If you're injured in a multi-car pile-up, untangling the layers of liability can feel overwhelming. This can be particularly true if it involves a commercial vehicle or semi-truck.

Here are some of the ways that a semi-truck accident attorney can help you when you're injured in a multi-car pile-up.

Police Report

Figuring out who bears the majority of the liability in a multi-car pile-up will normally be answered in the police report. Depending on where the accident occurred, the driver who bears the most amount of fault for causing the accident can be sued by the other drivers involved in the accident.

• State Specific: different states have different rules about how to allocate fault in multi-car pile-ups. One of the first steps you should take after being safely removed from the scene is to call a commercial vehicle accident lawyer with a license issued in the state where the accident happened. Hiring a commercial vehicle accident with accreditation and experience in the state will ensure that they know how to navigate the court system and legal codes that apply to your accident. Your semi-truck accident lawyer will quickly obtain a copy of the police report and aggressively begin building your case.
• Percentages: in some multi-car pile-ups the police report will assign percentages of fault for causing the accident. For instance, if the commercial vehicle operator is responsible for 25% of the accident, the number of damages your commercial vehicle accident attorney can reasonably hope to recover around one-quarter of the total damages you suffered in the accident.
• Defensive: If you are held responsible for a percentage of the accident, you should also expect to be sued by other drivers. Being proactive in building your defense will also be one of your commercial vehicle accident lawyer's first jobs. If they can file suit against the other drivers first, they will effectively have the first shot at getting your case to court.

Insurance Companies

The majority of multi-vehicle pile-ups end up being settled by insurance companies long before the case ever goes to court.

• First Dibs: commercial vehicle operators are required to carry substantial insurance policies. However, in multi-car pile-ups, the policy maximum can be reached very quickly. If your commercial vehicle accident lawyer is able to file suit first, you'll be first in line to collect damages before they run out. It helps if you give your commercial vehicle accident lawyer access to all of your medical records, auto policies, and other personal information related to the accident. 

For more information, contact a truck accident lawyer near you.