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Multi-car Accidents and Liability in Florida

When several vehicles are involved in an accident and liability is in question, it is a good idea for injury victims to seek attorney counsel to ensure their rights are protected.

If you sustained injuries due to another driver’s error or carelessness, Florida law allows you to recover damages and losses for serious injuries through a personal injury lawsuit. Determining fault for the purpose of insurance coverage can be a complex effort.

Speak with an experienced Florida attorney at our firm today.
Call 855-Kramer-Now (855-572-6376)
.

Who Is Liable in a Multiple Vehicle Pileup?

When it comes to multi-car accidents, the question of who is liable is the No. 1 area of dispute.

The second big question is, will there be sufficient insurance coverage to cover all injuries sustained, or property damage caused.

In a recent example in Central Florida, one motorist was killed and four others were injured in a multi-vehicle collision. The chain reaction wreck was over in seconds, in which:

  • Car A sideswiped oncoming Car B;
  • Car A then struck a third vehicle, Car C, head-on;
  • A fourth automobile, Car D, then slammed into the rear of Car C.

In multi-vehicle accidents such as this, it becomes difficult to prove which drivers’ actions contributed to the accident, and to what degree. There are 4 drivers with 4 different stories, and varying eyewitness accounts.

It may seem that Car A triggered the accident. Yet he may have been driving safely until he hit a pothole that flattened his tire, causing him to swerve into the oncoming lane. Car D may have been speeding and following too close to Car C, and could have avoided rear ending Car C.

Now imagine a 50-car pileup on I-75 involving big rigs and commercial vehicles colliding with family sedans and motorcycles. For severely injured motorists and their families, the determination of liability becomes all-encompassing.

Who is responsible for paying damages? Even if liability is not clear cut among all parties, an experienced accident lawyer can advise you through the process of determining who to bring a claim against.

Florida Follows the Rule of Pure Comparative Negligence

Usually, one person did something to set off the collision that led to the pileup. Yet the ensuing chain reaction often means multiple drivers were at fault to some degree.

So while police may ticket a negligent driver, with regards to insurance, liability may be assigned to multiple parties.

Comparative negligence holds that in multi-car accidents, the amount of compensation awarded to an injured person is directly proportionate to each driver’s percentage of fault.

The puzzle becomes how to assign the percentage of fault to the involved parties.

The insurance adjuster will examine the police reports, medical records and various other factors to assess the car accident settlement. The adjuster may decide that several drivers are liable for injuries, or the adjuster may not agree to settle at all.

Insurance companies may also seek ways to deny or delay large claims. This may be grounds for filing a lawsuit against your insurer on the grounds of bad faith insurance.

Determination of liability depends on the facts of the case.

Fault must be proven by evidence. This includes investigating law enforcement reports, witness testimony, road conditions, vehicle damage, skid marks and debris at the scene of the accident, photographs, weather conditions and other possible evidence implicating other parties as liable, and possibly absolving yourself from responsibility.

An injured party whose attorney investigates and produces the best evidence is often the party that prevails.

Speak with an experienced Florida attorney at our firm today.
Call 855-Kramer-Now (855-572-6376)
.

Will there be enough insurance to cover everyone injured in a Florida multi-car crash?

Multi-car accidents carry an increased likelihood of high insurance payouts due to

  • Extensive vehicle and property damage
  • Severe bodily injury to drivers and passengers

Even if liability is unmistakable, the insurance coverage of the person or persons who are responsible for the accident will likely be insufficient to cover all of the property damage caused, or injuries sustained.

Bodily Injury Liability Insurance

Florida does not mandate drivers and car owners to carry liability insurance. Therefore, the possibility of a multi-car crash on Florida’s roads is compelling reason to carry significant insurance coverage to protect yourself.

You may only hope that a driver who is liable for causing the accident carries significant bodily injury liability (BI) insurance. This is one instance in which someone else’s insurance will cover you, even if you do not have insurance.

In addition, you may be found to be at fault to some degree for the accident, and assigned a percentage of the blame. Even if you are injured, you could be sued by other injured parties.

Carrying sufficient BI coverage can help shield you from some or most of this. BI liability insurance also pays for your legal defense costs should an injured party sue you.

Uninsured Motorist or UM

If the person who caused the accident does not have any liability insurance or does not have enough insurance, you may make a claim under the uninsured motorists/underinsured motorists (UM/UIM) provision of your own insurance policy.

If you have more than one car, by “stacking” your insurance coverage, you can also increase the payment limits of your insurance for you and your family members.

Hiring an Orlando Personal Injury Attorney

If you suffer injuries in a multi-vehicle accident, you want to scrutinize all possible sources of insurance coverage to ensure you are fully compensated.

The Orlando car accident attorneys at TK Law will ensure that your legal rights are aggressively represented. We understand how insurance companies handle multi-car accidents and liability, and know the steps that need to be taken to get the results you deserve.

Contact TK Law

Do have questions about who is liable? Contact TK Law to schedule a free consultation.

Our team of experienced accident attorneys will act quickly and decisively to protect you and present a strong case for you.

HOW TO GET STARTED

Make Your Best Decision Today

STEP 1

Schedule your case review so we can help you.

STEP 2

Consultation

During your consultation we’ll review your options and see if we’re a right fit for you.

STEP 3

Representation

If we take on your case, you’ll be represented by the best.

Get Your Free Case Evaluation Today

The Orlando divorce lawyers at TK Law are deeply committed to the individuals and families they serve. We are here to help you resolve each legal concern so you can regain control and move forward with your life. You will also have a steadfast, accomplished advocate in your corner to fight for what matters most if a dispute goes to trial.

We know how overwhelming conflict can be and how painful it is to see a marriage end. We will guide you through this difficult process before, during and after your divorce.

Contact our offices today to schedule a confidential consultation with one or our family law attorneys, or call us at 855-572-6376.

407-834-4847

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Roy P.
Mar. 2024
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Gastell and Kayla were awesome! They helped me make it through a very challenging time in my life with kindness and compassion. They were always available to answer my questions and kept me up to date. Their counsel was extremely helpful in aiding a resolution that I am very satisfied with.
Carmen D.
Mar. 2024
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I give this law firm a 5 star. Ray and Janelise helped us with our probate issue and made the process a lot easier for us to finalized all of it. We're very thankful to this law office and recommend them for any legal issues.Thank you Janelisse and Ray and the entire office .
Alysia T.
Jan. 2024
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I am thankful to Janelise and Kayla at TK Law for a fantastic job. Kayla guided me through every step of my divorce process. She is patient, professional, and honest. I highly recommend them!
Chris O.
Dec. 2023
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This was first experience hiring a law firm and I am very happy that I hired TK Law. My attorney Janelise and Paralegal Kayla were kind, knowledgeable and made the process easy. They were quick to respond when I needed revisions to my document and the final outcome was perfect. If I ever need legal help in the future, I will not hesitate to contact TK Law again.

*Top-rating from clients and award publications such as Orlando Weekly, US News & more.​

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We offer payment plans, accept credit cards, are available for evening appointments and our main office is conveniently located right off of I-4, between 436 and 434. For immediate help call: 407-834-4847.

Disclaimer

The information found here is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any situation or individual case. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

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Phone: 407-834-4847
999 Douglas Ave #3333, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714

Service Areas

Orange & Seminole County, Florida.

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