If you are involved in a multi-vehicle accident, what steps you take next can make a significant difference. You are lawfully entitled to compensation if the defendant(s) was accountable. However, you will not recover everything you deserve unless you take the appropriate steps. Please continue reading this article to learn more about multiple-vehicle accidents and the different actions you can take following your accident in Las Vegas.

Causes of Multi-Vehicle Crashes 

A multi-vehicle collision involves at least two vehicles. The more cars involved, the more challenging it can be to receive your deserved compensation.

So, how does a multi-vehicle accident occur?

Sometimes, following a crash between two vehicles, other motorists do not have any other place to go or adequate time to make a stop. On the other hand, some drivers do not see the accident because of obstructions or smoke. Consequently, the other driver can crash into the accident, resulting in a more significant pile-up.

The accident can also be due to a chain reaction. One motor vehicle pushes the vehicle in front into oncoming traffic. It causes the first car to rear-end the vehicle in front, causing the second motor vehicle to hit the next car in line.

Also, when an accident occurs at an intersection, it is easy for the cars involved to cause subsequent accidents. For instance, a car moving forward through an intersection can be shoved into a vehicle(s) when hit by a vehicle turning right.

Typically, accidents on a highway can lead to pile-up accidents. When a vehicle is speeding, the driver can't control when another car strikes it and changes its direction.  

While a multi-vehicle collision can take place at any time, provided there are many cars on the road, some factors increase the likelihood of crashes. These situations include:

  • Rubbernecking — It happens when motorists stop to look at a collision scene. They can all become distracted and more likely to cause a pile-up accident.
  • Speeding — When your accident on the highway, it is more likely to involve several motor vehicles since the cars surrounding the collision are often speeding and cannot stop on  time to avoid the accident
  • Adverse weather conditions — Poor visibility and icy roads increase the threat because other motorists cannot see or respond timely when approaching an accident.
  • Cars traveling too close
  • Drunk driving
  • Failing to yield the right of way
  • Tailgating
  • Reckless driving

Although many factors can cause road accidents, negligence is still to blame at the end of the day.

Determining Fault in Your Multi-Vehicle Collision

The fault is not always apparent when two cars are involved in a crash, which is more challenging in a multiple-car crash. In a chain-reaction crash, often the first motor vehicle to strike another causes a series of several accidents to happen, but that does not necessarily mean the first motorist is accountable for the subsequent occurrences.

Some considerations that assist in fault determination include:

  • Police report
  • Proof collected at the accident scene
  • Position of motor vehicles after the crash
  • Witnesses' statements
  • Documentation of injuries
  • Records of previous violations committed by the defendant
  • Additional evidence, including weather conditions at the time of the crash, black box recorder data, and video surveillance

Per Nevada Revised Statutes 41.141, the fault is established by verifying negligence, and any liable motorist can be held accountable for any resulting damages. Nevada is a comparative negligence state. That means any person whose negligence contributed to your collision will be held financially responsible for the losses incurred in direct quantity to the portion of the fault.

Assuming you are in the front of a traffic line and involved in a four-car, rear-end accident. The court determines your total compensation amount is $40,000. After investigation, it is determined that the motorist who was two vehicles behind you is liable for 70% of the accident, while the driver behind you is liable for 30%. In this case, the motorist responsible for 70% will pay you $28,000, while the person responsible for 30% will be accountable for $12,000.

Steps to Take Following Your Accident

After your collision, you should take specific steps to ensure everyone is safe, adhere to the law, and have your personal injury claim process started. The steps below can guide you when making the essential decisions you need after the crash, whether you caused it or not.

Remain at Your Multi-Vehicle Crash Scene

If a person sustained injuries or died, remain at your accident scene until law enforcers come unless you require immediate medical help.

Provided it is safe, move your motor vehicle to somewhere else safe. Vehicles blocking traffic can lead to further injuries either to you or somebody else. However, you should leave your car where it is and wait for the police if a person was severely injured or died.

If any person suffered injuries, call 911 and report the accident in a calm and relaxed manner. The call operator will require to know the location. So, be prepared to provide any helpful information. Additionally, the operator will ask you questions and offer you instructions.

Seek Medical Assistance

Suppose you are severely injured in your accident. In that case, emergency service providers will come to the accident scene and rush you to the nearest health care facility, where you will receive the medical help you require.

However, sometimes car accident victims do not know they suffered injuries until after a couple of hours, days, or weeks. Human bodies respond to accident shock and pain signals by producing endorphins hormones that mask the pain until the mind recovers from the shock. Please do not assume the injuries will go away on their own. Instead, visit a medical doctor.

If your physician has diagnosed your injury and started treatment, follow through with your medical treatment until they release you from it. The doctor is best placed to determine how severe your injuries are and prescribe the most appropriate treatment. Also, the doctor's record of the visits is the most effective method to document the degree and nature of the injuries and the treatment's duration.

Finally, request your doctor copies of your medical records. Please read them carefully and have the medical practitioner rectify all mistakes. When reviewing the records, focus on your symptoms, medical history, and the accident's description.

Notify the Police Following Your Accident

Nevada laws require you to alert the Nevada Highway Patrol or police following a car-related accident where anyone is injured or killed. The most effective way to call law enforcers is by calling 911.

Please note that you do not have to call law enforcement if you are severely injured, or a police officer is already on your accident scene. If the collision caused no bodily injuries and the total value of property damage is $750 or less, police officers will not come to the accident scene.

Report Your Crash to the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles

You should also submit a Nevada DMV Report of Traffic Accident Report (SR-1) with ten days from when the multi-vehicle crash occurred if:

  • Any person died or suffered injuries, or
  • The total property damage amounts to at least $750.

Nonetheless, a victim does not have to report their accident to the Nevada DMV if a law enforcer submitted an accident report with their contact and insurance information.

Willfully failing to report your accident can result in a one-year driver's license suspension.

Remember to Gather the Relevant Evidence

By this point, you have had to do a lot to secure your life, loved ones, and the car, and you can forget to gather some essential details. That is why it is wise to keep your documents orderly. Some of the information to keep in your vehicle include proof of insurance, the name and contact details of your auto insurance provider, car registration, and medical information like the name of your primary doctor and allergies.

Only exchange auto coverage and contact details when you begin the document exchange process. It prevents you from saying anything that the defendant can use against you later. Here is a list of what you should gather for your personal injury claim:

Name and contact details of all involved drivers

  • Name of the insurer and the policy number
  • Model, type, and color of cars
  • Location of the collision
  • Driver's license
  • Cars license plate numbers

Ensure you capture videos or photos of any damages to all motor vehicles, speak to witnesses, record and note down all you can recall about what occurred.

Also, document weather conditions, road conditions, and anything you think caused your accident.

Finally, document your injuries. Capture or have a loved one, capture photographs of all visible injuries with your camera or smartphone. You can also record or write down your impressions of your injuries. The more proof of your documented injuries, the increased your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve.

Hire a Competent Personal Injury Lawyer

While you can self-represent yourself and think that your insurance provider will be on your side, engaging a skilled personal injury lawyer is in your best interest.

Your attorney understands the devastating issues you are facing, including painful injuries, substantial medical bills, the inconvenience of being without your vehicle, and loss of enjoyment of life. On top of that, the legal counsel knows different insurance adjusters' tricks and understands Nevada personal injury laws. The lawyer can alleviate your stress following the crash by:

Providing medical referral for your treatment and obtaining relevant medical records for your personal injury claim

  • Handling all negotiations and contact with insurance firms
  • Preparing and reviewing paperwork
  • Acquiring essential proof to build a robust personal injury case such as the accident's photos and witness statement
  • Protecting your rights while seeking maximum compensation for your losses and injuries
  • Taking and representing your personal injury case in court

Your lawyer can also draft a demand letter with a settlement offer that covers damages such as:

  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Medical expenses (both existing and future)
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damages

Do Not Admit Fault

Even when you believe that you caused your accident, avoid admitting fault to the other motorists, law enforcers, or insurance companies.

While sometimes a multi-vehicle accident can seem apparent during the collision, you do not know all the facts and circumstances that contributed to the road accident. For instance, one of the drivers could have been texting while driving, which can be hard to recognize from your car.

Also, after your statement is documented, you will have a challenging moment changing it. Insurance companies will use your statement to determine how to proceed and close your case. Changing the statement causes suspicion and hurts your credibility.

Admitting fault can also affect the compensation amount you receive. Remember, Nevada follows the comparative fault rule.

While other parties can assert that you contributed to your multi-vehicle accident, you should not admit fault. Instead, you can do the following:

  • Avoid talking to the insurance provider
  • Allow your lawyer to contact all parties on your behalf
  • Do not state personal opinions
  • Stick to case facts that cannot incriminate you
  • Avoid exaggerating case facts

However, that does not imply that you cannot call the police.

Do Not Tell the Involved Parties You Are Not Injured

Do not claim you are okay even if you believe you were not injured.

Typical soft-tissue injuries take time to manifest. Saying you are not injured gives the defendants' lawyers and insurance companies ammunition to lower or deny your compensation claim.

However, do not lie and claim you were hurt if you do not know or were not. Instead, keep your options open until you see how you feel and seek medical assistance.

Find Experienced Las Vegas Personal Injury Attorney 

Being in a vehicle-related collision with another motor vehicle is scary and agonizing. However, the degree of fright and stress is significantly worse when involved in a multi-vehicle crash. The accident can lead to severe property damage and catastrophic injuries. Numerous questions and concerns arise whenever a pile-up accident happens, such as "who is at fault?", "What to do to recover the losses incurred?" To address your concern, you need a skilled attorney from the Las Vegas Personal Injury Attorney Law Firm who can review the accident and guide you on the most appropriate steps to take following the crash. Please call our legal office at 702-996-1224 to schedule your initial free consultation.