Call Any Time
(203) 690-1030
(203) 690-1030
Call Any Time
(203) 690-1030
(203) 690-1030
(203) 690-1030
Multi-car collisions are some of the most confusing and complex accidents to handle, both during an insurance claim and during possible litigation. Severe chain reaction crashes can kill or injure multiple people and cause hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of collective property damage.
Sorting out what happened is a significant undertaking, as you must consult with multiple insurance companies, law enforcement officers, attorneys, and other involved parties. It can take months to tie up all of the loose ends.
If these challenges sound all too familiar, you might be looking for professional help.
Thankfully, you are not alone! Bert McDowell and his Injury Law team are experienced personal injury attorneys who can guide you through the multi-car crash process.
From helping you identify the liable parties to understanding what amount of compensation you may be entitled to, Bert is committed to representing your rights. He is well-versed in Connecticut state law and knows the best practices for negotiating with insurance companies.
If you want to talk to an attorney about your case, call us at (203) 633-7449 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation, where you can learn more about your legal options and the claims process that lies ahead.
Dealing with one insurance company after an accident is stressful enough. Now, imagine being in a situation where you could be at fault for hitting someone, but another participant in the accident is also at fault for hitting you.
The situation quickly gets complicated as multiple insurance companies try to get to the bottom of what happened.
Naturally, each insurance company is looking to limit its exposure, so they might use certain industry tactics to avoid paying out the full value of claims. Further, it is easy to get confused as you bounce between insurance company representatives and try to track down responsible parties.
You could easily spend hours on the phone trying to get a full picture of what is happening.
On top of all this complexity, imagine trying to recover from injuries, arranging time off of work, or arranging for child or pet care to ensure your household is taken care of as you get back on your feet. Lastly, you might not have a serviceable vehicle as you navigate all of these challenges, which diminishes your flexibility and impacts your day-to-day life.
It’s no wonder that accident victims often feel stressed, overwhelmed, and tired. In serious cases, victims are also dealing with loss, grief, depression, anger, and a host of other difficult emotions.
Accidents can be life-changing events that people can’t face without plenty of help.
Attorneys can step in during your time of greatest need. They can play a crucial role in the injury recovery process by helping you take the steps needed to maximize your chances of a successful claim.
Not only that, but they look deeply into all applicable policies to ensure you are getting as much as possible after your accident.
During your claim, a personal injury attorney supports you by:
Multi-car accidents can happen in any place at any time. That said, some conditions and events increase the likelihood of multi-car pile-ups.
Heavy rain, blinding snow, and icy road conditions are common factors in chain reaction accidents. For instance, a 2022 storm caused multiple pile-ups throughout Connecticut.
You can’t always avoid driving in bad weather conditions, especially if you have time-sensitive obligations with school, work, or family. However, you can protect yourself by keeping your lights on, driving slowly, focusing on the road, and equipping your vehicle with snow tires for winter driving.
When possible, rearrange your travel plans to avoid winter storms.
Distracted driving claimed over 3,500 lives in 2021 alone. A driver who is on their phone might slam on their brakes at the last second and cause a chain reaction accident — a high price to pay for an unfocused moment.
Unfortunately, with the pervasiveness of social media use and the endless array of other distractions that fight for our attention, distracted driving is unlikely to go away anytime soon. The best way to protect yourself is to stay alert and watch for signs of distracted driving, such as drifting between lanes, slowing down or speeding up without warning, or failing to observe road signals.
If you see another car exhibiting these signs, keep your distance to stay safe.
Driving drunk comes with severe consequences. In addition to dealing with increased costs, injuries, and insurance struggles after causing a multi-car pileup, a drunk driver will face the reality of criminal charges and fines.
Having a DUI also impacts employment prospects and future opportunities.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely steer clear of drunk drivers, but paying close attention to the actions and movements of other commuters can help you identify risky patterns, like swerving or speeding.
Road or vehicle issues can also lead to multi-car pile-ups. Poorly maintained or designed roads are dangerous to travel.
Further, vehicle defects can cause accidents since defective cars may behave in unpredictable ways. Make sure to get your car serviced and checked often to ensure it’s working properly.
Figuring out who is at fault in a multi-car accident is particularly challenging.
For instance, you could be at fault if you rear-ended another driver. However, you may not have hit that driver if someone behind you hadn’t rammed into your car, and therefore, in a multi-car accident, you can simultaneously be at fault and be a victim.
Insurance companies determine who is responsible for an accident by examining the evidence, which may include:
Ultimately, insurance companies will try to decide who the negligent party is that started the chain reaction. From there, the other involved parties will share responsibility, but the majority of the blame will be assigned to the party that set off the multi-car accident.
Note that you can conduct your own investigation in case insurers aren’t looking at every crucial part of the picture. In a multi-vehicle chain accident, it is often important to protect your own interests by investigating the reasons behind every collision, helping you avoid being accused of partial liability.
Even if you are considered partly at fault for some of the accident’s causation, Connecticut is a comparative fault state. A person who is assigned at least 51 percent of the blame for an accident can’t receive compensation under state law.
Other parties can receive compensation, but the compensation amount will be reduced according to the percentage of fault they’re assigned.
If you’ve been in a chain reaction accident, you might be struggling with new expenses from injuries and lost wages. Thankfully, Connecticut and federal laws allow victims to receive compensation from insurance companies or the parties responsible for an accident.
However, getting a payment can be an uphill battle since insurance companies are skilled at avoiding liability.
Bert McDowell can help you get the compensation you deserve. As a personal injury attorney and former attorney for insurance companies, Bert knows the tools and tactics that insurance companies rely on to avoid responsibility.
He will do his best to build a strong case and to anticipate the insurance company’s moves so that you’re always one step ahead. If complications arise in your case, Bert won’t back down from a challenge: he’ll help you explore your options and make an informed decision about what to do next.
After you’ve been involved in a chain reaction accident, you’ll have some crucial decisions to make. A personal injury attorney can change the trajectory of your future by helping you get a payout that covers your current and future expenses.
Call Bert McDowell and his proven injury law team today at (203) 633-7449 or contact us online to schedule your free case review.