Scores of traffic accidents happen every day in New York City, and if you are injured by a negligent driver, the legal questions about fault, liability, and damages can get complicated very quickly. If more than one vehicle is involved in such a crash, it gets even more complicated. But, can a Bronx, NY car accident law firm help?

Multi-vehicle traffic collisions can be absolutely catastrophic for everyone who is involved. These accidents usually result in severe and/or permanent injuries, costly property damages, complicated personal injury claims, and in the worst-case scenario, wrongful death lawsuits.

What can happen after a traffic crash that involves more than two vehicles? Is there adequate insurance coverage for everyone who has been hurt? If you’re among the injured, how will your injury attorney manage a case with so many factors that must be considered?

WHEN AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS, WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

If you are injured in a traffic accident that involves multiple vehicles anywhere in the state of New York, take these measures:

  • Call for medical help if anyone has been injured. That is the foremost priority.
  • Have a medical examination – even if you feel great – within twenty-four hours.
  • Summon the police.
  • When the police arrive, ask how and when you can get a copy of the written accident report.
  • Trade personal contact and insurance contact information with the other drivers.
  • Take photos. Try to get the names and contact details of any eyewitnesses.

A personal injury lawyer will provide plenty of help – later – but in those first moments at the crash scene, you must think about liability and compensation, and no attorney will be there to help you.

WHY IS A MEDICAL EXAM NEEDED AFTER A CRASH EVEN IF YOU FEEL FINE?

Vehicles can be replaced, but if you sustain a personal injury in a crash and your health is at risk, you can’t take chances. A prompt and complete medical exam is necessary – even if you feel fine – because:

  • If you have suffered a latent or hard-to-detect injury, and that injury is overlooked, it could swiftly – or in some cases slowly – emerge as a dangerous medical condition.
  • If you sustain a latent or hard-to-detect injury, and if you file a personal injury claim, there must be medical documentation indicating that your injury occurred in the multi-vehicle accident and not at another place or time.

tbis after crashes

Treatment and care for conditions such as traumatic brain injuries and severe spinal cord injuries can cost over a million dollars during a lifetime. You must have an attorney’s help.

WHAT’S THE DEFINITION OF A “MULTI-VEHICLE” ACCIDENT?

The only thing that is not complicated about a multi-vehicle accident is the definition. It is an accident that involves three or more vehicles, three or more drivers, and usually three or more auto insurance companies.

If there are passengers in the vehicles, that means more complications. If one or more of the vehicles is a commercial vehicle, there will be even more legal complications.

rear end crashes

Most accidents involving multiple vehicles are chain-reaction crashes comprised of a series of rear-end collisions in a situation with poor visibility. Of course, the details in every case will be different, so each crash is studied to learn what happened and who should be held accountable.

WHAT QUESTIONS HAVE TO BE ANSWERED IN MULTI-VEHICLE CASES?

To learn what transpired and who was responsible, accident reconstruction specialists use math, physics, and computers to create a second-by-second account of what happened immediately prior to a multiple-vehicle accident – an account that in many cases proves who was at-fault.

In any traffic accident, but especially in multi-vehicle collisions, these questions have to be asked and answered:

  • Was any driver in the accident unlicensed or driving while intoxicated?
  • Did bad weather or poor road conditions play any role in causing the collision?
  • Was a defective vehicle or defective vehicle parts responsible for the accident?

HOW ARE PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS RESOLVED IN MULTI-VEHICLE CASES?

After an investigation determines who was at fault for a multiple-vehicle collision, your attorney can begin negotiating for the settlement amount that you are entitled to in New York as an injured victim of someone else’s negligence.

Personal injury claims in New York are usually resolved when attorneys for the plaintiff and defendant negotiate a settlement outside of the courtroom. However, cases with multiple defendants are more difficult to settle.

lawyers negotiating

If a big commercial truck is involved in a multiple-vehicle accident, more will be at stake, the case will be much more complicated, and a leasing company, a trucking company, or a freight company could be involved in the case.

HOW WILL A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ATTORNEY HELP YOU?

You will need to have a skilled negotiator advocating on your behalf. If you are injured in one of these accidents in New York, you must be advised and represented by someone who successfully handles the most complex personal injury cases.

After a healthcare provider has examined you, arrange at once to meet with an experienced Bronx personal injury attorney. The attorney will discuss your rights and options and will recommend the best way to move forward – which might be by filing a personal injury claim.

attorneys in court

Your first consultation with an injury lawyer is free. There’s no obligation. If you move forward with legal action, you pay no lawyer’s fee until and unless your lawyer obtains an out-of-court settlement or a judgment in your favor from a trial jury.

WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSULT A CAR ACCIDENT LAW FIRM IN NEW YORK?

You must act promptly if you are injured by negligence in a multi-vehicle crash. The statute of limitations in New York gives you three years to take legal action, but you must not wait three years before speaking to an injury attorney. Evidence disappears. Memories can fade.

Moreover, if you are injured and you cannot work, the bills stack up fast. If you have been injured by a negligent driver in a multiple-vehicle crash, put your case in the hands of a good New York accident attorney at once. That is your right.

If you are injured by a negligent motorist, the law in the state of New York is on your side. Take your case directly to a top-rated Bronx personal injury attorney.