Whose insurance bears the brunt of an accident’s bills when several parties get caught up in a car collision? The answer to whose insurance pays in a multi-car crash varies depending on the circumstances. More often than not, the party who initiated the accident takes the bulk of the blame for a crash. That said, certain forms of misconduct may allow you to distribute fault between multiple parties.
Fortunately, no one is making you assign multi-car accident fault on your own. You can contact Berry Law’s car accident attorneys in Nebraska and Iowa to get their input on your case. Your representative can then bring forward the evidence you need to assign liability for your accident.
How do You Account for Multiple Instances of Negligence After a Car Accident?
Even in accidents involving multiple drivers, evidence is king. You must have the means to prove that a particular driver engaged in roadway negligence if you want to hold said driver accountable for your losses. That said, who takes the blame for an accident when there’s evidence of multiple parties’ negligence?
More often than not, the driver who initiated an accident assumes liability for everyone’s losses. That means if Driver A initiates an accident against Driver C, even if Driver B contributed to the accident, Driver A’s insurance provider assumes responsibility for both Driver B and C’s post-accident expenses.
Exceptions to the Rule
That said, the driver who initiated the accident may not bear the most negligence out of everyone involved in the accident. If the evidence indicates that – borrowing from the above example – Driver B got behind the wheel while intoxicated, and Driver A swerved to avoid their erratic behavior, Driver B’s insurance may assume responsibility for the victim’s recovery.
It’s that distinction that makes it particularly important for you to discuss the division of fault in a multi-car accident with an experienced attorney. Our attorneys can investigate the scene of your accident, bring forward evidence of misconduct, and assign percentages of misconduct accordingly.
Through our work, you can determine whose insurance you need to work with and, in some cases, who you need to name liable for your losses in a personal injury claim.
How to Financially Recover from a Multi-Car Accident
Depending on the circumstances that led to your accident, you may have the right to take up a legal complaint against multiple parties. This is, again, a conversation you need to have with an attorney in the wake of a dangerous collision. Evidence plays a key role in determining whether you can hold one or more parties accountable for your financial burden.
You can initially hold one or more parties financially liable by working with their insurance providers. Get those drivers’ contact information after an accident and have an attorney interface with their respective providers on your behalf.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim After a Multi-Car Accident
If an at-fault driver refuses to cooperate with you, you may need to file a personal injury claim against said driver(s). Car accident lawyers in Nebraska and Iowa can help you through this process and represent you as the case progresses.
Note, however, that you have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury claim after an accident. No matter how many parties you want to name liable for your losses, you must get your claim in before your statute of limitations expires.
Nebraska Revised Statutes Section 25-207 allows injured parties to investigate their losses for up to four years from the day an accident takes place. Comparatively, Iowa Code §614.1(2) caps your actionable time at two years. You can work with an attorney to make the most of your allotted time.
Berry Law’s Team Provides You With Multiple Attorney Perspectives
How Can You Account for Missing Damages After a Multi-Car Accident?
If you find that none of the parties involved in your accident have enough insurance to cover the full breadth of your losses, don’t worry. There are still options for you on the table. You can pursue additional compensation via underinsured insurance if you invested in that coverage. You can alternatively file a personal injury claim, as outlined above.
Underinsured insurance ensures that you can turn to your provider if there are expenses that a liable party can’t pay after invoking their own coverage. That said, you have to commit to this coverage long before you get into your accident. You should also stay aware of the amount of coverage your provider’s underinsured insurance offers you in the wake of an accident.
Pursuing a personal injury claim against a party that’s already covered some of your losses via insurance can pay dividends, but it also may not. You should discuss the pros and cons of pursuing an underinsured lawsuit against an offending driver(s) with Nebraska or Iowa attorneys before you file your claim.
Berry Law Can Help You Assign Fault After a Multi-Car Accident
You shouldn’t have to assign liability for your own accident after a multi-car crash. You have losses to contend with, injuries to address, and bills to pay. Why not call on a car accident lawyer to determine who you can hold responsible for your recent accident? Berry Law has representatives in Nebraska and Iowa who can investigate your crash for you.
We can determine which of the parties involved in your accident bears the most responsibility for the crash. You can trust us to bring forward evidence to back our claim and more effectively defend your right to legal action. We can even divide fault between multiple parties if the evidence seems to point in that direction.
You can learn more about Berry Law’s car accident services and how they can help you recover after a multi-car accident today. Contact us via the Berry Law contact form, or call our office to request your first case evaluation.
