If you are involved in a chain-reaction auto accident, you may have suffered serious harm, and you may have many questions: What should I do next? How can I go about getting a fair payout for the damages I suffered? You are likely contemplating these serious questions while also dealing with the painful after-effects of the accident itself, as well as collateral consequences like having missed work for a time. If you have suffered injuries in a situation like this, you should focus on your personal recovery and consider retaining a skilled Massachusetts injury attorney who can pursue your recovery of damages in court.
Chain-Reaction Accidents
Earlier this year, the online news site wickedlocal.com reported on an accident that took place here in Plymouth County. The accident occurred after a minivan, driven by a 54-year-old woman, allegedly slowed or stopped to make a left turn off Route 104 in Bridgewater. A pick-up truck, driven by a 29-year-old woman, was behind the minivan and purportedly did not stop in time, rear-ending the lead vehicle. That impact pushed the van into oncoming traffic. The van side-swiped an SUV and then crashed head-on into a sedan. The drivers of the truck, the van and the sedan were all taken to hospitals with “non-life-threatening” injuries. The police cited the driver of the truck for following too closely.
Paths to Recovery after a Massachusetts Accident
When it comes to seeking recovery for the damages you suffered in a multi-vehicle or chain-reaction accident, there may be different ways of obtaining compensation. It makes a difference whether or not there was exactly one driver who was at-fault in the accident, or multiple drivers who bore some amount of blame. In the Bridgewater accident, for example, it is possible that the driver of the truck may have been negligent. However, if the driver of the SUV or the driver of the sedan should have seen the oncoming minivan soon enough to have taken actions to avoid the secondary impact(s) but did not do so, then they might have some culpability for the van driver’s injuries.
This matters because if the truck driver was the lone driver responsible for the accident, then the maximum that that driver’s insurer would pay is the limit of her auto insurance policy. If, however, multiple drivers were to blame for the impacts that injured the van driver, she might be able to recover from the truck driver’s insurer and from the insurers of the other driver(s). If your monetary recovery from these insurers still does not cover the totality of the damages you suffered, you may have the ability to seek recovery from your own insurer based on your UIM coverage.
Hiring a Skilled Massachusetts Truck Accident Attorney
Deciding how to proceed after you’ve been hurt in a multi-vehicle accident requires knowing a great about the facts of the accident. It also requires an in-depth knowledge of the law. At The Law Offices of Barry Feinstein & Affiliates, P.C., our dedicated, hard-working car accident attorneys will assess your claim and make every effort to help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries. While we try to settle every claim, we are not afraid to zealously advocate for your rights at trial if needed. For a free case evaluation, call us today at 1-800-262-9200 or contact us online.
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