Immense damage, loss, and physical injury can be caused when more than two vehicles are involved in a serious collision. Each individual may have to deal with thousands of dollars in loss, in addition to the stress of dealing with such a complicated situation. If you ever find yourself in a car crash where it’s more than two cars, then there is information you must know about in order to handle it with more ease and with your best interest in mind.
Why do multi-vehicle car accidents occur?
Multi-vehicle accidents are considered collisions where no less than three drivers were involved. Usually, these accidents happen because one driver rear-ends the person in front of them, and then causes the driver behind them to crash into the back of their vehicle. Cars that are traveling way too close to each other are risking causing a multi-vehicle car accident.
How is it determined who was at-fault for the accident?
In general, this chain reaction that results in the car pile-up is due to the carelessness of the first driver who was following too closely to the person in front of them. But then, the rule is that you must remain three car lengths behind the driver ahead of you. So, technically the drivers who are following behind should have had sufficient time to move out of the way or stop before colliding with the car ahead.
Determining who is at-fault may require help from a car accident lawyer in Salt Lake City, UT as they consider every contributing factor of the incident. Some lawyers may consult with witnesses or experts in the field to analyze the elements of the accident so a responsible party can be identified.
What evidence will be useful in the car accident claim?
The same evidence that you would gather in a two-vehicle accident should be obtained during a multi-vehicle collision. For example, exchange information with all the drivers involved, take photographs of damage to each vehicle, and call the police so anyone hurt can receive medical care at the scene. Make sure that you do not leave the scene before:
- Writing down each driver’s first and last name, driver’s license number, insurance company name, policy number, VIN number, license plate number, vehicle make/model/year, current address, phone number, and email.
- Taking pictures of evidence, such as street signs, a panoramic view of the vehicles and where they landed after the collision, shattered glass, tire marks, potholes, speed limit signs, visible injuries, etc.
- Noting the current weather, such as whether the ground was wet from recent rain, if there were high winds, etc.
- Sharing facts about how the accident occurred through your perspective with the officer when writing his or her report, and then asking where you can get a copy of the police report in the days to follow
- Making sure that you don’t have any injuries that may necessitate emergency medical care or being ushered to the nearest hospital
- Checking on passengers in your vehicle and in the other cars to ensure everyone is okay
Thanks to Rasmussen & Miner for their insight into personal injury claims and multi-vehicle accidents.