Whose insurance pays in a multi-car accident in WA? Washington is an at-fault state for car accidents, so the insurance company of the party who caused the crash pays.
If multiple parties share fault, they may each have to pay according to their percentage of negligence. Our Abogados de accidentes de tráfico en Bellevue at Premier Law Group can help find your path to compensation after a crash.
The At-Fault Party’s Insurance Pays in Washington Accidents
When you have a car accident in an at-fault state, the driver or other entity that caused the crash pays the damages. Typically, you collect compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company. Often the at-fault party is the driver who caused your crash.
Some accidents involve more than two cars. You’ve probably seen footage of multi-car accidents on Washington’s roads. Figuring out who pays for your injuries and losses can be challenging. Our attorneys at Premier Law Group have got you covered. We will investigate your crash to determine what happened and who is responsible for compensating you.
Remember that after a car accident, you should not contact the other driver’s insurance company. They will probably reach out to you. Connect with us quickly after your accident. This way, you can refer those representatives to us. They could use statements you make to undermine your claim. You avoid that risk when you have us speaking on your behalf.
How Insurance Works in Two-Car Accidents
As established in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW 4.22.005, victims hurt by someone else’s negligence or “fault” can seek compensation for their related losses. This applies even if victims bear some fault for the crash. The amount they collect is reduced by the percentage of fault they contributed to the accident.
If your accident involves two cars, yours and another, it’s easier to determine liability. Our attorneys can investigate and compile evidence of the other driver’s negligence and send a demand for compensation to the other driver’s insurer. If they try to pin the blame on you, Premier Law Group will be ready to dispute their efforts.
Insurance Matters Can Be More Complicated in Multi-Car Accidents
You could be involved in a chain-reaction crash. One car rear-ends a second car, and that second car rear-ends a third, and so on. On multi-lane highways, a vehicle could skid out of its lane and collide with vehicles in other lanes. You could be involved in lane-change pile-ups. A driver tries to merge into another lane, only to cause other cars to crash as they brake or swerve to avoid the merging car.
Though types of accidents vary, a common denominator is that it is more complicated to determine whose insurance pays in multi-car accidents in WA. Victims also often suffer more serious injuries as they experience more than one collision. Premier Law Group knows how to untangle the details of multi-car accidents. Despite the complexities, we can find out who owes you and demand payment.
Several Insurance Companies May Pay Your Damages
There may be several parties to blame for your crash, including yourself. This could mean several insurance companies pay in a multi-car accident in WA. According to RCW 4.22.070, a percentage of fault is assigned to each involved party, and the “sum of the percentages of the total fault attributed to at-fault entities shall equal one hundred percent.” The Premier Law Group attorneys can explain this law in full.
Three-Car Accident Example
Imagine you are in a three-car accident and your damages amount to $10,000. You hold 10% of the blame, driver B holds 30%, and driver C holds 60%. Driver B’s insurance must pay you $3,000, and driver C’s is responsible for paying you $6,000. In total, the other drivers must pay you $9,000, representing their collective 90% of the blame.
Under Joint and Several Liability, One Party May Compensate the Victim in a Multi-Car Crash
The negligence laws linked above establish specific rules for victims bearing no fault for the accident. It says “…the defendants against whom the judgment is entered shall be jointly or severally liable for the sum of their proportionate shares” of the victim’s total damages.
If you hold no blame, one negligent party’s insurance can pay in a multi-car accident in WA, since both parties are jointly liable for your total damages. Then, that entity can seek payback from other at-fault parties. The team at Premier Law Group will know how this law applies to your situation.
The rule is intended to help victims. One negligent party may have the insurance needed to cover their share of your losses, plus more. The other (or others) may not. You can collect from the party who has coverage. That person’s insurance company can still try to recover its losses, but whether they succeed or not is of no consequence to you.
Our Attorneys Can Fight to Maximize Your Compensation.
To get fairly compensated for your losses, you may need a lawyer after a car accident. It can be hard to know whose insurance pays in a multi-car accident. When you partner with us, we find the answers for you. Premier Law Group will also be prepared if you need to file a lawsuit.
Sometimes, insurance companies refuse to make fair settlement offers, or they may slow negotiations down by fighting amongst themselves. Drivers may not have enough insurance to cover your damages. You have the right to fight for justice in court, provided you file your claim within Washington’s three-year statute of limitations, codified in Ley de Armas Reconstructivas 4.16.080.
Connect with us quickly so we can gather the evidence to build your claim, deal with insurance companies, and file a lawsuit if necessary. We do not want you to settle for less than you need and deserve.
When You Get Hit, We Hit Back Harder
Our Washington car accident lawyers at Premier Law Group are on your side. We will find out whose insurance pays in a multi-car accident in WA and fight to get you financial justice. Connect with us for a free case review. No matter who hit you, we will hit them back harder.
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