Child & Jackson can help you if you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Folsom. Car accidents here happen in all kinds of different ways, and don’t always involve just you and another car. Sometimes, it’s a multi-vehicle accident that has its own circumstances and problems that come up from them. We can help you through it. Set up a free consultation today to talk it over.
Why a Lawyer Makes Sense After a Multi-Vehicle Accident
A regular car accident with another car is stressful enough. When three, four, or even more vehicles are involved, things usually get a lot more complicated. Now there are multiple drivers, multiple insurance companies, and different versions of what happened.
That’s a lot to sort through by yourself, and the more serious your injuries are, the harder everything else becomes. That’s when talking to our team makes sense. We can help you by:
- Explaining your options and what comes next
- Figuring out what happened to figure out how the chain reaction started
- Gathering the information and evidence your case needs
- Dealing with all the insurance companies and paperwork so you can focus on getting better
After a multi-vehicle accident, the last thing you should have to do is sort through conflicting insurance claims while you’re trying to also recover physically and mentally. We’ll take that off your plate so you can focus on yourself and your family.
How Multi-Vehicle Accidents Happen in Folsom
Most multi-vehicle accidents start the same way as any other car accident here in Folsom. One driver does something careless, but instead of involving just two vehicles, that then sets off a chain reaction because of:
- Following too closely. It only takes one driver who can’t stop in time for a simple rear-end crash to involve several other vehicles.
- Distracted driving. Looking down at a phone or taking your eyes off the road for a few seconds can be enough to miss slowing traffic ahead.
- The faster you’re going, the less time you have to react when traffic suddenly comes to a stop.
- Unsafe lane changes. Merging without enough room or cutting across traffic can force other drivers to brake or swerve, leading to even more collisions.
- Running a red light or stop sign. One driver entering an intersection when they shouldn’t can quickly create a crash involving multiple vehicles.
These accidents can happen anywhere in Folsom, but as you might expect, they’re much more common in places where there’s a lot of drivers and not much space to move, like:
- Highway 50, where higher speeds can turn one crash into a chain reaction.
- East Bidwell Street, where busy intersections and constant traffic can lead to sudden stops.
- Folsom Boulevard, where stop-and-go traffic leaves little room for mistakes.
- Blue Ravine Road, where commuters, shoppers, and local traffic are all sharing the road.
- Iron Point Road and Broadstone Parkway, where drivers are constantly slowing down, turning into shopping centers, and changing lanes.
After an accident involving several vehicles, it’s not always clear how everything unfolded or who caused what. That’s why there’s a premium placed on information in these types of claims.
Information That Can Help After a Multi-Vehicle Accident
Most people have never been through a multi-vehicle accident before, so it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed. When several vehicles are involved, everything seems to happen at once. The first priority is always your safety, so you should call 911 and report the accident. Then while you wait on the ambulance and police, it’s a good time to try to get a few basics:
- Pictures/videos of the vehicles, their positions on the road, damage, skid marks, traffic signals, road conditions, weather, and any visible injuries.
- The names and contact information of anyone who saw the accident happen.
- Names and insurance information from the other drivers involved.
Remember, you should only try to get this information if it’s safe. If paramedics tell you that you need to go to the hospital, don’t put off medical treatment to get pictures or talk to bystanders. Your health comes first, it’s true, but there will be more important information that comes later, like:
- Medical records, bills, and treatment plans
- The police report
- Repair estimates, towing bills, rental car receipts, and other out-of-pocket expenses
- Records showing missed work or lost income
- Notes about your pain, recovery, and how your injuries have affected your everyday life
- Any letters, emails, or phone calls from insurance companies
Don’t worry if you weren’t able to get everything at the scene. Most people can’t, especially after a serious accident involving several vehicles. We can help fill in any gaps, and once things become clearer, it’s much easier to understand who may be responsible and what options you have moving forward.
Who’s Legally Responsible For My Injuries After a Multi-Vehicle Accident?
This is the big question in multi-vehicle accidents, but at least legally, the answer to who has the legal responsibility to pay for your damages still comes down to negligence. In other words, it’s about narrowing down who:
- Acted carelessly and caused the accident that injured you.
Obviously, this is much more complicated in a real-life multi-vehicle accident. That means responsibility could fall on:
- The driver that started the chain-reaction collision, or other drivers that were being careless at the same time.
- The company that made a defective part if something failed and caused the chain-reaction.
- The city, county, or state government agency if the accident happened due to unsafe road conditions, missing signs, or other roadway problems.
The hard part with these accidents is figuring out how everything unfolded. That’s why the details matter, but it doesn’t change what your options are moving forward with a claim.
How the Claims Process Works After a Multi-Vehicle Accident
Even though several vehicles are involved, the claims process usually starts the same way as any other car accident. The difference is that there’s multiple drivers, so there’s multiple insurance policies and companies in play. That changes how things work, but not your options. You can still:
- File an insurance claim
- File a personal injury lawsuit
When there’s multiple insurance companies involved, it can mean that you’ll be filing a claim against each policy that’s in effect. While that gives you more possible sources of financial help, it also usually stretches things out because multiple adjusters are working on claims and pointing the finger at each other. And if their offers don’t match what you’ve lost, you can file a lawsuit in civil court, which can give you fuller “damages” for your:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Current lost income or a loss of earning potential
- Repair/replacement costs for your car
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
If you lost a loved one in a multi-vehicle accident, your family may also have the right to bring a wrongful death claim. Every accident is different, and cases involving several vehicles often take more time because multiple insurance companies may be investigating the same crash. California also has deadlines for filing a personal injury claim, so it’s usually best to start exploring your options sooner rather than later.
Free Consultations After a Multi-Vehicle Accident in Folsom
A multi-vehicle accident can leave you dealing with serious injuries, vehicle damage, and a lot of questions about what happens next. When several drivers and insurance companies are involved, figuring out where to turn can feel overwhelming.
Our Folsom car accident lawyers at Child & Jackson can help you through it all. Set up a free consultation today to get started.