Often, there are car crashes that involve multiple vehicles. While state laws require all drivers to maintain the proper insurance coverage to legally operate a vehicle on the road, if they maintain the minimum coverage – or even a higher coverage amount – it may not be enough to cover all the damages.
If you are in a multi-vehicle crash and many of the drivers don’t have enough insurance coverage, you might find yourself filing a claim through your own underinsured motorist coverage.
As an example, a driver might have an insurance policy that indicates 15/25/10. That policy would include $15,000 per person bodily injury up to $25,000 maximum per accident. It would pay no more than $10,000 in property damages. If there were 8 vehicles in the crash, and 3 drivers were blamed for what happened, then their insurance would be responsible for the damages.
If the medical expenses and lost wages totaled $150,000 and the property damages exceeded $65,000, then all three at-fault drivers would have their policies maxed out.
Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage is coverage that will allow the driver to receive damages for the injuries or damages suffered in an accident caused by an underinsured or uninsured driver.
You pay an additional fee for your insurance coverage if you want your policy to cover this clause with this specific kind of coverage. You have a set amount of underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage when you buy your auto insurance coverage.
In this case, some people might not have any damages covered by the insurance policies of the at-fault drivers because they have well exceeded the coverage amounts.
In that case, you will go ahead and file a claim with your underinsured motorist coverage right away. Hopefully, you have enough uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage to take care of the damages that you suffered in the multi-vehicle accident.
What To Do After A Multi-Car Crash
If you are in a multi-vehicle accident, be sure to stay on the accident scene. You will want to call the police and make sure an accident report is filed. The officer who responds will investigate the accident and indicate preliminary fault for the crash. Try to get photos of the accident scene, which will show the point of impact and the severity of the damages.
If there are witnesses, ask them to provide written statements. Ask them for their names and contact details as well, so you can contact them if you need to do so later. Establish medical care right away and be sure to keep copies of all medical records, medical bills, proof of missed work and lost wages, and any damage repair estimates.
Consult With A Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been involved in a car accident with multiple underinsured motorists, you should enlist the help of a personal injury lawyer. With the help of an attorney, you are much more likely to recover compensation for damages. Schedule your free case review to get your personal injury claim underway before time runs out.
