In most car accidents, you can typically blame the accident on one or two drivers. However, in crashes involving multiple vehicles, it may be more difficult to determine who caused the initial crash and who is ultimately responsible for the damages involved rather than in a single-vehicle crash.
The car accident lawyers at Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers are ready to help you seek the compensation you deserve after being injured in a collision that wasn’t your fault.
Call us today at (904) 396-1100 or contact us online for a free case review with an experienced Jacksonville multi-vehicle car crash lawyer.
How Our Jacksonville Multi-Vehicle Car Crash Attorneys Can Help After a Collision
If you were injured in a multi-vehicle crash, you can count on the more than 100 years of combined legal experience our skilled personal injury attorneys bring to the table.
We can assist you with your multi-vehicle accident claim by:
- Thoroughly investigating the claim and determining whose negligence contributed to it
- Protecting you from false claims that you were responsible for the accident
- Explaining to insurance companies how the negligent parties breached their duty to operate their motor vehicles safely
- Gathering evidence of your damages and estimating what your case is worth
- Negotiating for a fair settlement of your claim
When you call us for a free case review, we can explain the benefits of hiring a skilled car accident lawyer.
Overview of Multi-Vehicle Car Crashes
Multi-vehicle car crashes can be confusing because they may involve several parties whose negligence may have combined to cause a series of accidents.
Here is what you should know about this type of motor vehicle crash:
What Is a Multi-Vehicle Car Crash?
A multi-vehicle car crash is one that involves multiple vehicles and potentially multiple individual crashes. These accidents are sometimes called pile-ups or chain reaction accidents.
Distinguishing characteristics of multi-vehicle car crashes include:
- The likelihood of numerous injuries due to multiple points of contact
- Multiple insurance companies involved that blame other motorists for the accident
- Injuries that exceed the insurance limits of PIP insurance
- Conflicting reports from multiple parties and witnesses
Multi-vehicle car crashes can be complicated, so having a Jacksonville car accident lawyer who can competently represent your interests is essential.
Common Causes of Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Multi-vehicle accidents are commonly caused by one or more of the following contributing factors:
- Speeding
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Distracted driving
- Inattentive driving
- Mechanical defects
- Impaired driving
- Fatigued driving
Additionally, some multi-vehicle crashes involve commercial trucks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 323 people were killed in multi-vehicle crashes involving large commercial trucks in 2020. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety explains that cars are generally less heavy than trucks or SUVs, so most multi-vehicle accident fatalities occur to occupants in cars.
Multi-vehicle accidents may involve a combination of the factors above, which is why it can be difficult to determine fault. See more statistics here.
How Is Fault Determined in a Multi-Vehicle Accident?
A careful investigation into the accident and the causes that led to it is almost always necessary. In some multi-vehicle accident cases, one driver’s negligence is blamed for the entire series of accidents. In others, multiple motorists may have acted negligently and may be partially to blame for the accidents.
Gathering evidence may be necessary to establish fault in the accident.
Critical evidence may include:
- The accident report
- Statements from the drivers and passengers involved in the wrecks
- Objective accounts from eyewitnesses who were not part of the accident
- Photos or videos of the accident scene
- Field sobriety, chemical, blood, or breath tests that may indicate impairment
- Cell phone records that may indicate distracted driving
- Physical evidence, such as skid marks, broken vehicle pieces, or damage to vehicles
In some cases, a personal injury lawyer may recommend hiring an accident reconstruction expert to use scientific analysis to determine how the accident could have occurred. Our Jacksonville car accident attorneys have built relationships with leading experts who can help.
What Compensation Is Available in Multi-Vehicle Accident Claims?
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your claim, you may be able to recover compensation for:
- Property damage – You may be able to recover compensation for the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle and other personal property that was damaged in the accident.
- Economic damages – Economic damages represent the quantifiable losses you incur because of the accident, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. You may also seek out-of-pocket expenses related to your claim, such as tolls, rental vehicle expenses, personal care costs, over-the-counter supplies, and other expenses.
- Non-economic damages – Florida law recognizes that not all losses are financial in nature. This is why you may be able to seek compensation for non-economic damages like inconvenience, pain and suffering, and mental anguish.
- Punitive damages – Punitive damages may be available in some car accident cases, such as if an impaired driver caused the pile-up.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can discuss your claim’s potential value.
Contact Us For Help With Your Jacksonville Multi-Vehicle Car Crash Claim
Because more than one driver may have contributed to the accident, you may have to file multiple claims to recover the compensation to which you are entitled. You can also expect insurance companies to try to blame motorists other than their insured in an attempt to avoid liability.
The skilled legal team at Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you through this difficult time. Call our Jacksonville multi-vehicle car crash attorneys today or contact us online for your free case consultation.
Other Common Auto Accidents In Jacksonville
At Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers we handle all types of car accident claims in Jacksonville, including:
- Airbag Injuries
- DUI Crashes
- Head-on Crashes
- Highway Accidents
- Hit and run Crashes
- Intersection Crashes
- Lane Change Crashes
- Left-Turn Accidents
- Parking Lot Accidents
- Red and Yellow Light Collisions
- Rollover Accidents
- Seat Belt Injuries
- Uninsured Motorist Claims
- U-Turn Accidents
- And more.