MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENTS
Car accidents involving multiple vehicles are not like regular fender benders. With so many cars involved, the difficulty of untangling legal liability for the crash increases. You might have to juggle talking to multiple car insurers, including your own, and not really know who to make a claim with.
If you have been involved in a multiple car accident, you need an attorney to help you get the compensation that you need. Contact Delventhal Law Office to speak with an experienced Fort Wayne multiple car accident attorney.
CAUSES OF MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENTS
These types of accidents are also called “pileups,” and they usually have the same causes as any other accident:
- Careless driving
- Distracted driving
- Aggressive or reckless maneuvers
- Illegal maneuvers
For example, a motorist might hit a patch of black ice and spin out of control on a highway. Other vehicles cannot get out of the way, so they slam into this one, setting off a chain reaction. Or a car might aggressively cut off another motorist, which causes a rear-end collision. Soon, vehicles are pinballing off each other as they try to swerve and avoid a crash.
We tend to see multi-car pileups in place with high vehicle density. The freeway is the most common location, though any road with a lot of traffic could have a pileup.
INJURIES
The total number of those injured in multi-car pileups is quite high. Injuries are often more serious if a truck is involved in a crash or a client’s car was struck by multiple vehicles. Our clients have suffered from:
- Concussions or other traumatic brain injuries
- Fractures, including compound fractures
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Cuts or abrasions
- Burns
Getting prompt medical attention can be a challenge, as emergency personnel need to thread their way through multiple wrecks to reach survivors. If you were involved in a crash, you should check with everyone in your car and ask if they need an ambulance. If you can walk, check on the people in the other vehicles, also. Only move people if you can do so safely and if they are not complaining of back or neck pain.
LEGAL COMPLICATIONS INVOLVED WITH MULTI-CAR PILEUPS
The key issue is any car accident is liability. Under Indiana law, the person responsible for a crash is responsible for paying compensation to victims. Unfortunately, determining liability is a huge challenge when multiple cars are involved in a crash. For example, you might have crashed into a vehicle only because it had crashed into a vehicle in front of it. Does this make you legally liable for any injuries you might have caused?


Likewise, the vehicle that rear-ended you might not have had any choice, as there was no place it could go to avoid hitting someone. In this example, do you make a claim with the driver who struck you? Or do you file a claim against the driver at the front who triggered the entire chain reaction?
These are difficult questions. Car accidents happen so quickly, you might not really know what triggered the crash, or which vehicle is responsible. As you struggle to recover from your injuries, you probably don’t have the time to perform a thorough investigation, either.
This is where a lawyer is a big help. You can focus on recovery while your attorney investigates the crash and negotiates with different insurers to make sure you get full compensation.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
IN THE LIVES OF OUR CLIENTS.
$700K
SETTLEMENT
Spinal Cord Injury
$674K
SETTLEMENT
Back Injury
$600K
SETTLEMENT
Neck, Back, & Lung Injury
$350K
SETTLEMENT
Back/Hip Injury
$347K
SETTLEMENT
Knee/Leg Injury
$346K
SETTLEMENT
Back Injury
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO AFTER A MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENT
After checking to make sure everyone is okay, you need to get insurance information from those involved in the accident. This could be challenging, depending on the number of cars involved.
If the police come, and they should, they will collect information from everyone involved in the collision. You should give your name to the police officer. You can also get a copy of the report to find out the identities of all involved.
If you have time, take a picture of your car and the other vehicles involved in the crash. This photographic evidence will help you establish how the crash unfolded and who is responsible. Remember to only take pictures when you are safe. Multi-car pileups are slow-moving accidents, and vehicles behind you could still be getting wrecked.
SPEAK WITH DELVENTHAL LAW OFFICE TODAY
Our firm has helped countless people involved in car accidents, including in multi-car pileups. In your moment of need, we are here to help.
Speak to a car accident lawyer at our firm today by reaching out to schedule a free consultation.
AREAS WE PRACTICE
At the Delventhal Law office, our Fort Wayne personal injury attorneys are committed to fighting for the rights and interests of accident victims. If you or a family member was injured because of the carelessness or recklessness of another party, we can help. Our Indiana personal injury lawyers handle a wide array of legal cases, including:
Car Accidents
Our top-rated Fort Wayne car accident attorneys are committed to fighting for the legal rights and financial interests of injured victims.
Bicycle Accidents
Besides collisions between vehicles, crashes involving cyclists and vehicles are some of the most common types.
Truck Accidents
Treating truck accident-related injuries can leave injured parties struggling with mounting medical bills and undue hardship.
Workers' Compensation
When you suffer a serious injury on the job, you have to deal with your employer and your employer’s workers’ comp insurance company.
Wrongful Death
Collecting damages can never replace the loss of a loved one, but it can go a long way towards helping a family pay off medical debt and focus on grieving.
Motorcycle Accidents
The trouble with motorcycle riders is that they don’t necessarily have a reputation for defensive driving.
Birth Injuries
We represent mothers and children when they are injured by medical malpractice.
Burn Injury
When a person sustains debilitating burn injuries, it can be difficult and sometimes even impossible to return to life before the accident.
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