Car Accident Lawyer
Trying to find who is liable in a car accident can already be difficult. When insurances become involved, suddenly what seemed like a really simple case can turn into he said, she said. However, when there are multiple people involved in a car accident as well as cars with passengers, suddenly everyone is pointing the finger at someone else and you may have no idea how to determine fault or how many people are at fault. It is certainly possible that more than one party is at fault for the accident and depending on the state you are in, this can make getting compensation slightly more complicated. It is especially beneficial to work with a lawyer during this time so that they can walk through what happened and help you gather evidence.
Who is paying in a multi-car accident?
Certain states are known as “at fault” states. This means that the person who caused the crash is responsible for compensation (or, at least, their insurance is). In an accident with only two drivers, this can be a straightforward case.
However, if there are three or more cars involved in the accident, there may be multiple people at fault. For example, if car A came to a stop at a red light and car B was following them too closely and ran into them, it may be clear that car B was responsible. However, if there was also car C (behind car B) and they were on their phone, they may not have seen car B stopping and they may have run into car B. This can make the accident worse. So, while car B may have initially been responsible for the accident, car C was also responsible for making the accident worse. In a situation like this, your lawyer may argue that car B was 80% responsible and car C was 20% responsible, thus dividing up the liability between both drivers.
Do I always need a lawyer for a car accident claim?
In minor car accidents, you may be successful on your own filing a claim and getting compensation. However, many car accidents can turn complicated quickly, especially if they involve potentially filing a claim against more than one party. This is why it would be most beneficial to work with a lawyer. Your lawyer will be able to gather evidence, talk to witnesses, look for video footage, and read the police reports to create the best case for you. Even if it seems clear that other parties are responsible for the accident you are in, it is best to never leave claims up to chance. You want to know that you are getting the full compensation you deserve.
When you are ready to move forward with a car accident claim and would like the help of a lawyer, reach out to a law firm you can rely on today.