. Evidence that must be assessed to determine liability includes:

  • Police reports. Police reports document the scene, list contributing factors, and sometimes offer the responding officer’s assessment of fault. Insurance adjusters and courts often rely heavily on police reports when determining liability in complex accident cases.
  • Vehicle damage analysis. Insurance adjusters uncover crucial clues about how specific accidents unfolded through vehicle damage analysis. Rear-end damage might point to the trailing driver as the primary liable party, for example, while side damage could show that a driver changed lanes improperly or failed to yield.
  • Accident reconstruction. Accident reconstruction professionals use road assessments, analysis of debris patterns, and modern tools like computer simulations to help determine how an accident occurred. They consider factors such as vehicle speed, braking distance, and impact angles to construct a detailed account of what happened.
  • Traffic law violations. If one or more parties failed to respect California traffic laws, that could be considered negligent behavior. Common examples include running red lights, using cell phones while driving, or failing to maintain a safe following distance.

How a Lawyer Can Help

A California car accident attorney can help you by making sure that liability is appropriately assigned so that you can get the compensation you’re owed. Insurance companies often attempt to assign extra liability to other drivers so they can lower their payments. Your lawyer can perform their own analysis of liability to determine whether you were truly at fault for the accident.

Your attorney can do much more than just determine liability for the crash. They can also help you collect and analyze evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and litigate your case if it needs to go to court for a full resolution. Working with an experienced, trial-ready attorney is a must in complex multi-car accident cases, where everything from liability to the extent of injuries can come into question.

FAQs

Q: What Is a Common Cause of Multi-Vehicle Crashes?

A: There are several common causes of multi-vehicle crashes. They include tailgating, distracted driving, and adverse weather conditions. In many cases, these factors all come into play at once. An initial collision occurs, and some combination of the three factors just described prevents drivers from reacting in time to avoid secondary collisions.

Q: Where Do 40% of All Crashes Occur?

A: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 41% of all crashes occur in rural areas, and 58% of crashes occur in urban areas. This leaves drivers in large metropolitan areas like Los Angeles at an increased risk of getting into accidents. In 2023, there were 23,921 traffic fatalities in urban areas, accounting for 58% of all fatalities.

Q: Who Is to Blame in a Multi-Car Accident?

A: Who is to blame in a multi-car accident varies. Fault is determined in these types of crashes by breaking down the collision into a series of individual impacts and analyzing each involved driver’s actions. Insurance adjusters and courts evaluate their actions and the physical evidence to assign a percentage of fault to each party.

Q: What Should You Not Tell Your Insurance Company?

A: There are several things you should not tell your insurance company. You should not admit fault for the accident when you report it, nor should you attempt to determine who is to blame. You should also avoid downplaying your injuries by saying things like “I’m fine” in response to questions about how you are doing.

Hire a Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you’ve been involved in a multi-vehicle crash, you should hire a car accident lawyer immediately. Easton & Easton has extensive experience in handling complex and high-value multi-car accident cases.

One out of every three of our settlements is for $100,000 or more, and we routinely help to protect professionals and their families when serious injuries disrupt their careers. Keep in mind that past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits. Learn how we can help with your case. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation.