If you have been injured in a car accident, you are more than likely entitled to compensation. But before you can initiate a personal injury case, you need to know who was responsible for the accident. Determining fault in a car accident case can be confusing, but it gets even more challenging when multiple vehicles are involved, so it is best to consult a personal injury lawyer. Tampa personal injury attorney Dan Zohar has been practicing law in central Florida since 1987 and offers the tips below for people who have been involved in a multi-vehicle collision.
Types of multi-vehicle accidents
Rear-end collisions usually start with just two cars, causing a chain reaction that ultimately involves multiple vehicles. These car accident cases are commonly caused by distracted drivers when something takes their eyes off the road or their hands of the wheel. Another cause of multi-vehicle accidents is aggressive or drunk driving.
Side-impact accidents, also known as T-bone collisions, tend to happen when a driver fails to yield the right of way to another driver. This type of accident can cause the struck vehicle to be pushed into oncoming traffic, causing a multi-vehicle collision.
Another common type of multi-vehicle accident is the head-on collision, which typically occurs on two-lane roads. This occurs when one car crashes into the front of another car, and a car behind either of the two vehicles, unable to stop quickly enough, rear-ends it.
Determining fault in a multi-vehicle collision
Figuring out how an accident happened is critical in determining which driver caused the accident. In certain cases, more than one driver might be at fault. In these situations, it is essential to determine the degree of fault of each driver. Remember, insurance companies have a strong incentive to place blame on other drivers to avoid insurance claims, so aside from hiring a Tampa personal injury lawyer, take the necessary steps to document the scene of the accident.
What to do at the scene of a car accident
First, make sure that no one is seriously injured. Check yourself, your passengers, other drivers and their passengers, and call 9-1-1. Then, take photos of the scene of the accident. This includes all involved vehicles, damages, the debris on the road, surrounding intersections, streetlights, and every other detail that might be relevant later on.
Then, write down the contact details of all witnesses that might have seen the accident. You will also want to write down or take a picture of other drivers’ information, such as insurance details, licence plates, contact details, and insurance policy numbers. And lastly, do not discuss fault with other drivers until you consult a car accident lawyer, or talk to the insurance representatives of other drivers.
Do not assume you are not entitled to compensation
Even if you were partly at fault for the accident, do not assume you are not entitled to the compensation of medical bills, pain and suffering, or missed wages. Determining fault is a complicated process, and it is best to have a personal injury lawyer guiding you through the process to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Contact a Tampa personal injury attorney today.
Dan Zohar, an experienced Tampa car accident attorney, has represented more than 3,000 personal injury cases – many, just like yours. Contact the law office of personal injury attorney Dan Zohar to help you determine liability and identify the people responsible for your injuries and losses.