Target Focus: California Street Racing Collisions, Multi-Vehicle Accidents & Negligence

In a complicated California traffic collision, the vehicle that physically strikes the injured person’s vehicle is not necessarily the only vehicle or driver whose conduct should be investigated.

This issue can arise in street-racing collisions, aggressive driving incidents, road-rage events, high-speed lane changes, unsafe merges, and multi-vehicle crashes. A driver may contribute to an accident without making physical contact with the injured person’s vehicle.

The central legal question is generally not simply, “Which vehicle hit the victim?” Instead, the investigation may need to determine whether another person’s conduct was a substantial factor in causing the collision and resulting injuries.

How Can a Non-Striking Driver Contribute to a Crash?

Consider a situation in which two vehicles are racing on a California roadway. One vehicle suddenly crosses into another lane, causing an innocent driver to brake or swerve. The innocent driver’s vehicle then collides with another vehicle.

The racing vehicle that did not physically strike the innocent driver may still become an important part of the liability investigation.

Other examples can include a driver:

• Cutting off another vehicle at high speed;
• Running a red light and forcing another driver into evasive action;
• Driving aggressively alongside another vehicle;
• Participating in an unlawful race;
• Pursuing another driver at dangerous speeds; or
• Creating a hazardous traffic situation that causes a chain-reaction collision.

Whether that conduct creates legal liability depends on the evidence and applicable California law.

Comparative Fault Can Make Multi-Party Cases Complicated

California generally follows comparative-fault principles. When multiple parties may have contributed to an accident, the allocation of responsibility can become an important issue.

An injured person should not assume that the first police determination-or the fact that one vehicle made physical contact-necessarily identifies every potentially responsible party.

A thorough investigation may examine traffic-camera footage, surveillance video, dashcam recordings, cellphone evidence where legally obtainable, vehicle data, photographs, eyewitness testimony, accident-scene evidence, and accident-reconstruction analysis.

Multiple Insurance Policies Require Careful Investigation

When multiple parties may bear responsibility, identifying all potentially liable parties can also be important for determining what insurance coverage may be available.

However, insurance recovery is not automatically increased simply because multiple vehicles were involved. Coverage depends on the policies, the parties, liability findings, damages, applicable law, and other facts.

Why Serious Multi-Vehicle Cases Require Early Investigation

Evidence can disappear quickly after a collision. Traffic-camera recordings may have limited retention periods. Businesses may overwrite surveillance footage. Vehicles may be repaired. Witnesses may become difficult to locate.

For that reason, an early preservation strategy can be particularly important in complex collisions.

Leeran S. Barzilai, A Professional Law Corporation handles civil litigation and serious injury matters. Our attorneys can investigate the circumstances surrounding a complex collision and evaluate whether additional drivers, businesses, or other parties may have potential legal responsibility.

If you were injured in a multi-vehicle crash, street-racing incident, or collision involving aggressive driving, contact our office to discuss your circumstances.

Leeran S. Barzilai, A Professional Law Corporation
Phone: (619) 436-7544
Email: receptionist@lbatlaw.com
Website: https://lbatlaw.com/