Atlanta Multiple Party Accident Lawyer

What makes multiple party accidents different than other types of accidents?

Multiple party accidents happen in many ways and for many reasons, but they share one key quality: they’re more complicated than one or two-car accidents. Multiple party accidents often happen because a collision sets off a chain reaction, with the force of the first accident sending one or more vehicles careening into others. Other drivers may cause additional collisions when they try to maneuver out of the way. Determining who’s at fault in a multiple party accident often takes a significant amount of investigation.

Multiple party accidents also tend to cause more serious or deadly injuries than many other types of accidents. A single vehicle may be struck more than once, from different directions, by flying debris as well as vehicles. The mess of damaged vehicles on the roadway can also make it hard for first responders to get to the site quickly. And stunned passengers who escape their vehicles are vulnerable to passing traffic and roadway hazards. All of these factors contribute to the very high toll of these accidents.

If you were involved in a multi-vehicle crash, you might be asked to take a deposition. This means that you have to answer questions about the case while under oath. The proceeding typically takes place in a conference room in the presence of attorneys. Although you might feel nervous about what happens at a deposition for a car accident, your lawyer can help you prepare.

If an accident in Atlanta involves multiple parties, who is considered to be “at fault”?

Determining fault in a multiple party accident is almost always complicated, but it’s an important task because the party at fault is liable for everyone else’s injuries and damage. Police will interview witnesses and may assign fault to one or more parties in their incident reports. Insurance companies will conduct their own review and may develop their own version of who is “at fault.”

Many multiple party accidents involve one or more of these factors:

• Bad weather. Fog, heavy rain, icy roads and other weather conditions can reduce visibility or make roads unsafe, increasing the amount of time that drivers need to react.
• Distracted driving.A driver who’s fiddling with a cell phone or radio isn’t paying full attention to the roadway, and can easily slam into a slowed car or fail to react to an aggressive driver or road hazard. Especially when these accidents happen at highway speeds, there’s a high potential for a multiple party crash.
• Drunk driving. A driver who’s impaired may engage in risky maneuvers or fail to exercise good judgment, putting everyone on the road at risk.
• Speeding and aggressive driving. The driver who veers from lane to lane on a highway can easily collide with another car, and the impact may cause both cars to lose control, causing additional collisions.

One important rule in a multi-car accident is that the driver(s) in back are not necessarily at fault, and several drivers may share fault for the accident. 

What happens if someone sues you after a car accident with multiple vehicles largely depends on you. If you are covered, your insurance company will likely take care of the claim filed against you.

While statistics show that a car accident lawsuit is more likely to settle before going to trial, you should hire an attorney as soon as possible to represent your interest. Your lawyer will protect your rights throughout the proceedings and advise on the best course of action for your situation.

What kind of injuries will a multiple party accident claim cover?

Any injury that happened because of the accident is potentially covered. We regularly see accident victims recover for these types of injuries:

• Broken bones
• Whiplash
• Head injuries

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• Muscle and tendon injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Injuries caused by airbags
• Death of a loved one

If you are fortunate enough to escape serious injury in a multiple party accident, you should still visit a doctor right away. Some injuries are not apparent right away, but can develop into serious conditions over time. A doctor can evaluate you and recommend treatment that will increase your chance of a full recovery.

How much money will I be able to collect?

Accident victims in Atlanta are eligible to recover 100 percent of their costs and damages from the party at fault. In a typical case, these costs and damages might include:

• Medical expenses
• Prescription drugs
• Physical therapy or any other type of rehabilitation
• Lost wages, if you missed time from work
• The cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle

The exact amount you will recover will depend on the circumstances of your accident and the severity of your injuries. If your injuries were serious, your financial award may be much larger to account for serious losses like a long-term disability or the loss of a close family member. Money can never bring back what you lost in a catastrophic accident, but it is our legal system’s only way of giving you some financial security as you work toward rebuilding your life.

Why do I need a lawyer if the insurance company already offered me money?

Insurance companies look out for themselves and their own profit. They don’t like to pay out any more than they have to, and they will try to settle your claim quickly by offering you as little as possible. Your lawyer is an experienced professional whose job is to look out for you and make sure the insurance company doesn’t take advantage of you. A lawyer levels the playing field between you and the insurance company.

A lawyer’s help is especially important in multiple party accident cases because the insurance company may try to avoid paying your claim by spreading the blame around. Multiple party accidents can be chaotic, and while it may be relatively easy to tell who started the accident, it may not be clear whether other drivers also contributed to it. The insurance company may try to pay you less than you should receive by claiming you were partially responsible.

A good Atlanta car accident attorney understands these tactics and the evidence that’s needed to get the insurance company to pay you a fair amount. Our law firm begins every case with a thorough investigation, reviewing witness statements, police records, and sometimes calling in experts to reconstruct exactly how the accident happened. We also make sure you see a good doctor who can estimate what your injuries will really cost. Many times, our careful preparation leads to a much higher offer from the insurance company.

Talk to an Atlanta Multiple Party Accident Lawyer for Free

Our mission is simple: we help accident victims. We won’t charge you a cent unless we get money for you. Let us give you a FREE consultation to help you understand the right next steps for your case—with no obligation. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.