Any car accident can be stressful and lead to serious injuries and multiple damages, but a multiple car accident can be even more challenging and devastating. Filing a claim if you are involved in a multiple car accident at an intersection can often be a challenge itself.
Because of the complexity of such claims, you will need a personal injury attorney working for you and helping you to get your claim on the right track. Several things must be considered when you pursue a claim, so you can determine who is liable for the damages you suffered because of the crash.
An Example Scenario
If you are at an intersection and your light turns green then you proceed through behind the vehicle in front of you and a car on the other side comes speeding along and runs a red light, crashing into your vehicle and the car in front of you, then it is obvious that the car who ran the light acted negligently. Depending on the state where the crash occurred and the negligence laws, there is a possibility that more than one driver might be held liable for the damages that resulted.
Several factors are considered, such as speed, the location of the vehicles, and the damages that resulted. The police will investigate the crash, but your personal injury attorney will also look at the accident and determine what went wrong and how the crash could have been prevented.
How Negligence Comes into Play
When you can prove negligence, you have a successful personal injury claim. Negligence consists of four elements – duty, breach, causation, and damages. In this situation, drivers have a duty or responsibility to act in a specific way and to obey traffic laws to protect other drivers from harm.
This driver breached that duty by not adhering to traffic laws and by running the red light. That breach of duty then caused an accident. The accident then caused the damages that you suffered in the crash. Therefore, you have proven that the driver who ran the traffic light was negligent and you suffered damages because of his actions. You can have a successful personal injury claim against him or her in this case.
Determining Your Damages
Several different damages might result from a multiple car accident at an intersection. Common damages are past and future medical costs, past and future lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, mental trauma, loss of enjoyment of life, disabilities, permanent scarring and disfigurement, and more.
In some cases, punitive damages might be awarded. Punitive damages are created to punish the guilty party for their actions and to deter them from that behavior in the future. As an example, if the driver was going 85 in a 45 mile-per-hour zone or if the driver was intoxicated, punitive damages might be awarded.
Consult With a Personal Injury Attorney
If you are filing a claim because you were involved in a multiple car accident at an intersection, you should talk with an accident injury lawyer right away. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page so you can get your case reviewed and get your claim underway.
