If you have been involved in an automobile accident, your injuries may be severe or even fatal. The very unfortunate aftermath of collisions tend lead to significant and steep medical costs, extensive physical therapy, and missed work time. The ultimate result of a car accident can be severe financial hardship, remedied only through a personal injury lawsuit against the accident perpetrators. Such a scenario is particularly true when discussing car accidents involving multiple vehicles. However, multiple car wrecks can be complicated to resolve. A respected personal injury or insurance attorneys who can review your case may be able to offer assistance. The question of who pays your personal injury claim after a multiple car accident is very common, however the answer depends on who was at fault and how the accident itself occured.
Determining Fault and Why Multiple Car Accidents Occur
Police who respond to the accident will likely conduct an on-scene investigation and draw preliminary conclusions about the incidents cause by interviewing motorists involved and witnesses. Other factors that might help the authorities determine who was responsible include the condition of the vehicles involved, evidence left behind, and the severity of injuries sustained. In more complex cases involving a large number of cars and/or other complications like inclement weather, extensive examination by a team of experienced investigators might be necessary to establish the exact cause. However, once cause is established, it will be easier to figure out which motorists bear blame. Before it can be determined who is to blame, the police or other investigating authorities and perhaps even a court of law must investigate the circumstances that caused the accident. Typically, chain reaction auto wrecks, or “pile ups” are the byproduct of numerous causes, including but not limited to:
- Reckless driving.
- A distracted driver, such as a motorist speaking on his or her cell phone or texting.
- Speeding.
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or other reflex-slowing substances.
- Failure to yield.
Who Will Pay the Claim?
This depends upon who the court or law enforcement deems to be most responsible for your accident. The vast majority of states employ the comparative negligence principle. This legal rule dictates that how much or little compensation the plaintiff in a personal injury case receives is contingent on the percentage of blame the ruling faction believes he or she bears in causing the incident. For example, should the plaintiff be found only 10 percent liable for the incident in question, the motorists driving the other vehicles involved in the accident would be on the hook for 90 percent of the damages sought by the plaintiff. Some states utilize the contributory negligence principle, which holds that if the plaintiff (or anyone else involved in the incident) is found to have in any way contributed to it, he or she is entitled to absolutely no compensation.
Contact an Attorney
Multiple vehicle wrecks typically involve a number of people holding unique policies with varying insurance companies. In addition, particularly in accidents where fault cannot readily be determined, countless accounts surrounding the events of the incident may be given. Such circumstances elicit a more confusing and complex case that is best handled by an experienced personal injury lawyer who can protect your rights such as the Car Accident Lawyer MD locals turn to.
Thanks to authors at The Law Offices of Frederick J. Brynn PLC for their insight into Personal Injury Law.