Multi-vehicle accident in Syracuse

How to Navigate the Claims Process After a Multi-Vehicle Accident 

By Greg Kohn
Partner

A multi-vehicle accident might end up doing more than ruining your car. Multi-vehicle accidents tend to be violent, meaning your body and life are in jeopardy. Emerging from the collision in one piece is cause for celebration. 

Now that the accident is over ask for medical attention, and then contact a New Jersey personal injury attorney for guidance. Your attorney will help you navigate the claims process after your multi-vehicle accident.

How to Proceed After Your Multi-vehicle Accident

Nothing is more important than your health. Once you are treated and thinking clearly, lean on your attorney for guidance in maneuvering through the claims process. Your personal injury attorney in New Jersey will interact with your auto insurer to obtain a settlement.

Your interactions with the other drivers involved in the multi-vehicle accident should be limited to taking down their names, auto insurance information, and contact information. Use your smartphone to record those details. 

Record the entirety of the interactions with the other drivers. There is a chance that one or several drivers will admit fault or apologize during those interactions. Such admissions of guilt can be used during settlement negotiations and also in court.

Contact the Police 

Multicar pileups and other collisions tend to be nasty scenes with extensive damage, blood, and possible loss of life. Though you can document the crash on your own with a smartphone or pen and paper, a formal police accident is better. 

The police accident report will be referenced during settlement negotiations and in court in an attempt to prove one or several drivers were negligent.  Negligence is the failure to provide due care.

Recognize That the Claims Process Will be Stressful

Auto insurance claims in the aftermath of multi-vehicle collisions are inherently complex. The more vehicles involved in the crash, the greater the claim complexity. 

The insurance company adjuster will analyze the extent of the damages in an attempt to establish fault for the crash. The adjuster analyzes documentation ranging from medical bills causally related to the crash to repair estimates and more in an attempt to gauge the value of the claim. 

It is in your interest to let your personal injury attorney in New Jersey handle discussions with all third parties and relay the information to you as even a single verbal misstep can ruin your chances of obtaining a settlement. Attorneys have their finger on the pulse of the personal injury industry, meaning they know exactly what constitutes a fair settlement offer. Your New Jersey personal injury attorney will also negotiate with the insurer on your behalf. 

If necessary, your attorney will represent you in a court of law. Your attorney will zealously advocate on your behalf to prove others’ fault in the multi-car accident. The overarching aim of a personal injury lawsuit is to obtain financial compensation for damages ranging from car repairs to medical bills, prescription medication, diminished working capacity, and more.

Schedule a Consultation With Our New Jersey Personal Injury Attorneys

Legal representation after your multi-vehicle accident is a call away. Reach out to us today, tell us about your car crash, and we’ll battle for a fair settlement or court award.

About the Author
Greg Kohn is a partner at Nagel Rice and specializes in complex civil litigation cases, including professional malpractice, personal injury, class actions, wrongful death, products liability, and commercial litigation.  He has extensive experience representing clients in both state and federal court. Greg has tried many jury trials to verdict and has recovered over $50 million in settlements and verdicts in all types of personal injury matters including automobile accidents, wrongful death cases, slip and falls, and other catastrophic injury cases. Greg also handles medical malpractice cases, involving misdiagnoses, wrongful birth, and delayed cancer diagnosis. If you have questions regarding this article, you can contact Greg here.