You are driving along, following all the rules of the road, when suddenly, chaos erupts. Several vehicles collide, and you sustain injuries through no fault of your own. What happens next?
Multi-vehicle accidents introduce a complex layer to injury claims. Often, such a situation requires a strategic approach to protect your rights and maximize your recovery.
Multiple complications
In California, accidents with three or more vehicles are common. If you are injured in one, figuring out who is responsible can be tricky.
California uses a “pure comparative negligence” system. This means you can get compensation even if you are partly at fault.
The court decides what percentage of each driver is to blame, and compensation is adjusted based on that. This often leads to insurance companies trying to reduce their clients’ responsibility.
Insurance challenges
Insurance issues multiply with each additional vehicle involved in an accident. Each driver’s policy limits may prove insufficient to cover serious injuries.
In California, drivers must carry minimum liability coverage of $15,000 for injury/death to one person and $30,000 for multiple people. These limits often fall short in serious multi-vehicle crashes.
Evidence collection becomes critical
The aftermath of multi-vehicle accidents creates unique challenges for gathering evidence:
- Multiple versions of events exist across different drivers
- Physical evidence at the scene disappears quickly
- Witness accounts often conflict
- Police reports may contain incomplete information
- Video footage rarely captures the entire sequence of events
Handling claims for multi-vehicle accidents needs strong legal experience and negotiation skills. A California personal injury lawyer can piece together the accident details and find everyone who might be responsible. They can also work with different insurance companies and make sure you do not settle for less than you deserve.