If multiple people are injured in an accident, you may need to share compensation with the other injured parties. If you're filing a claim, it's important to figure out who was at fault and how much. In some cases, the fault might lie with one driver. But in other accidents, multiple drivers might have contributed to the crash.
The people who are liable should be held responsible for paying the damages. Depending on state laws, the people injured in the crash might share a percentage of financial responsibility.
How Will Multiple Injured Parties Affect My Compensation?
How multiple injured parties can affect your compensation depends on several factors:
- The liable party's insurance policy: If several people are claiming compensation from an individual policy, there will be much less compensation for each person. However, if multiple parties are claiming insurance from a trucking company's or rideshare company's policy, each injured party should receive enough compensation.
- How injured each party is: If one person suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and has to retire, they will likely recover more than someone who suffered a broken leg.
- Whether any of the injured parties contributed to the accident: If other people in the accident contributed to their injuries, they will recover less compensation.
What Compensation Can I Recover?
You could recover compensation for the following damages and more:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
Who Is At Fault For My Accident?
Who is liable for your accident can determine how much compensation you can recover.
- Single car collision:When one car crashes, the driver, passengers, and/or pedestrians could all suffer injuries. While the driver or a pedestrian could be at fault, other conditions could have caused the accident as well.
- Two-vehicle collision:When this happens, multiple passengers and drivers could sustain injuries. The at-fault driver would be legally responsible for all of the injuries that resulted from the accident in both cars.
- Multi-vehicle collision or pile up:When several vehicles crash on the roadway, several people can be injured. Determining which party is at fault can become very complicated as multiple drivers could share fault.
To figure out who is at fault in a multi-party accident, you must look at several defining questions.
- What caused the accident?
- Did the other driver's negligence contribute to the accident?
- Did the other driver fail to exercise due care?
- Were there warning signs that could have prevented the accident?
If the other drivers' negligence caused the accident, they are legally liable for any injuries suffered by the victims.
Chain Reaction Accidents Often Injure Multiple People
A chain reaction accident occurs when more than two vehicles collide. A common example of a chain reaction collision is a rear-end accident involving three vehicles. For example, a driver is stopped at a red light behind one car. The driver behind them does not brake in time and rear-ends them. The force of the impact causes the middle car to hit the car in front of them. In this accident, several parties can suffer injuries.
Any of the following can cause a collision that injures multiple people:
- Failing to control speed
- Braking too late
- Swerving into traffic
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Driving while distracted, intoxicated, or fatigued
It can be difficult to determine who is liable for the injuries sustained in a crash with multiple drivers. If you've been injured in an accident like this, it's helpful to sit down with a personal injury lawyer before filing a lawsuit against the other drivers.
An Attorney Can Help You File After an Accident With Multiple Victims
When multiple people are injured, there will probably be more than one insurance company that wants someone else to pay for the damages. It's easiest to get an attorney to stay on top of your case. Our team at Dolman Law Group can help you with all of these details:
- Determining which driver was negligent
- Calculating the amount in damages owed to you after the accident
- Identifying the policy and coverage
- Visiting the scene and collecting essential evidence
- Requesting access to police reports
- Reviewing medical records
- Interviewing witnesses
- Communicating with the other injured parties' legal council
- Negotiating with insurance companies
Don't Wait—File Your Case Now
After the accident has occurred, you can file a claim with the insurance company of the other driver or drivers.
Each state has a different statute of limitations that affects how long you have to file a lawsuit. Your lawyer can help you stay on top of deadlines and keep the process moving.
Contact Dolman Law Group For a Free Case Evaluation
If you were injured in an accident where other people were also injured, call Dolman Law Group today for a free initial consultation.