When you are driving behind a vehicle on the road, anything can happen. It can feel as though you are upon the car in front of you out of nowhere and unable to stop a crash from occurring. When you are the vehicle that strikes the car ahead, things can turn chaotic quickly. You may not be sure how the accident happened or what led to you losing control of your vehicle. There are several instances where another driver or party may have had a hand in the events leading to the accident. Pile up Accident Multiple vehicle crashes or pileups can occur during heavy road traffic, such as on interstates and highways. Additionally, weather and road conditions can raise the risk of these accidents. For example, if you are in a pileup accident, another driver may have hit your vehicle from behind, leading to a crash with the vehicle ahead of you. If another car strikes you from behind with significant force and speed, you may have little control over your vehicle, even when there is sufficient space ahead. In this case, you didn’t initiate the accident but the vehicle or vehicles behind you. A car accident lawyer can help you determine what parties are liable for the crash in these chaotic accidents and how to file an insurance claim for your damages. Brake Checking It can happen instantly, and you may not even see it coming. If another driver intentionally slams their brakes in the middle of the roadway as you are traveling for no reason, it may lead to you striking their vehicle. Brake checking is an intentional and malicious activity that can endanger your life and others on the roads. These types of accidents can be challenging to prove, and having a lawyer can better your chances of tracking down the evidence necessary to establish the intent and actions of the driver ahead leading to the accident. Reversing While it is not a common type of rear-end accident, a vehicle ahead reversing into your vehicle can occur. This accident is most likely to happen when a vehicle stops at a light or traffic sign, puts the car in park, and suddenly reverses erroneously, leading to the collision. However, it may also happen intentionally on the part of the driver ahead if they are angry, frustrated, and trying to cause damage and harm to you. These accidents are unique, and when they happen, the actions and negligence of the other driver lead to the crash. If you are a victim of this situation, a car accident attorney can help you argue your claim for damages against the insurance companies or in court. Vehicle Malfunction We rely that our vehicles and others on the roadways operate as expected and are free from malfunctions or defects that can contribute to an accident. For example, suppose a vehicle’s malfunction led to an accident, whether through a fault of the car itself or failure of the vehicle owner to maintain and inspect the vehicle. Another party may be liable for your damages sustained in the rear-end crash. Examples of a car’s fault that could involve a rear-end crash are when brake lights are not working or lighting up as required or when the brakes of the vehicle you are in malfunction and do not react as expected. A rear-end accident lawyer can help you look into the crash, whether a vehicle’s component may have contributed to the crash and the damages that occur.