Winter Weather Provo, UT Car Accident. What to do?
Winter Weather Provo, Utah car accidents during the winter weather months can be tricky, especially if there are multiple cars involved. The claims process pre-settlement prior to any lawsuit being needed is slow because there can be multiple parties, each asserting they are not at-fault. Adjuster interviews are needed from each driver and sometimes all the passengers. This takes time.
Multi-Car Pile-ups on Black Ice. Is Black Ice a Defense? No.
In the winter weather it is more common to have two or more cars colliding due to black ice or snow.
Just because there was black ice, the driver of the car claiming black is still responsibility. You are always required to drive your car at a rate of speed reasonable under the ice, snowy or winter conditions.
Whenever there are multiple cars sliding and colliding with each other the claims process will slow down. Generally each car will point the finger at the other car, indicating that they were not at-fault. Often the insurance adjuster for each party will believe their insureds and refuse to accept full or even partial responsibility. Meaning the claims will require a lawsuit to be filed to sort it out.
Car Accident Lawsuits.
When each car driver is pointing the finger at the other driver, you will have to file a lawsuit to sort the matter out. Once a lawsuit is filed you can take the deposition of each driver and figure out what happened. Only after litigation is filed and the drivers and passengers are all deposed (meaning ask them questions under oath and recorded) will the various insurance companies start paying settlements.
What is worse is that your damaged car will just sit there if there is disputed liability in a multi-car accident because no-one is accepting responsibility. Unless you have comprehensive or collision coverages through your own insurance carrier, you will not be able to get your car fixed until the litigation is completely over, which can be a year plus.
Move Fast in Multi-Car Accidents.
If you can’t afford to wait, your Provo, Utah car accident lawyer needs to move fast and file suit to start sorting out the collision. Filing a lawsuit too early has its own perils. Generally you should not file a lawsuit or settle until your injuries are known and have reached maximum medical improvement. Yet reaching maximum medical improvement can take years.