The aftermath of any motor vehicle accident always has the potential to be chaotic and confusing. This is particularly true when multiple vehicles are involved. Accidents that only involve two vehicles can present their own challenges, but they are typically fairly straightforward. One party is usually at fault and accident victims can file a claim against the negligent driver after exhausting their own personal injury protection (PIP) benefits.
When multiple vehicles are involved in a crash though, the situation is much more complex. Below, our Miami car accident lawyer explains the unique challenges these claims present, and how having legal counsel by your side can help.
Insurance Policy Limits
Every motorist in Florida has a legal obligation to purchase and carry certain amounts of auto insurance. Under the state’s no-fault auto insurance laws, you must first claim PIP benefits from your own insurance company. Unfortunately, this compensation will likely not be enough to fully cover the cost of medical treatment and other losses. If you require further monetary compensation, you can then file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Although filing a claim against the negligent driver will allow you to receive more compensation, all insurance policies have their limits. You will be restricted to these, which can create a problem in a multi-vehicle accident. Auto insurance policies only provide up to a certain amount for the entire accident, so if there were other victims, you will all be bound by the same limit.
Determining Fault
Determining which motorist acted negligently and caused the crash is not easy, even when there are only two vehicles involved. When there are more, it becomes even more challenging.
The insurance company covering the at-fault driver is liable for paying damages, and insurers notoriously prioritize their own profits over the safety and well-being of accident victims. As such, the insurance companies will attempt to shift the blame to one another, which makes it difficult to determine who is liable and often takes longer, too.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage is Even More Important
Florida has one of the highest rates of uninsured motorist coverage. When a crash involves multiple drivers, the chances that at least one of them will not have the proper amounts of insurance increases significantly. To ensure that you can still receive the full damages you deserve, it is important to purchase uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Florida does not make this coverage mandatory, but it will give you many more options after a crash.
A Car Accident Lawyer in Miami Becomes Even More Important
All car accidents have the potential to become complex, but multi-vehicle crashes present many more challenges. At Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein, our Miami car accident lawyers know how to determine who is liable for paying damages for your injuries and will hold them accountable for paying the full and fair amount. If you are hurt, call us now at 786-504-7874 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help.