There were over 100,000 multi-vehicle crashes in Arizona during 2021, injuring over 40,000 people. In-depth investigations are necessary to determine fault for these collisions, and obtaining compensation for your injuries takes time.
If you sustain injuries in a car accident, you may face mounting medical bills with no income during your recovery. You must also file your claim — which will probably be highly complicated — and complete many accident-related tasks. However, you don’t have to handle the aftermath of a multi-vehicle accident alone. Sargon Law Group can help.
What Is a Multi-Vehicle Accident?
When two or more cars collide, the result is a multiple-vehicle accident. This term typically refers to crashes involving three or more vehicles.
Some of the largest accidents in the U.S. involved over 100 vehicles in each. Inclement weather is often a significant factor, although chain-reaction collisions can happen for many other reasons.
What Causes Multiple-Car Pileups?
Numerous causative factors can combine and contribute to chain-reaction collisions:
- Tailgating
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Poor visibility
- Roadway obstacles
- Malfunctioning traffic signals
- Alcohol or drug usage
When some form of driver error causes an accident, that driver is likely guilty of negligence. You can hold negligent drivers responsible and seek compensation for your damages.
What Is Negligence?
Everyone who gets behind the wheel of a car has a duty of care to drive safely to avoid causing harm to others. Legally, negligence is failing to use reasonable care that results in causing an accident and damage. To prove negligence, you must show that:
- Someone owed you a duty of care
- That person failed to provide the duty of care
- The failure caused an accident
- You sustained injuries in that accident
In a multi-vehicle accident, determining negligence is often challenging. Several drivers may be guilty, and you’ll need individual sets of proof to hold each one accountable.
Sargon Law Group will investigate your accident to gather the appropriate evidence.
Why Are Multiple-Vehicle Accident Claims Complicated and What Can You Do?
Any car accident claim can present challenges, but those involving multiple vehicles quickly become incredibly complex. The more people involved, the more complications you will likely face. An experienced car accident attorney can help you navigate the potential hurdles successfully.
There are several crucial things to consider after your collision.
1. Your Health Comes First
Your health is your priority. You should continue with recommended medical treatments regardless of how much time you miss from work. You can recover lost wages through your car accident claim.
2. You Deserve Compensation
If someone else’s negligence caused your car accident and resulting injuries, you deserve compensation. You may qualify to receive compensation for damages such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Inconvenience
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
Insurance companies usually don’t want to pay injured victims, and confusion over which company should pay compensation can mount quickly in a multi-vehicle accident. An experienced car accident attorney in Phoenix can tell you which damages you can seek and how much your case is worth.
3. Multiple Parties Often Share Responsibility
When multiple cars crash, there is actually a series of accidents. Many parties can share fault in a pileup, meaning that each has a percentage of the blame. One of the most critical tasks your attorney performs is ensuring that the degree of fault assigned to you is accurate because it affects the amount of compensation you can receive.
4. Arizona Uses Pure Comparative Negligence
When multiple parties share fault for causing an accident in Arizona, the pure comparative negligence statute governs how much compensation injured victims can obtain. Although you can seek damages even if you’re 99% responsible, your payment will have a matching reduction.
For instance, say you’re 20% responsible for an accident with total damages of $100,000. You must deduct 20% from the total, meaning the most you may receive is 80%, or $80,000. The higher your blame, the lower your payment. That’s why your lawyer will investigate your multi-vehicle accident to ensure that your assigned percentage of fault is fair.
5. Government Agency Liability Complicates Things Further
Various government agencies are responsible for maintaining roads and traffic signals. They must also remove roadway obstacles. Many of these agencies, such as police departments and post offices, own and operate vehicles.
If the government was involved in causing your accident, your claim just became even more complicated. Holding a government agency responsible involves strict deadlines, regulations, procedures, and protocols.
6. You Must Meet Deadlines
Every state sets statutes of limitations for filing personal injury claims. In Arizona, you typically have two years to file a lawsuit. However, there are exceptions. If you miss the applicable deadline, you will likely lose your right to seek compensation.
7. What You Do Affects Your Claim
Insurance companies may try to discredit you to avoid having to pay damages. Their investigators may watch you or dig into your activities. To protect your right to compensation after a multi-vehicle accident, don’t:
- Admit any degree of fault
- Post anything on social media
- Cease recommended medical treatments
- Speak to insurance company representatives without your lawyer present
- Sign any paperwork until your attorney approves
Your lawyer may give you more instructions based on your unique circumstances.
8. An Experienced Car Accident Attorney Can Help
These are only some of the complexities that you may face. Handling cases like these on your own may seem overwhelming. Fortunately, a Phoenix car accident lawyer at Sargon Law Group can help. When you hire us, we will:
- Provide information and legal advice
- Handle all case-related paperwork
- Serve as your spokesperson with insurance companies
- Investigate your accident, gather evidence, and place blame where it belongs
- Negotiate with liable insurance companies to obtain a favorable settlement offer
- Take your case to court if needed
We are your advocates and will fight to protect your rights.
Do You Need Legal Assistance After a Multi-Vehicle Accident?
With so many things to consider, choosing Sargon Law Group to assist with your car accident claim makes sense. Our team of personal injury attorneys in Phoenix have the resources, knowledge, and skills to handle your case successfully. We understand how to overcome the challenges of complex personal injury claims to obtain favorable results.
Request your free multi-vehicle accident case consultation today. Contact Sargon Law Group 24/7 by calling (623) 225-5635 or completing our contact form.