Car accidents are not always as clear-cut as a rear-end collision at a red light or a drunk driver going the wrong way and causing a head-on collision. Sometimes, determining liability after a car wreck can be complicated from either a practical standpoint or a legal standpoint, or even a combination of both. If you were hurt in a motor vehicle accident that involves one of these circumstances, do not be discouraged. While your claim might be a bit more complicated, recovering compensation is still possible. It is best to get in touch with an attorney quickly after a complex accident, as the sooner an investigation can begin, the more evidence may still be available. 

What Issues Can Make a Car Accident Claim More Complex?

More complex car accidents can sometimes require a little more investigation, especially when who was actually at fault is disputed. Your claim may be more complicated in case involving: 

• Multiple vehicles - In pile-ups or accidents involving more than two vehicles, sorting out who is at fault and for what can be a challenge. Often, the blame is shared by more than one other driver. For example, if one driver stopped too closely behind you at a red light and was pushed into your vehicle after himself being rear-ended. In this event, you may have a claim against more than one driver. 

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Texans can do quite a bit of driving just getting around our enormous state. When people spend so much time driving, it is very easy to forget how dangerous operating a vehicle can be. Drivers are often tempted to take their eyes off the road to attend to something else, especially on long drives. It may not seem like a big deal, but car accidents can happen in an instant while the driver is not looking. It only takes a split second for an obstacle to pop up. 

If you were injured by a distracted driver, you may be quite frustrated at their carelessness. The good news is that you may be able to recover compensation. It is best to speak to an attorney as soon as you can after an accident so that certain types of physical evidence at the crash site can be preserved right away. 

4 Types of Dangerous Distractions for Drivers

Drivers can get distracted from the road for a number of reasons, from boredom to an obnoxious passenger. Distracting situations may arise, but drivers are expected to be able to keep their attention focused on driving the car. Reasons drivers become distracted include: 

Serious car accidents can leave you shaken and not thinking clearly. The scene around you can be chaotic, with multiple first responders, disabled vehicles blocking the roads, and even onlookers crowding in. There are a few common mistakes shortly after an accident that can complicate their claim later. Remembering what not to do after a crash can be just as important as remembering what to do. In any case, it is always a good idea to contact an attorney promptly if you have been injured in a motor vehicle crash. 

4 Common Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Accident

There are a few things to keep in mind after a car accident in order to preserve your claim. A seemingly simple mistake at the accident scene can cause difficulty when you attempt to recover compensation for your injuries. After a car crash, do not: 

• Admit fault - Avoid saying anything that suggests you may be even partially to blame. Do not apologize to the at-fault driver or suggest that you could have avoided the accident. An attorney can assess whether your share of fault may limit the amount you can recover, but the scene of the crash is not the time to address this.

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Even minor car accidents can turn into a huge headache. There is a police report to file, statements to give to insurance companies, and now your vehicle needs to be repaired. When you are injured and have medical bills to pay, the aftermath of the crash is even more complicated. Navigating the compensation process alone while recovering from a serious injury is extremely challenging. Even worse, some car insurance companies may try to take advantage of injured crash victims who try to do so. Whether the responsible driver’s insurance company acknowledges liability or not, there are many reasons you may want to be represented by counsel before you speak to insurance agents. 

What Tactics Do Insurance Companies Use to Take Advantage of Unrepresented Parties?

Car accidents happen every day, but they do not happen to you every day. The less familiar you are with the process of calculating how much you are owed and filing a claim, the easier it is for an insurance company to use your lack of experience against you. Look out for these tactics: 

• Low offers - After you have given your statement, you will probably receive a settlement offer. Usually, the amount offered will sound high. Insurance companies hope that people will see the dollar amount and instantly accept it. However, when you begin factoring in not just the cost of medical bills, but lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional damages, and other damages, the amount in the initial offer rarely comes close to covering everything. 

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 Brake failure can cause devastating car or truck crashes. Frequently, brakes fail with no notice, leaving the helpless driver trying to crash in the least harmful way possible. However, in some cases, the driver may have had enough notice that her brakes were faulty that she should have gotten them fixed and avoided the wreck. The liability for a brake failure accident depends largely on which of those scenarios occurred. If you were injured when the brakes on a vehicle failed, you will want to speak to an experienced attorney as soon as possible to get you on the path to recovering compensation. 

What Are the Two Types of Liability After a Brake Failure Crash? 

Depending on the facts of your case, there are a handful of parties who could ultimately be responsible for the crash - and liable for damages. After your attorney investigates and has a better understanding of what caused the brakes to fail, he or she may bring your claim under either a products liability theory, negligence theory, or both. It is also possible to file a claim against - and recover compensation from - more than one party, if some combination of a defective product and a person’s negligence contributed to the crash. 

Driver negligence can contribute to or cause brake failure if the driver knew that her brakes were faulty, but failed to make repairs. If there was no defect with the brakes and they were simply worn down and overdue for replacement, the driver might be completely responsible under negligence law. A mechanic could also be liable under a negligence theory if they carelessly installed or repaired the brakes, and that caused them to fail