How Are Multi-Car Collisions Different from Two-Car Collisions?

 Posted on May 30, 2025 in Personal Injury

Recently, an 88-year-old man driving a Chevy Camaro ran a red light, causing a three-car collision in Fairfield Township. A police officer in the lane next to the Camaro and a man in a Ford F-150 were also involved in the collision.

The F-150 rolled over due to the crash, and the 88-year-old man was ejected from the Camaro and flown via medical helicopter to UC Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors in the crash, although the elderly man may have had a medical condition that contributed to the collision.

When more than two cars are involved in a collision, there are some differences in how liability is proven. It can be more difficult to secure a settlement that covers all your damages when you are involved in a multi-car accident, and injuries could be more severe. This makes it a smart choice to speak to a Wadsworth, OH personal injury lawyer.  

What Are the Most Common Types of Multi-Vehicle Accidents?

Technically speaking, any accident that is not a one-car accident can be considered a multi-vehicle accident, although the term is generally understood to mean any collision that involves three or more vehicles. Multi-vehicle accidents often occur when what begins as a two-car accident ultimately involves three or more vehicles. These multi-vehicle accidents could involve:

• A rear-end collision where driver A strikes driver B from the rear, pushing driver B into the vehicle in front of him or her, and potentially involving four, five, six, or more vehicles.
• A T-bone accident at an intersection that pushed the car that was hit into another vehicle. 
• A sideswipe accident can occur on a freeway when one driver attempts to change lanes, hitting another driver. Because freeway traffic typically travels at a high rate of speed and closely together, many more cars can ultimately be involved.
• A head-on collision on a two-lane highway which occurs when one driver drifts across a median into oncoming traffic. The immediate collision also involves other drivers who are unable to avoid the accident.

Any auto accident that occurs in heavy traffic can ultimately become a multi-car accident as other drivers are unable to avoid the initial collision. Distracted driving behaviors, aggressive driving, instances of road rage, exceeding the speed limit, debris in the road, or bad weather can be responsible for the initial accident, which then "snowballs" into a multi-car accident.  

Who is Liable in a Multi-Car Collision?

In a multi-car accident, just like a two-car accident, there is usually one driver who caused, or at least mostly caused, the accident, although in some cases, there can be more than one liable party. A police report on the accident often identifies the liable party. In cases where liability is unclear, an accident reconstructionist, videos of the accident, or the event data recorder may help determine which driver was at fault.  

How Could Ohio’s Contributory Fault Law Impact Liability?

Under Ohio law, a plaintiff is barred from recovering damages if he or she is 51 percent or more liable for the accident. Suppose an accident occurs when one driver runs a red light and is T-boned by another driver who had a green light but was also seriously exceeding the speed limit.

While the driver who ran the red light was at fault, there might not have been an accident if the other driver had not been speeding. Once fault is apportioned, if the driver who was speeding is found to be 51 percent or more liable for the accident, then that driver is not entitled to recover damages.

Contact a Medina County, OH Car Accident Lawyer

If you have been involved in a multi-vehicle accident, it can be extremely beneficial to speak to a Medina, OH car accident attorney from The Law Office of Whitney K.S. Miller, LLC. Attorney Miller will provide guidance while ensuring your interests are fully represented and that you receive a full and fair settlement for your injuries and other damages related to the accident. Call 330-725-4114 to schedule a consultation, which is free in most cases.