Multi-Vehicle Crash Attorney Indianapolis, IN

The more vehicles that are involved in an accident, the more likely there are to be secondary collisions and the more complicated the accident may be to resolve. Determining liability is more challenging in multi-vehicle accidents. More insurance companies will be involved. That makes it harder for crash victims to recover compensation for their injuries.

If you’ve been injured in a traffic collision involving multiple cars, the Indianapolis multi-vehicle accident lawyers at Craig, Kelley & Faultless, LLC, can determine who is financially responsible for your injuries and help you seek compensation to cover your medical bills and other accident expenses.

The attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless have successfully represented hundreds of clients over our 30-year history. We have built a reputation for personalized care and attention. While multi-vehicle accident cases can be difficult to resolve, our extensive knowledge and experience serve us well at the negotiating table and in the courtroom. Contact us today for a free consultation.

What is a Multi-Vehicle Accident?

Strictly speaking, any car accident that involves more than one vehicle is a multi-vehicle accident. However, the term multi-vehicle accident usually refers to accidents involving three or more vehicles.

Multi-vehicle accidents can leave drivers and passengers with serious injuries because of the additional points of impact from other vehicles. The cumulative effect of the additional collisions can be catastrophic.

Multi-Vehicle Accident Statistics

The severity of a collision is affected by many factors including the number of vehicles involved.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports there were more than 4.8 million collisions nationwide involving two or more vehicles in a recent year.

That year, there were 13,066 fatal crashes and 1.36 million crashes resulting in at least one injury.

Recent Multi-Vehicle Accident Near Indianapolis

There have been several notable multi-vehicle accidents near Indianapolis recently. In November 2021, one person died and two people were hospitalized after a four-car crash near the intersection of 38th Street and North Keystone Avenue.

According to news reports, the fatal collision occurred after a driver attempted to flee a police traffic stop. The driver crashed into several other cars as they were trying to leave the area. That individual and their passenger were taken to a local hospital, while an occupant of one of the vehicles was killed.

On March 30, 2022, a multi-vehicle collision involving a semi-truck shut down all southbound traffic on I-65. A local news report confirmed that several vehicles were involved in the crash.

Common Causes of Multi-Vehicle Accidents

Some of the most common causes of multi-vehicle accidents in Indianapolis include:

• Bad weather – Rain, sleet, snow, ice, and other bad weather can increase stopping distances and make it harder for drivers to slow down in time. Drivers who do not adjust their speed to account for adverse weather driving conditions are at greater risk of colliding with other vehicles, potentially causing multi-car accidents.
• Drivers following too closely – Tailgating frequently leads to multi-vehicle accidents. If a driver fails to allow adequate room to slow down, the driver may hit the vehicle in front from behind and cause a chain reaction multi-vehicle collision.
• Speeding – Speeding makes it much harder to avoid crashes. Drivers who speed have less time to recognize and react to traffic hazards if a nearby car makes an unexpected maneuver. Drivers who don’t give themselves enough space to adjust to changing traffic conditions risk colliding with vehicles around them.
• Improper merging – Drivers may cause a multi-vehicle accident while trying to merge into heavy traffic at highway speeds. If there is not enough room to allow the vehicle to merge into the lane, the drivers of other nearby vehicles may swerve to avoid contact and brake suddenly, and cause a chain-reaction collision.
• Rubbernecking – A driver who is looking at traffic or an accident in another lane is a driver who is not focused on the traffic immediately around them.
• Construction zones – Road construction means narrowed lanes, heavy equipment, and sudden changes to traffic flow, all of which can lead to a collision if drivers aren’t paying enough attention.

Proving Fault in a Multi-Vehicle Crash

Proving fault is more difficult after a multi-vehicle accident because of the number of vehicles involved. Multiple parties may share fault for the collision.

For example, consider a situation in which three vehicles traveling in the same traffic lane collide with one another. The driver in the rear car was distracted by talking on the phone and struck the middle car, causing the middle vehicle to collide with the front car because the middle car’s driver was following too closely.

In this situation, both the drivers of the rear and middle vehicles would share fault and financial liability for the accident. But insurance companies often dispute claims after multi-vehicle accidents. You will need an experienced attorney who knows the type of evidence to seek to build a persuasive accident claim.

Without an experienced multi-car accident attorney on your side, you will have a difficult time proving to the insurance company that another driver was primarily at fault and that you deserve to be compensated for your injuries.

Evidence Needed in a Multi-Vehicle Car Accident

Strong evidence is key to proving that another driver caused the accident and is therefore legally liable for the injuries you sustained. Depending on the circumstances of the accident, the evidence may include:

• Photos from the scene
• Police reports
• Eyewitness statements
• Medical records
• Forensic accident investigations
• Surveillance photos or video

Our Indianapolis Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You Recover from a Multi-Vehicle Accident

Have you been injured in a multi-vehicle accident in Indianapolis? Do you suspect that another driver was at fault? If so, you could be entitled to claim compensation for losses, including medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. An Indianapolis multi-vehicle accident attorney at Craig, Kelley & Faultless, LLC, can help you pursue just compensation after a serious accident. Contact our offices today for a free consultation.