Some of the most devastating collisions happen when several drivers are involved, leading to a pileup. Initial collisions can leave drivers stranded while other vehicles add to the situation. Sorting out who is at fault for your injuries and property damage can be confusing without guidance from a qualified Aurora multi-car crash attorney.

At Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, our trial lawyers are dedicated to seeking the compensation and justice you deserve. When you work with our firm, you can trust that we will fight diligently until we reach a satisfactory settlement. To learn more about your legal options, contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation with a nationally recognized Aurora car accident lawyer.

How can an Aurora multi-vehicle accident attorney help me?

At Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, we provide 355 years of negotiation and trial experience. We have secured over $1 billion in settlements and jury verdicts for our clients since we opened our doors in 1924. You can rely on your Aurora car accident attorney and their team to provide valuable services such as:

• Free initial consultation: It costs you nothing to get started understanding the strength of your case and how to proceed. Our team gives you our best advice after listening to the details of your accident.
• Contingency fee structure: We only collect our attorney’s fees after securing a settlement for you so you can get the legal representation you deserve without worrying about paying the bill upfront.
• Thorough investigation and research: We collect all relevant evidence, interview witnesses, depose defendants, and collaborate with specialists and experts to build your case. We explore all avenues for compensation by identifying all at-fault parties.
• Aggressive negotiation skills: Insurance companies often try to limit what they will pay, hoping you take the first offer and close the claim. Our multi-car crash attorneys recognize when you deserve more and will push back to get the settlement you need for your losses.
• Trial experience: Sometimes, the other side will not offer an acceptable settlement, so we must proceed to court. Our attorneys have solid backgrounds in litigation techniques and courtroom procedures, working to convince the judge and jury why you deserve compensation.

Determining multi-car crash liability often involves complicated discussions among various insurance providers, the other parties to the accident, and their lawyers. These conversations require familiarity with both insurance procedures and the law. Trying to conduct these while you are recovering from injuries would be overwhelming without a tried-and-true Aurora multi-car crash attorney working on your behalf.

What compensation could I recover from my multi-car accident claim?

In Illinois, you have the right to seek financial relief for the losses you incur when someone else is at fault for your injuries. Compiling a complete list of these damages requires examining your economic and non-economic losses. The goal is to make the victim whole by returning them as closely as possible to their condition before the accident.

Economic damages will cover the financial expenses related to your injuries and property damage. The at-fault parties (or their insurance companies) can make you whole by paying you back for what you have had to pay, including costs such as:

• All medical bills
• Lost wages while you recover
• Lost earning potential if you become disabled
• Prescription medications and medical devices
• Travel costs for treatment
• Rehabilitation and therapy bills
• Property damage, including your vehicle, cell phone, clothing, and other items

In addition to these tangible losses, you have the right to pursue non-economic damages to address your pain and suffering. Your attorney can use special calculations to determine an appropriate figure to compensate you for:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Loss of society and isolation while you recover
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Chronic pain, numbness, or loss of mobility
• Permanent disability

Insurance policies do not typically cover non-economic damages, so your attorney may advise you to file a personal injury lawsuit while negotiating with the insurance adjusters so you do not run out of time. A lawsuit can give you the best chance of obtaining full compensation if you have substantial projected medical expenses or significant pain and suffering.

Are multi-car crash cases more challenging to manage than single-vehicle accident claims?

Suppose you drive in heavy traffic near Aurora, IL, on Highway 88, heading to Chicago. Rain is limiting your visibility, and road construction has narrowed the lanes. Suddenly, you see brake lights ahead of you, so you quickly slow down to avoid a crash. However, the person behind you did not react as fast and rear-ended you, forcing your car into the one in front of you. More cars collide in a chain reaction accident, leaving you wondering who is at fault.

Although you did not negligently run into the car before you, you could still bear some responsibility for a rear-end collision if you do not have a powerful law firm managing your case. The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) describes the state’s modified comparative negligence laws by noting that victims must be found less than 50% at fault to seek compensation. Their settlements will be reduced by an equivalent amount (20% at fault means a 20% reduction in compensation), so insurance companies will try to blame you for avoiding paying out.

In a multi-car crash, everyone will try to push the blame onto the other parties, and determining the truth of who is responsible can be extremely complicated. Doing so requires an experienced auto accident attorney who can interpret the law and evidence to your greatest advantage. Even if you are partly at fault, we will work to get the best settlement for you.

How will my Aurora multi-vehicle accident attorney demonstrate who is at fault?

Your attorney can use numerous sources of evidence to show who is at fault in a multi-car accident. Although you may not hire a lawyer until later, you can begin gathering documentation as soon as the crash is over by taking the following actions (if you are physically able):

• Call 911 so the injured can get medical care and police officers can create an accident report.
• Ask first responders to examine you for injuries, even if you feel fine.
• Take photos of the accident scene, your injuries, property damage, road conditions, weather, and anything else that contributed to the crash.
• Ask witnesses for their contact details so your attorney can interview them.
• Exchange insurance and contact information with all the other drivers involved in the accident.
• Refrain from assigning blame or admitting guilt while speaking to the police or other motorists.
• Do not post about the crash on social media; limit what you say to others until you speak with your lawyer.
• Notify your insurance company about the accident, but give only the most basic details.
• See your physician within 24-48 hours to ensure all your injuries are diagnosed and documented.

Your attorney will also collect information, such as the police report, video from traffic and dashboard cameras, expert testimony, accident reconstruction analyses, and medical records to establish liability. By showing that other drivers owed you a duty of care to drive with reasonable caution, yet they failed in that duty, your lawyer will establish a link between their negligence and your injuries. They will then show evidence of your financial losses related to your injuries and property damage, which deserve compensation.

Can I rely on insurance companies to pay my claim quickly after a multi-vehicle accident?

The short answer is that they can pay quickly but may not. Because it can be unclear who is at fault for specific collisions in a multi-car crash, insurance companies will spend time examining the evidence to determine exactly how much they need to pay. They are always watchful for fraudulent claims and carefully review them. However, according to the IDOI, insurance companies must respond to you within 21 working days after you notify them of the accident.

Once they have acknowledged your claim, your attorney will attempt to negotiate a fair settlement as quickly as possible. Insurers frequently make a low initial offer that does not meet your demands, or they may argue that your injuries are less severe. In addition to these negotiations, the insurance companies for every motorist involved in the accident will interact with one another to ensure they are paying only what they truly need to, which can further delay your compensation.

Illinois is an at-fault state, so drivers found liable for causing injuries and property damage in a crash are financially responsible for paying those they have harmed. Since it can take some time to sort out exactly what happened, you can benefit from working with a qualified Aurora multi-vehicle crash attorney to demand a satisfactory settlement as quickly as possible.

What are some common injuries resulting from Aurora multi-car accidents?

Your car could be hit on all sides in the most serious multi-vehicle accidents. All types of collisions carry a risk of harm, but some are most likely to leave you severely hurt. These include head-on, rear-end, t-bone, and underride accidents. All of these could happen in a crash involving many cars and trucks.

The physical forces affecting your body can leave you with injuries such as:

• Broken or fractured bones
• Internal organ damage
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Cuts and lacerations to the head and face
• Broken teeth or facial bones
• Back, neck, and spinal injuries
• Burns
• Puncture wounds

Suffering serious or catastrophic injuries can leave you with permanent disabilities or lifelong pain. Even if you recover fully, you will likely need immediate medical care and extensive treatment if your vehicle is crushed on all sides by other cars and trucks. When you engage a qualified car accident lawyer with experience in analyzing multi-vehicle collisions, you stand a better chance of securing the full compensation you deserve for all your losses.

Get in touch with an Aurora multi-car crash attorney today

Although a crash with multiple vehicles takes time to analyze, the Illinois statute of limitations only gives you two years from the accident date to file your case. Missing this deadline means you could forfeit your right to seek compensation through the justice system, leaving you with a financial burden from someone else’s negligence.

Instead, contact an Aurora multi-car crash attorney at Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates to schedule a free case review. We also work on contingency, so you only pay attorney’s fees when we settle for you. Do not let worry about legal costs keep you from getting the top-notch representation you need. Contact us for a free consultation online or by calling (800) 985-1819.