Understanding Fault in a Multi-Car Accident
Often a car accident is pretty easy to determine fault. One driver fails to obey the laws of the road, and crashes into another causing property damage and personal injury.
But what if the car that hits you wasn’t the car that’s at fault?
Suppose you’re rear ended, but only because the vehicle behind you was also rear ended? Or there was another situation where a vehicle (or another object) was pushed into your vehicle? Let’s see what we should do in order to make your insurance claim, and potential case, go more smoothly.
5 Steps to Take after a Multi-Car Accident
As with all accidents, there are a few “rules” to follow so you can ensure that you remain safe, but also information is collected that can help move your settlement or case in the right direction.
1 – Call 911. In a multi-car pileup, there will likely be numerous calls for emergency personnel. Go ahead and call as well, especially if there is a serious injury in your vehicle.
2 – Stay in the car. When there are a bunch of vehicles involved, it’s often due to weather. Icy roads or low visibility means that there’s a strong chance that another vehicle is going to collide with the pileup. The safest place you can be is in your vehicle.
3 – Take pictures and video. The more time that passes after an accident, the less you will remember. Make a video that shows as much of the scene as possible from your vehicle. Narrate what you experienced so that when your car accident lawyer, the police, or a judge, has to review later they know just what happened to you.
4 – Gather information. When it is safe (usually after emergency crews are on scene), continue to take video, get contact information from witnesses, and make sure that you seek medical attention right away. Even if you “feel fine” your adrenaline may be coursing through your body and when it wears off you will end up hurting.
5 – Call us. Notify your favorite multi-car accident lawyer so they are prepared. In this case that would be Herbert Law Group, of course.
How Long with a Multi-Car Accident Claim Take?
Motor vehicle accident claims can take a while. When there is a complex case, it can take quite a bit longer. Sometimes there is investigative work needed to determine who is at fault for the accident.
The best way to keep things moving along and to ensure you receive a settlement quickly, is to make sure there is a lot of evidence that shows what happened. The faster it can be determined who was at fault, the faster settlements can come in.
Herbert Law Group Helps with Multi-Car Accidents
Whether you were involved in a three car pileup, or a 300 car pileup, we are here to help.
To get started, just fill out the contact form on our site, or give us a call at 214-414-3808 and we can have a no obligation conversation to see how we can help.