CALL (800) 863-5312 TO SPEAK WITH A MULTI-VEHICLE CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER FOR FREE
Multi-vehicle accidents, otherwise known as pile-ups, are car accidents that involved more than one impact. This means more than two cars will be involved. Typically, this occurs on busy roadways where multiple cars are following too closely to one another. However, multi-vehicle car accidents can happen anywhere and anytime.
No one ventures out on the roadways expecting to be involved in a pile-up car accident. However, the reality is that it happens. If you have been involved in a multi-vehicle accident, you can lessen the burden of filing a claim for compensation by speaking with an experienced attorney. Our attorneys at Zinda Law Group may be able to help.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a multi-vehicle car accident, call (800) 863-5312 for a 100% free case evaluation with a pile-up accident attorney today.
THE DANGERS OF A MULTI-VEHICLE CAR ACCIDENT
Car accidents can be dangerous enough on their own, but this danger is heightened with each new vehicle that gets involved. Multi-vehicle car accidents, commonly referred to as “pile-ups,” are so dangerous because there is so much force colliding all at once. This can create a recipe for disaster.
Pileups have some very unique risks that may not always be present when dealing with a regular car accident. These risks include more serious injuries, possible risk of fire or explosion from the collision, and danger to surrounding vehicles and pedestrians. It is so important to abide by the rules of the road and pay attention to reduce the likelihood that you will be involved in a multi-vehicle car accident.
COMMON CAUSES OF A MULTI-VEHICLE CAR ACCIDENT
Although pile-ups can be so much more devastating than typical car accidents, the causes of them are usually similar. The following are some of the common causes of a pile-up accident:
Distracted Driving
Accidents often occur because a driver was not paying attention. Distracted drivers are often on their phones or participating in some other activity while operating their vehicles.
Weather
Bad visibility or poor road conditions often lead to multi-vehicle car accidents.
Following Too Closely
If one vehicle is involved in an accident or swerves the wrong way, but another vehicle is too close behind them, then a pile-up may result. Your car may become involved for no other reason except following too closely behind another vehicle.
Not Following Roadway Rules
Speeding, failure to stop at a stoplight, and other violation of the basic rules of the road may lead to two or more cars getting involved in an accident.
Driving While Intoxicated
Whether it’s alcohol or drugs, driving while intoxicated is one of the quickest ways you can put yourself and others in harm’s way and cause an accident.
Read More: Reckless Driving and Endangerment Accident Lawyers
COMMON INJURIES CAUSED BY A MULTI-VEHICLE CAR ACCIDENT
Like most accidents, your injuries could be mild or severe. This all depends on where the crash happened, what caused the accident, how many people were involved, and other relevant factors. The following is a list of some of the common injuries that may result after being involved in a pile-up car accident:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Head injuries
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Swelling and/or bruising
- Changes to vision
- Cuts and scrapes
- Headache
- Memory loss
- Emotional distress
- Should Injuries
- Death
COMMON STEPS TO TAKE AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT
If you ever find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being involved in a car accident, follow these three steps in order to help your own safety and increase the potential success of any future legal claims:
1. Seek Medical Attention
Regardless of the severity of your injuries, you always want to seek the help of a medical professional after being involved in an accident. Sometimes injuries don’t look serious, but more dangerous ones may lie beneath the surface. Additionally, it is important that a medical professional create a record of your injuries. This may be used as evidence in any future claims.
2. Call the Police
Parties often try to handle car accidents themselves without getting the police involved. This is not a smart idea. Calling the police after an accident ensures that there will be a thorough record of what happened, who was involved, and any damage that has occurred. Additionally, all parties to the accident will be documented so that no one can try to escape liability later on before there is an investigation.
3. Document Everything
Luckily, the prevalence of cell phones makes it easier than ever before to document the scene of the accident. Take photos of the scene, take photos of your injuries, and make notes of anything you remember or want to preserve. Memories after an accident can fade very quickly, so it is always in your best interest to have as detailed of records as possible to help use when filing any potential claims for compensation that you may be entitled to.
DO YOU NEED A LAWYER AFTER A MULTI-VEHICLE ACCIDENT?
The short answer to this question is no. Though a lawyer is not absolutely necessary to file a claim, you may want to consider speaking to one and hiring them for their services. Ultimately, this may be in your best interest. Hiring an experienced attorney may help ease the burden of the investigation and negotiation process. A multi-vehicle car accident attorney may help put you in a position to seek the maximum amount of compensation that you may be entitled to as the result of an accident.
Learn More: When to Hire an Attorney After a Car Accident
HOW TO FILE A CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT
The following are some general steps you can take in order to file a claim for compensation after being involved in a pile-up:
Speaking with an Attorney
It is always in your best interest to speak with an attorney. Insurance companies pay their lawyers a lot of money to try to minimize your payout. They have a lot of tricks and tactics to be able to do this. Having an experienced attorney who has negotiated car accident claims before may help you avoid getting taken advantage of. While insurance companies pay their lawyers a lot of money, you can get quality representation at no cost to you unless we secure you a settlement or judgment in your case. Give us a call to speak with an attorney from Zinda Law Group today for free.
Investigation
Once you hire an attorney, they will launch an investigation into the incident. This investigation will include speaking with insurance, reviewing your medical records and photographs, and speaking to any relevant witnesses. The purpose of this is to get to the root of what happened, who was involved, and who was at fault. Sometimes one person is at fault and sometimes multiple people are. Having an attorney with experience dealing with these types of claims may ensure that this investigation is done thoroughly.
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Settlement
After a thorough investigation, the liable party and their insurance company may extend a settlement offer. A settlement offer is an agreed-upon amount of money that is offered in order to resolve the case without going to trial. Your attorney may be able to advise you on the risks and rewards of settling your case. Most cases settle before going to trial.
Read More: Passenger Eligibility for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Insurance
MULTI-VEHICLE CAR ACCIDENT COMPENSATION
In a perfect world, we would be able to tell you exactly what your case may be worth. However, unfortunately, this just is not the case. Each case is different, and therefore the amount of compensation that you may be entitled to for your claim will vary greatly depending on the circumstances of the accident. However, there are two general types of compensation that may be available to you when filing a claim: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are compensation for easily-quantifiable costs resulting from the accident. This means anything with a set price tag such as medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other incidental costs. These costs are tangible and can easily be calculated. Non-economic damages are less easily calculated because they cover pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. These are the non-financial costs resulting from the accident. Although they don’t have a price tag, they are still important to compensate recovering victims for their loss.
The experienced attorneys at Zinda Law Group have experience calculating damages and may be able to help you determine what your case is worth.
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THE ATTORNEYS AT ZINDA LAW GROUP MAY BE ABLE TO HELP
The car accident attorneys at Zinda Law Group have a breadth of experience dealing with car accidents, especially multi-vehicle car accident claims. We believe that quality representation should be a reality for everyone. That is why our attorneys handle cases based on a contingency fee agreement. This means that unless we secure you a settlement or judgment for your claim, you do not owe us anything. Call us today at (800) 863-5312 for a 100% free case evaluation to see if we may be able to help you with your claim.
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