Being involved in a multi-car pileup is a terrifying and overwhelming experience. In an instant, what starts as a routine drive can turn into a chaotic scene with multiple vehicles, serious injuries, and countless questions about what happens next.
If you’ve recently been in a multi-car accident, you’re likely facing medical concerns, insurance claims, and uncertainty about your legal options. By contacting a personal injury attorney, you can discuss your accident and discover your options moving forward. In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about multi-car pileups and what you can expect after filing a claim if you’re injured in one.
Why Do Multi-Vehicle Collisions Happen?
Multi-vehicle collisions happen for many of the same reasons car crashes do. Common reasons include driver negligence, poor weather conditions, road hazards, and mechanical failures.
Unlike car crashes, which tend to result from one event, pileups are often the result of a chain reaction of events. One collision can swiftly spiral into many, especially if drivers fail to stop or avoid other vehicles in time before impact.
Common Car Pileup Injuries
The severity of injury from a car pileup varies because of the complex nature of these types of accidents. Some common injuries include the following:
- Burns: If one or more cars have a fuel leak or an electrical malfunction, it could lead to a fire causing severe burns.
- Broken or Fractured Bones: The impact of one or more vehicles is more than enough force to break or fracture bones.
- Lacerations: Broken glass or other hazardous debris resulting from a car crash can cause lacerations when in contact with a victim.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Victims often hit their heads on the steering wheel, headrest, or other interior part of the car when in a collision, which can lead to concussions or other serious head injuries.
- Whiplash: When an impact causes a victim’s head to snap back and forth, they can experience whiplash.
Your body releases adrenaline when experiencing trauma and stress, so you may not feel like you have an injury immediately following a car crash. You may not feel symptoms of an injury until days or weeks after the fact. For this reason, you must always seek medical care after an auto accident, even if you don’t think you need to.
Who Is At Fault in a Multi-Car Pileup?
Fault can be difficult to determine in car accident cases involving many drivers. Multiple people may be responsible for causing your injuries and damages. To determine liability, your personal injury attorney will need to investigate what happened leading up to and after the pileup. By identifying all who are responsible for the accident, your attorney can hold those parties accountable and better help you secure the compensation you deserve.
Can You File A Claim Against The At-Fault Driver/Drivers?
The most common way victims seek compensation after a car accident is by filing an insurance claim. Florida is a no-fault state, meaning anyone who registers a car must carry at least $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Property Damage Liability (PDL) insurance coverage. This no-fault coverage helps pay for damages after an accident, regardless of who was at fault.
If you’re injured in a pileup, you’ll first file a claim with your PIP insurance. However, if your injuries and damages exceed your PIP coverage, you may be able to file a claim against the at-fault party or parties to seek additional compensation. Florida law allows injured victims to step outside of the no-fault system if they suffer serious injuries, such as permanent impairment, significant disfigurement, or extensive medical expenses.
Available Damages For Multi-Vehicle Collision Claims
You may be able to recover a variety of damages, including economic and non-economic, depending on the extent of your injuries and losses. You can view economic and non-economic damages as two ends of a spectrum.
On one end there are economic damages, which are tangible losses resulting from the accident. These may include your medical expenses or lost earnings.
On the other end are non-economic damages, which are intangible losses. Such losses can include pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.
Your attorney will help you understand the value of your claim, which helps to make sure you get the compensation you need for your injuries and damages.
Speak With a Multi-Car Accident Attorney Today
At Hancock Injury Attorneys, we understand the challenges you’re facing after a multi-car pileup. Our team is here to guide you through the legal process with clarity and confidence. If you or a loved one has been involved in a multi-car accident in the Tampa Bay area, don’t wait—schedule a free consultation today to protect your rights and explore your legal options.