What Do I Do After a Multiple-Vehicle Car Accident?

Generally, the risk of your auto accident injury claim becoming a complicated one increases with the number of vehicles involved.  While being in a road traffic accident is bad enough, realizing that there are multiple collisions in your case will heighten your concerns.  It’s important to take the right steps to avoid worsening your situation.

Understanding your rights and responsibilities after a multiple-vehicle car accident is imperative to obtaining compensation for your injuries.

That’s because the at-fault parties can leverage any mistake you make at this point to deny you the sum you deserve. If your goal is to ensure that the responsible parties pay fully for their negligence, you have to be smart and act fast.

Here, we’ll discuss the necessary actions to take after an Alabama multi-vehicle crash to increase your chances of a successful claim. We’ll also provide answers to other concerns you may have at this stage. Let’s get started.

What Should I Do After a Multi-Vehicle Accident?

If you are involved in a multiple-vehicle car accident, here’s what to do:

Keep Out of Harm’s Way

First things first . . . you need to get yourself and your passengers away from the flow of traffic and to safety. If you can move your vehicle, get to the side of the road and stay there until help comes. The goal is to ensure that you’re not at risk of additional injuries or secondary accidents.

Call 911

The next step is to dial 911 to alert law enforcement and call experienced health practitioners to the crash site. Let the dispatcher know that you were involved in a multi-car collision and that there are potential injuries. The dispatcher can make sure that emergency medical personnel are sent to the scene.

Collect Evidence

Evidence preservation is essential at this point because you can’t pursue a successful personal injury claim without solid proof. If you are able to, take pictures and videos at the scene. You should also get witness information and the police report number from the officer.

Seek Medical Attention

Even if you are not taken to the hospital in an ambulance, you should still seek medical attention immediately after the accident. Seemingly “minor” injuries may get worse over time. In such situations, obtaining an early diagnosis and starting treatment can help prevent complications.

Contact A Car Accident Lawyer

In a multi-vehicle collision, determining liability can be difficult. Depending on the circumstances, there may be more than one party that can be held legally responsible for the accident. A lawyer can help conduct an independent investigation to determine the initial catalyst for the pile-up.

Hiring a car accident attorney early in the process can ensure that you receive the compensation you are entitled to based on your injuries. It also prevents a negligent party from trying to place you at fault for the accident.

How Do I Know Who Is Liable in a Multi-Car Accident?

Accidents between two cars have their fair share of complexities. Add in other vehicles and the question of liability can quickly become problematic. With multiple drivers involved, there may be one or many parties that are responsible for the crash. Discovering who they are will require thorough investigation, expert analysis, witness interviews, and so much more.

Fortunately, it’s not your job to determine liability after a multiple-vehicle accident. In fact, you should avoid making statements regarding fault and simply follow the steps above. For example, saying, “I’m sorry,” or “It was my mistake,” indicates that you’re responsible for the crash. It may directly impact your right to compensation.

Instead, contact a qualified car accident attorney who can help determine what sparked the chain reaction resulting in your injuries. You should do this before making any statements or signing any documents with the insurance company.

Frequently Asked Questions

Multi-car accidents come with a lot of confusion and uncertainty. So we understand that many questions are running through your mind at this point. Our experienced attorneys are always ready to answer them just as we have addressed the most commonly asked ones below:

How Long Do I Have to Pursue Compensation in a Pile-Up Crash in Alabama?

In Alabama, the statute of limitations for multi-car accidents is 2 years. This means that you will no longer have a valid personal injury claim if you don’t file one within this time frame. Consequently, it’s important to contact your attorney immediately after the accident to avoid losing your right to recover compensation.

What If I Contributed to My Multi-Car Accident?

Alabama uses the pure contributory negligence fault system in personal injury cases. Under this rule, individuals cannot claim compensation for their losses in a multi-car accident if they had any fault (even 1%) in the crash. However, there are exceptions to this rule and our attorneys can evaluate your case to determine if they apply to your situation.

What Kind of Compensation Will I Receive? 

Depending on you’re the specifics of your case, you may be entitled to economic, non-economic, and punitive damages in a successful multi-vehicle accident claim. While economic damages reimburse you for your out-of-pocket expenses and financial losses, non-economic damages handle intangible losses like pain and suffering. On the other hand, punitive damages punish the at-fault party’s recklessness.

How Do I Calculate My Claim’s Value?

There’s no definite way to determine exactly how much your claim is worth as your compensation sum depends on numerous factors. These include the severity of your injuries, how long it takes for you to recover, the amount of lost wages, your lawyer’s negotiation skills, whether your property was damaged, and other factors. However, our Alabama multiple-vehicle accident attorney, also skilled as Hurricane Sally claims attorney, can evaluate your claim and give you an estimate of its value.

Do you have more questions begging for answers? Our personal injury lawyers are always willing to attend to them when you call our office.

Injured in a Multi-Car Collision? Contact Our Office ASAP.

Were you or a loved one injured in a multi-vehicle accident? Our multi-car accident attorneys can help.

At Caldwell Wenzel & Asthana, we represent individuals who have been injured in car accidents throughout Alabama. Our highly experienced legal team fights to get car crash victims and their families the compensation they deserve after an unexpected collision.

Our attorneys are skilled negotiators and experienced litigators who will not rest until you receive the best possible outcome in your case. From investigation to evidence gathering, to settlement negotiations, we’ll leave no stone unturned in ensuring that you get justice.

Are you ready to fight for your rights? If yes, contact our office at (251) 444-7000 for a free, no-obligation consultation today.  We’ll get you started on your journey to maximum compensation as soon as possible.