Tulsa Multi-Vehicle Accident Attorney

A car crash can be a catastrophic event in anyone’s life. Add in multiple vehicles, such as cars, trucks, and even motorcyclists, and the injuries and damage are multiplied many times over. It becomes important to understand who is to blame and how you can receive adequate compensation for your trauma and property loss.

An experienced Tulsa multi-vehicle accident attorney can investigate your case and negotiate with all other parties involved. The law offices of Graves McLain Injury Lawyers are ready to evaluate your situation and discuss all the available options.

Common Causes of Multi-Vehicle Accidents in Tulsa

On busy highways, multiple car accidents occur frequently because so many vehicles are on the road. But even in downtown Tulsa or a suburban area, an intersection can suddenly be filled with cars, trucks, and other vehicles colliding into one another.

Many factors may contribute to multi-vehicle accidents, either alone or in combination to increase liability and damage. These factors include:

• Reckless driving
• Speeding
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Ignoring traffic laws
• Aggressive or emotional driving
• Driving while fatigued or sleepy
• Texting or using a device that distracts the driver
• Lack of driver experience
• Poor road or weather conditions
• Unexpected road hazards
• Vehicle part failure (tire blowout or brakes failing)
• Losing control of a vehicle
• Medical issues (heart attack while driving)
• Animals in the roadway

For example, if a ladder or mattress falls off a vehicle on the interstate, it becomes an obstruction to traffic. Drivers who may be fatigued, distracted, or under the influence now face an unexpected hazard on the road. Some drivers might change lanes or swerve to avoid crashing, involving other vehicles. If a large commercial truck becomes involved, the situation can quickly become disastrous. Motorcyclists face even higher risks than drivers in passenger vehicles, and a bicyclist often fares the worst of all.

On a highway with many fast-moving vehicles, the opposing lanes of travel can even become involved. It all adds up to injuries and property damage to a large number of individuals, which takes time and expertise to untangle. The complexities of the laws and determining fault are best handled by a multi-accident lawyer with years of experience litigating settlements and court cases.

Next Steps After a Multi-Vehicle Accident in Tulsa

No matter how many vehicles are involved, it is important to gather as much evidence as possible as soon as you can after a crash. This may include photos or video footage from the area, reports from emergency responders, and witness depositions. While this must be done quickly, some evidence of injuries may not appear until days after a crash. If there are fatalities, a person may not die until several weeks afterwards.

This could introduce the need for a wrongful death suit.

If you have been involved in a multiple-vehicle collision, here are some recommended steps you should take:

• Seek emergency medical assessment and treatment at the scene of the crash
• Give your statement to the police as soon as possible
• Contact your insurance companies (medical and auto)
• Notify any relatives who will need to know
• Seek follow-up medical treatment, if needed
• Engage a qualified multi-vehicle accident attorney

In the days and weeks after a crash, it can be especially stressful for you and your loved ones to sort out medical appointments and vehicle repairs. On top of that, you may choose to pursue compensation from those responsible while recovering from your injuries. An experienced Tulsa multi-vehicle accident attorney can make this easier for you.

Filing Insurance Claims After an Accident

Even when the cause of an accident seems clear, it can become complicated as soon as insurance companies are involved. They employ accident investigators whose primary job is to reduce the amount of compensation paid by the insurance company. They are in the business of making money and will do everything possible to deny or minimize what you receive. They may even try to prove that you played a part in causing the accident.

If someone else causes a multi-car pileup, their insurance coverage may be responsible for covering your medical bills, automobile damage, and emotional distress. You may even be able to pursue lost wages and further compensation if you suffer a debilitating injury.

However, other drivers’ insurance companies will make very low settlement offers to keep from affecting their losses.

Because you may be eligible for compensation from multiple sources, including separate personal injury lawsuits, it can be easy to overlook important avenues for investigation when you are recovering. A highly competent multi-vehicle accident lawyer is integral to creating the strongest case for a settlement or jury trial.

Determining Fault in Tulsa Multi-Vehicle Accidents

When many vehicles are involved in a crash, there may be many people at fault. Likewise, many individuals will be seeking compensation for their injuries. This makes deciding the amount of responsibility for each party very difficult.

Drivers, passengers, cyclists, pedestrians, or road crews could all be involved in a chain-reaction accident. Every person who suffers injuries or property damage will likely seek legal counsel to understand who is liable. They also will work to calculate what compensation they deserve.

While each party is able to argue claims regarding fault, Oklahoma Statute Title 23, section 14, describes the use of comparative fault in deciding compensation. If it is determined that a party bears 50% or more of the responsibility for the accident, they will receive no damages paid.

For liability of less than 50%, a party will have their damages reduced by that same percentage.

What Kinds of Evidence Can Be Used To Prove Fault?

Establishing fault in a multiple-vehicle accident depends on the amount and nature of the evidence that is gathered. The more evidence you can produce and the higher quality it is, the stronger your claim or argument will be.

Desirable sources of evidence include:

• Reports from first responders: Police and emergency crews will collect information from all parties and create written crash reports.
• Electronic device records: Cell phones, onboard vehicle tracking devices, dashboard cameras, and traffic cameras can all provide evidence of whether a driver was texting or driving erratically at the time of a crash.
• Vehicle damage: The location of the damage on a car often indicates who is at fault.
• Video footage and photos: Pictures of the crash scene, injuries, road debris, and weather conditions can establish details of the situation.
• Black box data: Most newer model vehicles have Event Data Recorders (EDRs), which show the car’s speed and braking at the time of the accident.
• Witness statements: All drivers involved as well as pedestrians, car passengers, and drivers in the opposing lane of traffic may all give statements about what they witnessed.

Who Pays the Compensation for Multi-Vehicle Accidents?

Every crash situation is unique, but there are common paths for reimbursement, such as insurance coverage (yours or other drivers’). Possible sources may include:

• Medical insurance
• Automotive insurance
• Personal injury lawsuits
• Government agencies that manage road maintenance
• Trucking or other companies whose vehicles contributed to the crash
• Vehicle manufacturers for faulty parts
• Repair facilities that repaired vehicles improperly

It is standard to seek compensation for medical treatment, automobile repair or replacement, property damage, lost wages, loss of income potential, pain and suffering, and mental anguish. As a general rule, attorneys will seek damages of about three times your medical expenses. For car repair or replacement, compensation is generally equal to what the automotive policy covers.

Beyond these economic expenses, things such as pain and suffering and mental anguish fall into the category of non-economic losses and can vary widely.

No matter how many parties are involved, navigating the complicated process of receiving compensation is especially difficult if you suffered injuries. Having an experienced Tulsa multiple-vehicle accident lawyer will make it easier to pursue your settlement or claim while you recover.

How Do I Seek Compensation After a Multi-Vehicle Accident?

In most cases, the deadlines for filing claims in multi-vehicle accidents are very short. Oklahoma Statutes title 12, section 1053 establishes a two-year window for filing a lawsuit, meaning you must initiate legal proceedings within two years of the date of the crash. If the crash involves a fatality, such as you or your loved one dying, then the family must file within two years of the date of death.

It is critical to gather quality evidence as soon as possible after an accident and negotiate with insurance companies for your claims. Any documentation available can be used to support your case and give weight to your request for damages.

This can be a time-consuming and confusing process, and it is best to engage the services of a skilled legal team.

How Do I Find An Experienced Tulsa Single-Vehicle Accident Lawyer?

To ensure the maximum compensation for your injuries and losses, you should act quickly to hire the most experienced multi-vehicle accident lawyer you can find. At Graves McLain Injury Lawyers, we offer free consultations and the most dependable guidance in the Tulsa area. Contact us today either online or by phone at 918-359-6600.