What You Should Know About Multi-Car Accidents
As winter weather brings about the potential for car pileups, it is important to understand what you should do if you find yourself in the midst of one. This can help you stay safe and recover from your injuries as quickly as possible.
The more cars involved in a collision, the more difficult it is to determine fault. This is because multiple drivers could share fault for the wreck.
1. Take Pictures
If you are ever involved in a car accident, it is important to take pictures. These pictures can help build your legal case and support an insurance claim.
Photographs also give a clearer picture of how the accident occurred and who was responsible. Photos of skid marks, broken glass, traffic signs and lights can provide clues about how a driver might have been driving at the time of the crash.
You should also take pictures of injuries, such as cuts or bruises. Bruises and wounds typically heal after an accident, so this can be useful information for your case.
2. Stay at the Scene
A pileup collision is one of the most devastating types of car accidents. They can happen due to poor weather conditions or driver-based situations, such as a drunk driver jackknifing their vehicle.
In a multi-car accident, it’s best to stay in your vehicle until you can safely exit. Doing so will help you avoid additional injuries or aggravated damage to your car.
3. Don’t Flee
If you are involved in a multi-car accident, it is important to not flee the scene of the crash. This is because it can lead to criminal charges.
The law requires that you stay at the scene of a crash until it is safe to move your car and you are no longer in danger of being hit by other drivers.
It is also important to take pictures of the damage and skid marks caused by the crash. These pictures can help you and your attorney to prove your case and avoid liability.
4. Don’t Discuss Fault
Determining fault in a multi-car crash is more difficult than with a typical car accident. This is because it is more likely that more than one driver will be at fault for a collision.
Fortunately, there are certain general principles that help determine who is at fault in a multi-car crash. However, the facts of each case may vary.
5. Call the Police
When you’re in a multiple-car accident, the best thing to do is call the police. They will be able to help you get medical attention, document the damage to your vehicle and determine who was at fault.
The police will also be able to assist in gathering statements from you and the other drivers, and they might issue citations if they believe that any of the drivers violated traffic laws.
6. Seek Medical Attention
One of the most important things to do after a multi-car accident is to seek medical attention. This is for your own health and to protect your rights to compensation if you decide to pursue legal action against the party responsible.
It is common for injuries to take days or weeks to show up after a car crash, but it is still important that you visit your doctor as soon as possible. The sooner you go, the longer your paper trail will be to help build a case.
7. Contact an Attorney
If you or a loved one has been involved in a multi-car accident, it is important to contact an attorney immediately. They will be able to help you understand your legal rights and gather crucial evidence.
This is especially true if you are unsure of who is at fault. It is common for drivers to blame each other after a crash, and it can be difficult to determine who was at fault in the incident without video surveillance.
