When we think about car accidents, we often envision two cars in a collision. As car accident attorneys, we work to determine who was at fault in collisions and what compensation our clients should have for their injuries and other losses.
Demonstrating who is at fault to the satisfaction of insurance companies or a Kentucky civil jury becomes more complicated when three or more vehicles are involved in the collision.
It may not be immediately apparent why a multi-vehicle accident has happened. Three or more vehicles may be involved in a pile-up. More than one driver may be partly at fault.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a multi-vehicle crash, the attorneys of Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer have the experience and the resources to determine what happened and to prove who is legally responsible for your losses. With that proof in hand, we’ll move to seek full compensation for you from those at fault.
Our attorneys at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer have the skill and the Kentucky Courage to separate fact from finger-pointing after a multi-car accident. Contact us today online or at (877) 809-5352 to schedule a free legal consultation about your accident claim.
What’s a Multi-Vehicle Accident?
Car accidents are typically categorized as single-vehicle, two-vehicle, or multi-vehicle accidents. A multiple-vehicle accident refers to one involving three or more vehicles. A multi-vehicle accident may also be called a chain-reaction collision or a pile-up.
These accidents are referred to as chain-reaction accidents because often after one or two cars collide, additional vehicles are unable to avoid involvement in the wreck.
In February 2021 on Interstate 24 outside of Paducah, KY, for example, the driver of a tractor-trailer slammed on his brakes to avoid a car that had hydroplaned and spun out in front of him. A passenger car crashed into the suddenly-stopped truck and became lodged beneath the trailer.
Sometimes, the initial impact of a collision sends one of the vehicles into a third vehicle, as occurred in a fatal I-24 crash near Paducah in May 2021.
In some cases, the initial crash cannot be avoided by oncoming vehicles, which results in a chain reaction of cars slamming into the growing pile-up of vehicles or crashing as they swerve to avoid the main wreckage. Such a multi-car accident may be due to slick roads, fog, or another reason that drivers cannot see to slow down until it is too late.
The Complexity of a Multi-Vehicle Collision Claim
The aftermath of a multi-vehicle accident is more complicated than dealing with a single- or two-vehicle collision because there may be multiple people injured and multiple drivers whose actions may have contributed to the accident. Multiple insurance companies may be involved.
Any insurance company representing a driver involved in the multi-vehicle wreck will want to establish who was at fault before it agrees to make a payment. Injured drivers and passengers with valid claims for serious injuries may get frustrated by insurance company delays in processing their claims. They may wonder whether they’ll ever be made financially whole.
The insurance companies typically give weight to the police accident reports in deciding which drivers involved in a multi-vehicle accident were at fault. If the insurance companies aren’t able to agree on the assignment of liability, a formal lawsuit may put the question before a judge and jury.
Who’s at Fault in a Multi-Vehicle Accident
The more people involved in a multi-vehicle accident, the more versions of what happened you are likely to have. No driver is likely to come forward and say it was all their fault. In fact, you should never admit or accept blame for a car accident because you may not be in a position to know all the contributing factors to a crash. As the police and insurers work to sort it out, make sure you understand your legal rights by having a car accident attorney review the details of the accident. The consultation is free and will help you clarify your options.
When we represent a client, our car accident attorneys at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer will conduct our own investigation of the crash to determine fault. We look for evidence to support your claim and to mitigate any responsibility you may have. The types of evidence we typically examine in a car accident case include:
- Physical evidence at the accident scene
- Road conditions at the time
- The vehicles’ positions and damage
- The police report and any tickets or charges filed by police
- Drivers’ and witness’s statements
- “Black box” data recorders found in late-model cars and commercial motor vehicles such as tractor-trailers
- Surveillance video, if available.
Determining who is liable in a multi-vehicle crash sometimes requires working with consultants who reconstruct accidents through technical forensic work. These accident reconstruction specialists report their findings and may provide expert testimony and a multi-media presentation of the multi-vehicle collision. If a case is headed to court, our attorneys will get access to evidence held by other parties to the claim through the legal discovery process.
In a pileup, there may be several cars and multiple collisions. More than one car or driver may have contributed to an individual’s injuries or death. The evidence may show that more than one driver should be held responsible for an accident.
What Do I Do If I Am Involved in a Multi-Car Accident?
Because of the complexity of a multi-car accident and the potential for multiple versions of how the accident happened, those who compile the most evidence the soonest often have an advantage.
If you can do so safely immediately after a multi-car accident do the following:
- Get photos and/or video of the accident scene. If you can identify the initial cause of the accident, get a photo of it and anything else that will help explain what happened.
- Get as many names with contact and insurance information from others involved in the crash or who witnessed the crash as you can.
- As soon as you have time to yourself, write down what happened in your own words. Do this before your memory starts to change and fade, as it inevitably will with time. Write the story of the accident you were in with as many details as you can recall.
- Be sure to see a doctor within 24 hours of the crash, if you did not require emergency medical care and transport from the accident scene. There are several serious injuries typical of car accidents that do not exhibit symptoms right away, which a trained health care provider can identify and treat. A doctor’s exam also begins to document your injury and medical care for an accident claim.
- Talk to a knowledgeable lawyer about your rights and whether the settlement offer is fair and reasonable based on your injuries before accepting any quick settlement offered by another driver’s insurance company.
Contact Our Experienced Paducah Car Accident Attorneys
You need a car accident lawyer experienced in Kentucky to protect your interests and help you seek full compensation for the injuries you have suffered in a multi-car accident in Paducah, KY.
At Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer, we can thoroughly investigate the accident you were in and gather the evidence that shows who is obligated to compensate you for your losses. We will press aggressively to recover maximum compensation for your medical expenses, vehicle damage, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Contact Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer ASAP at (877) 809-5352 or online to set up your free legal consultation. Find out how Kentucky Courage can support you.
