In Clearwater, car accidents that involve multiple vehicles can be disastrous and difficult to recover from. In addition, the laws in the state of Florida can be complicated and tricky to understand and navigate on your own.
If you have been involved in a multi-vehicle accident, we highly recommend that you reach out and contact an experienced accident attorney for advice. There are many complex issues to investigate in regard to multiple vehicle accidents, and you will need a skilled accident attorney on your side to help you navigate the laws, manage your case and win compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and other damages that may have incurred.
Multiple car accidents are unfortunate affairs, and they can be devastating experiences for the people involved. These kinds of car accidents are usually much more severe than an average car accident; multiple vehicles tend to cause even more disruption, damage, and injury. They are also known as a pile-up chain reaction or a multi-car collision, where three or more cars are involved.
If you have suffered as a result of a serious multi-vehicle collision, then you will be in need of a diligent car accident attorney to handle your case. At The Law Place, we have over 75 years of combined experience in dealing with multiple vehicle accidents and winning compensation for the injured. Our team of accident attorneys is aware of the complex nature of multiple vehicle accidents and the injuries, lost wages, pain, and suffering that many people go through in the aftermath. No one should have to deal with something like this alone, which is where our law firm will step in to ease the pressure for you. Reach out and contact The Law Place now on (941) 444-4444, for a free consultation.
Causes of Multi-Vehicle Collisions in Clearwater, FL.
A Clearwater car crash involving multiple vehicles tends to occur in high-speed limit areas with a high volume of cars on the road. The most common places are on highways or main roads in a city. However, there are several common reasons for a multiple vehicle accident to occur:
- Speeding – Drivers who violate their duty of care and speed past other vehicles.
- Distractions – Drivers who are distracted by a phone or another passenger when they are behind the wheel.
- Under the influence – Drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Reduced grip – A reduction in grip as a result of ice or water on the road, which makes it difficult for a driver to steer.
- Road-rage – Drivers who experience road rage when they are driving.
- New drivers – Inexperienced or new drivers on the road, who are still learning the rules.
- Tailgating – Driving dangerously close to other vehicles.
More often than not, the chain reaction of events leading to a multi-vehicle accident happens when a car abruptly stops, which leaves the cars behind them less time to break. A sudden stop tends to result in the driver behind crashing into the driver in front, which is especially dangerous if an accident like this occurs on a high-speed road with extra momentum.
Multiple vehicle accidents often happen on roads with high traffic volume, which can escalate quickly and result in a colossal accident involving three or more cars. Other cars on the road who weren’t involved in the initial crash will have to perform erratic maneuvers, like sharp swerving or harsh braking, in order to avoid the main accident. If a multi-vehicle accident case goes to court, then the large number of drivers and insurance companies will make the matter even more complicated. In this case, you will need a skilled attorney from The Law Place on your side to explain the process to you and win your personal injury claim.
For a free legal consultation with a multiple vehicles accidents lawyer serving Clearwater, call 941-444-4444
What to Do After a Car Accident in Clearwater, FL.
We hope that this is never the case for you, but if you ever find yourself involved in an auto accident involving multiple vehicles, then our law firm advises that you follow these steps:
- Stay on the scene – If you are not seriously injured and you are safe to do so, then stay on the scene of the Clearwater car accident. It could be perceived as a hit and run if you were to leave the scene of the accident, even if you were not responsible for the crash.
- Put safety first – Following the car accident, you have to put your safety first and move to a safer location, away from oncoming traffic.
- Call the police – It is mandatory that you contact the police to the scene of the multi-vehicle car crash, as stated in Florida Statute 316.062. A report from the police officer can also benefit your personal injury claim.
- Call an ambulance – If you or anyone else at the scene suffered injuries as a result of the Clearwater multiple vehicle car accident, then you have to call for an ambulance as soon as possible.
- Get contact details – talk to the other drivers and gather their contact details, which includes their names, phone numbers, vehicle information, and insurance details. It could also benefit your claim for compensation later if you collect the contact details of any eyewitnesses to the Clearwater car accident.
- Collect evidence – If you have a stable mindset and are in a safe position to do so, then collect evidence and take a series of photographs of the scene of the Clearwater car accident. A pile of evidence can be significant to your claim for compensation. Remember to take photographs of the damaged vehicles, the location, minor or severe injuries, and anything else that you find could be relevant and useful.
- Speak to a Fort Myers lawyer – If you are in search of the best legal advice, then get in touch with a skilled and professional car accident lawyer at The Law Place now for a free consultation.
- Contact your insurance company – After being involved in a Clearwater multiple vehicle car accident, it is required that you call your insurance company. You usually have within the timeframe of 24 hours to inform them of the incident, but the details of the time will be described further in your policy agreement. It is highly recommended that you reach out and contact one of our trained and experienced car accident attorneys, who can advise you on how to deal with the phone call to your insurance company, or they could even talk to them on your behalf.
- Keep a journal – If you wish to improve your case, keeping a journal of your experiences in the aftermath of the car accident could be useful. An experienced car accident lawyer from The Law Place can use this as evidence. Take notes on your symptoms, experiences of pain and suffering, or even details about lifestyle adjustments that you have had to make to your home that has affected your everyday life following a Clearwater car accident.
- Paperwork evidence – Keep any paperwork such as medical bills, lost wages, receipts for travel expenses, and the costs of any other damages such as pain and suffering, injuries, or operations that may have incurred. A car accident attorney from The Law Place can use the paperwork to help your claim for compensation.
- Report to the police – You have up to ten days from the date of the Clearwater auto accident to make a report, as stated in Florida Statute 316.066. You can also file a report online at Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), or you have the option to go to your local police station.
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Florida Law
In America, every state has its own law in regard to determining the faulty party in a multi-vehicle accident. If you are found to be more than 50% at fault for the Clearwater auto accident than some states can prevent you from recovering damages.
Florida Statute 768.81 on comparative fault states that:
In other words, if you utilize the skills of an auto accident lawyer from our law firm to successfully win a claim, then your compensation amount is reduced by the percentage that you are to blame for the accident. For example, if you won $100,000 in compensation, but you were found to be 20% at fault for the Clearwater car crash, then you will only receive $80,000.
Florida has eradicated some of the previous laws in reference to an auto accident such as this. The old system, which was known as joint and several liabilities, initially let you decide who you wanted to seek compensation from. However, this option is no longer available.
A knowledgeable auto accident lawyer from The Law Place can answer all of your questions and explain the details of your situation to you in a clear and concise manner. Contact our law firm now for a free consultation.
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Who Is at Fault?
In Clearwater, FL., the fault for a multi-vehicle accident usually lies with the driver who is proven to be negligent. In this case, a skilled accident attorney will have to prove:
- Duty of care – Every driver in the state of Florida has a legal responsibility to drive mindfully and follow the rules of the road.
- Breaching – Proof that the driver did not adhere to the rules of the road and failed to take the right measurements to drive safely.
- Cause – The driver breached their duty of care, and consequently, you were involved in a Clearwater car accident that wasn’t your fault.
- Damages – As a result of the Clearwater car accident, you suffered injuries, minor or major, and incurred damages that could qualify for a compensation claim.
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Medical Emergencies
In the event that a car crash takes place, the cause could come down to a medical emergency, such as a driver suffering a mental breakdown behind the wheel, or a bus driver experiencing a sudden heart attack.
If you had a medical emergency which caused a car accident, but you have no previous medical conditions, then it is possible you might not be held liable under Florida law.
A skilled Clearwater car accident lawyer can use this information to make the point that you were physically healthy before the accident, and you had no knowledge of an underlying medical condition that may have caused the crash. However, if it is revealed that you were aware of a medical condition before the car accident, then you become completely liable for the crash, injuries, and damages that ensued.
What Can a Skilled Attorney Do for You?
Accidents involving two or more cars are usually much more complex, and it requires a knowledgeable and proficient Clearwater lawyer to successfully resolve the case. These kinds of accidents rarely reach the settlement stage with insurance companies, which means that they will have to proceed to filing a lawsuit without determining fault. The lawsuit stage will include depositions and statements from witnesses to the accident. It is essential that you have a skilled car accident lawyer on your side, as you might be tricked into admitting fault, even if this is not accurate, by someone else’s lawyer who is involved in the case.
Multi-vehicle accidents are complicated by a series of factors, such as:
- More than one injured party was involved in the Clearwater car accident.
- Several different insurance companies involved, who all have an agenda to pay as little compensation as possible for the car accident.
- More than one driver who is at fault, which makes it difficult to determine fault for the accident.
- A lack of insurance coverage to collectively pay out all the claims.
- Wrongful death as a result of the accident, which means that an in-depth investigation will be conducted by the prosecutors.
- More than one cross-claim of negligence, which will need to be examined fully.
These series of factors can take a long time to straighten out, which means that claims for compensation can possibly be delayed by months or even years.
It could prove to be beneficial in moving the case forward to utilize a bifurcated trial, meaning that the claim is separated into a two-part trial.
The first part of the trial allows the cause of the accident to be discussed without mentioning any details of the injuries. The judge and the jury are then allowed to decide the liability, regardless of the injuries caused by the accident.
The second part of the trial takes place after the medical treatment of the injured party has been completed. At this point, a lawyer in Clearwater can seek medical compensation.
An attorney from our law firm will fight for your rights and do whatever it takes to make sure that you receive the compensation that you deserve following a Clearwater car accident.
Contact The Law Place Today!
If you suffered injuries as a result of being involved in a multiple vehicle car accident, then you will be in need of a skilled car accident lawyer. At The Law Place, we have over 75 years of combined experience in managing the complexities of multi-vehicle crashes and negotiating with big-time insurance companies.
Our team of knowledgeable accident attorneys is aware of the pressure that you might be under following a car accident, and they will do everything in their power to make sure the personal injury claim progresses smoothly for you.
If you choose to be represented by our law firm, then a skilled car accident lawyer will get to work on your case. They will start by conducting an investigation, collecting evidence, negotiating with insurance companies, and dealing with all the necessary paperwork while you are on your way to recovery.
Call us today, and an attorney from our law firm will offer you a free consultation, where they will give you honest, unbiased advice on what we believe is the best course of action to take in your situation. At the end of the conversation, it is up to you to decide what is right for you. But if you choose to hire our law firm, then we will be at your side every step of the way.
Contact The Law Place now for a free consultation on (941) 444-4444.
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