Navigating Multi-Vehicle Car Accidents: Legal and Insurance Challenges

Multi-vehicle car accidents involve two or more vehicles, which may include cars, trucks, commercial vehicles, and motorcycles. In general, the more vehicles that are involved in a given accident, the more complex the case will be – and the more challenges a victim will face in recovering the compensation they need.

If you’ve been injured in a multi-vehicle accident, it’s especially important that you have legal representation. The other involved parties will likely have attorneys of their own, putting you at a severe disadvantage if you don’t have one, too. An attorney can help you by investigating the accident, gathering necessary evidence, filing your claim with the appropriate parties, negotiating with insurance companies for a settlement, and representing you in court as necessary.

Common Causes of Multi-Vehicle Accidents

The vast majority of multi-vehicle accidents happen because one or more of the drivers involved made a mistake. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the leading driver errors leading to motor vehicle accidents are as follows:

• Speeding – The faster a vehicle travels, the less time the driver has to react to hazards on the road, the more distance the vehicle needs to stop, and the more force it imparts on impact.
• Distracted Driving – When drivers take their eyes off the road, they risk overlooking an upcoming hazard until it’s too late.
• Drunk Driving – Intoxicated drivers have slower reaction times and may swerve between lanes or run through intersections due to their impairment.
• Drowsy Driving – Fatigued drivers are impaired in much the same way as intoxicated drivers. They struggle with focus, have delayed reaction times, and may even nod off behind the wheel.

Other factors that can contribute to multi-vehicle accidents include poor weather and road conditions, defective vehicle parts, and insufficient vehicle maintenance.

Determining Fault in Multi-Vehicle Accidents

To determine fault in an Alabama multi-vehicle accident, a lawyer will gather and review evidence like the following:

• Accident scene photographs
• Post-accident vehicle inspections
• Traffic or security camera footage
• Eyewitness statements
• Expert testimony
• Electronic data, such as cell phone records

An experienced car accident lawyer has the resources to gather the evidence necessary for proving your case and can use that evidence to prove another driver’s fault.

Challenges with Insurance Claims

Among the biggest challenges a victim might face as they seek compensation after a multi-vehicle collision are disputes over fault, the impact of contributory negligence, and insurance limits.

Disputes Over Fault

The more vehicles involved in the accident, the messier it becomes to determine who is at fault. One driver may be solely to blame, multiple drivers may share fault, or someone else entirely might be responsible.

This is one of the main reasons legal assistance is necessary in these cases. Without an attorney on your side, it can be impossible to identify the various at-fault parties who might owe you compensation.

Contributory Negligence

Alabama uses the common law theory of contributory negligence, which could have a massive effect on your case. Under contributory negligence, you cannot recover compensation for an accident for which you are partially at fault. This means that if a court finds you were in any way responsible for the accident, you might walk away with nothing.

An experienced car accident attorney can help you by proving not just that other parties were at fault for the accident but that you yourself did not contribute to its cause.

Insurance Limits

When multiple parties are hurt in the same accident, the at-fault driver’s liability insurance policy may be insufficient to cover the full extent of the injuries they’ve caused. This can leave victims with limited financial recovery for medical bills, property damage, and other losses.

An experienced attorney can help you explore other sources of compensation, such as filing a claim against your own underinsured motorist coverage or pursuing legal action against other liable parties to fully recover additional compensation.

Steps to Take After a Multi-Vehicle Crash

Some of the key steps you should take to protect your right to seek compensation and mitigate some of the common challenges associated with multi-vehicle crashes include:

• Seek Medical Treatment – You should always follow up with your medical treatment until you fully recover or will not recover further.
• Keep Medical Bills – Keep track of all bills you receive related to the accident so your lawyer can use them to calculate your medical expenses.
• Document the Incident – Take photographs of the accident scene and your visible injuries, and write down everything you remember about the crash.
• Avoid Providing a Statement – Do not provide a recorded statement to insurance adjusters. Their job is to get you to say something that will harm your claim.
• Contact a Car Accident Lawyer – The best way to protect your rights is to contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.

Compensation Available for Victims of Multi-Vehicle Accidents

Multi-vehicle accident victims can seek various types of compensation through their liability claims filed against the at-fault party’s auto insurance policy. The following are the most frequently sought types of compensation:

• Medical Expenses – Compensation for your past and future medical treatments, surgeries, hospital stays, prescription medications, physical therapy, and medical devices
• Lost Wages – Compensation for the income you lost or will lose because of your injury’s impact on your ability to work
• Disability Accommodations – Compensation for accommodating your disability by modifying your home or vehicle, hiring in-home care, and more
• Pain and Suffering – Compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering you experienced because of your injuries
• Emotional Distress – Compensation for the long-term emotional distress you experience because of the accident, such as if you developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Contact Our Alabama Car Accident Lawyers for Help

If you were injured in a multi-vehicle accident, contact Stokes Stemle LLC for a free consultation with an experienced Alabama car accident lawyer. During your initial consultation, our lawyers will review the details of the accident, explain your options for seeking compensation, and go over the strengths and weaknesses of your case. Don’t delay – reach out today.