Iowa has had some dramatic multiple vehicle pileups, including a 2018 accident involving 70 vehicles on I-35. When so many vehicles are involved, obtaining compensation is a challenge. Suddenly, there are factual and legal issues which are much harder to resolve than in a typical two-vehicle fender bender. At the same time, motorists involved in these wrecks often have horrifying injuries and might not receive immediate medical care.
Call Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. We are a team of experienced Des Moines car accident lawyers with the experience you need to get compensation. Out of our offices in Iowa City and Waterloo, we’ll travel to meet injured victims and their families, where circumstances allow, and we are always available, 24/7, for our clients. Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
What Causes Pileups?
Typically, these accidents are caused by one motorist who is driving in an unsafe manner. Pileups usually happen on the highway because that is where traffic is most congested, but we also see them in construction zones. With so many vehicles, even a single accident can set off a chain reaction. Two cars collide and come to a stop; unfortunately, the traffic coming up behind does not have time to stop before they, too, crash.
As a result, dozens of cars can smash into each other, with some drivers pulling onto a grassy median to avoid a wreck. With so many vehicles involved, sometimes at high speeds, injuries are usually severe and car damage extensive.
Who is to Blame?
This will depend on the facts of the case. Many pileups happen because of snow on the road, but the government can’t clear it immediately during or after a storm.
In our experience, a careless driver causes most multi-car accidents. This person either drives aggressively or tailgates and ends up causing a wreck. Suddenly, dozens of cars coming up behind can’t stop in time and cars are soon banging into each other left and right.
Why Are Multi-Car Accidents So Hard?
Pileups involve complicated legal and factual issues. The first is already identified: figuring out who is to blame. Everything happens so quickly that many people have no idea what happened. One second they were driving down the highway and maybe adjusting the dials, and the next second a car is slamming into their rear and the airbag has deployed.
Another issue is legal: fault. We need sufficient evidence to prove who is to blame for the accident. Unfortunately, some victims are so injured they can’t find or preserve any evidence after the wreck. It’s a challenge to piece together who started the chain reaction.
We also need to find sufficient compensation when a pileup occurs. Maybe 50 cars are involved, but the at-fault driver only has the minimum insurance required by the state. That means most victims will have uncompensated losses, such as unpaid medical bills. Or they can’t work due to injury, but there isn’t enough insurance to cover lost wages.
Underinsured Motorist Insurance & Pileups
Iowa drivers should have underinsured motorist coverage. Iowa Code 516A.1 requires that every liability policy in the state come with it. You can reject this coverage in writing, but thankfully few people do.
This policy kicks in when the at-fault driver doesn’t have enough insurance. You can tap this insurance to cover certain expenses related to the crash, including medical bills. This is a great relief, since the cost of care is so expensive these days.
Unfortunately, making a claim on your underinsured motorist coverage is not always easy. Yes, you are paying the premiums—but that doesn’t mean your insurer wants to send you even a dime. Insurers never like to pay out compensation to injured victims, even if you have diligently paid your premiums for years. They could easily deny your claim for various reasons:
- They blame you for the accident. Underinsured motorist insurance is still fault based. You can’t receive compensation if you bear sole responsibility for an accident.
- They don’t believe you were injured seriously. They might claim you are exaggerating whiplash.
- They don’t believe you were involved in the pileup. Maybe the police report doesn’t mention your car because dozens were involved. They might claim you crashed it some other time, possibly by falling asleep and going off the road.
You should reach out to our law firm. We can dig into the facts and negotiate with your insurer for compensation. For example, we can use witness testimony and physical evidence to show you weren’t the primary cause of the wreck.
What to Do after a Multiple Car Accident
In some ways, these are no different than other wrecks. If you can, you should call the police to report the accident. Also take pictures of all the cars involved with your phone if you can move around safely.
Sadly, when dozens of cars are involved, emergency personnel might take hours to reach you. You could be in searing pain and have no way to even exit your vehicle. All you can do is pray to be rescued. It’s okay if you can’t talk to witnesses or even the police.
Ideally, once your condition is stabilized, you’ll call us. Our car accident attorneys can begin working on your case. Multiple-car accidents are not easy to negotiate. We can discuss the case in more detail in a free consultation. We are even willing to come to you.
Experience You Can Trust
Ball, Kirk & Holm has won countless cases for injured men and women. Our results include multiple million-dollar settlements and verdicts for car accident victims to help them cover their economic losses and bodily pain. Your case will be in good hands if you hire one of our experienced Des Moines car accident attorneys.
Are you ready to learn more about our legal services? Give us a call to schedule a time to meet. We successfully negotiate settlements in most of our cases, but we’ll do whatever is necessary to protect your legal rights.