What Happens After a Car Accident with Multiple Injury Victims?

 Posted on August 31,2021 in Car Accidents

In a recent case in Lake County, a man is facing charges for allegedly causing a multi-vehicle accident resulting in injuries to one person and the death of another. Unfortunately, accidents involving several vehicles and injury victims are not uncommon in Illinois, and they can be some of the most complicated cases when it comes to recovering compensation for the victims. If you or a loved one has been injured in such an accident, you may have many confusing details to navigate, and you can benefit from the help of a personal injury attorney who has experience with similar cases.

Is There Enough Insurance Coverage for All of the Victims?

In most personal injury cases involving car accidents, a victim’s compensation comes from the negligent party’s liability insurance. However, auto insurance policies have limits on the amount of payment this coverage can provide. In Illinois, when a driver has only the minimum liability insurance coverage required by law, these limits are $25,000 per injury victim and $50,000 per accident. If the same driver is responsible for injuries to several people who each file a personal injury claim, these limits may be insufficient, especially if any of the victims’ injuries are severe.

If you find that the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance coverage for your damages, you may need to file a claim for additional compensation through your own underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage is offered when you buy car insurance for your own vehicle, with minimum limits in the same amount as the minimum limits for liability insurance. However, you can choose to purchase coverage at higher limits to better protect yourself.

Is More Than One Driver At Fault?

Another complicating factor in cases involving multiple injuries is the possibility that more than one driver contributed to the cause of the accident and injuries. This is especially common in the case of a pile-up involving several vehicles. In order to recover compensation from multiple drivers, you will need evidence of negligence on each of their parts.

Contact a Lake County Car Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in a multi-car pileup, or if you were one of many victims of the same car accident, the Waukegan personal injury attorneys at Salvi & Maher, LLP can work with you to determine your options for recovering compensation. We strive to hold all negligent parties accountable and achieve a fair resolution through a settlement or trial. Call us today at 847-662-3303 to schedule a free initial consultation.

Sources:

https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2021/08/23/drunk-driver-charged-with-causing-multi-vehicle-crash-that-killed-innocent-man-in-fox-lake/

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=073500050K2-1116

https://www.illinoisvehicle.com/insurance-basics/uninsured-motorist-coverage/