What Is a Pile-Up Accident, and How Can an Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyer Help?

Justice can be elusive enough following a collision with only one other car, yet the challenge is frequently far greater in the wake of a multi-vehicle or pile-up accident. What is a pile-up accident, and how can an Indianapolis car accident lawyer help? Let Hensley Legal Group explain what an attorney can do for you […]

May 27, 2025

The Difficulty of Assigning Blame for Pile-Up Accidents

While pile-up accidents involving three or more vehicles are relatively rare, accounting for about 12 percent of collisions, they can be among the most difficult when it comes to assigning blame. And if you cannot show who is at fault for a pile-up accident, any personal injury case arising from it is unlikely to succeed.

Admittedly, some pile-up accidents are comparatively easy to sort out, such as the classic chain reaction, in which a vehicle fails to stop when the vehicle ahead of it does, leading to an impact forceful enough to push the rear-ended vehicle into the vehicle to its front. In this scenario, the driver and/or the owner of the vehicle that caused the first crash is usually considered liable for the entire pile-up accident, and injured motorists will probably seek reimbursement from the insurance coverage that pertains to that vehicle.

However, there are other pile-up accidents where liability may not be as clear, especially when more vehicles take part. For example, imagine a pile-up in which one vehicle rear-ends a second vehicle, then in turn gets rear-ended by a third vehicle, which itself gets rear-ended by a fourth vehicle. In this situation, the first vehicle could be pursued for the damages it inflicted on the second vehicle, but the third and fourth vehicles might be pursued for the damages they inflicted too.

Aside from the additional complexity associated with additional vehicles, the potential for confusion could also increase with the introduction of further complications like improper cellphone usage or intoxication. Moreover, there are instances in which you may be partially responsible for a pile-up, and the degree to which you can prove that somebody else bears more responsibility could mean the difference between receiving something for the accident or nothing whatsoever.

Assuming you do deserve compensation for your losses, there is no guarantee that you will get it, since unscrupulous insurance companies may take advantage of the inherent ambiguity of these events to limit their fiscal exposure. As a result, you could soon find yourself navigating a sea of lowball offers and unfair denials, making it so much harder for you and your loved ones to remain afloat.

Tip the Odds in Your Favor by Hiring a Skilled Legal Practitioner

As you can see, the odds may be stacked against you in the aftermath of a massive pile-up accident, but you can tip the odds in your favor by hiring a skilled legal practitioner who will be better equipped to meet the insurance carriers on a level playing field. This is a key reason why personal injury victims obtain 3.5 times more on average with lawyers than they do without them.

A seasoned Indianapolis car accident attorney will thoroughly investigate your pile-up, identify the defendants who contributed to it, and establish valid claims against them within the time alotted by law. If the circumstances warrant it, a lawsuit could be filed as well in a court with the power to issue a binding judgment.

Upon building the strongest case possible, a tenacious Indianapolis car accident lawyer will fight to get you compensated for ALL of your damages, including your:

Medical bills
Lost wages
Pain and suffering
Psychological trauma
Mobility restrictions
Scarring and disfigurement
Reduced quality of living
Loss of consortium (if applicable)

Every Indianapolis pile-up accident is unique, but your attorney will always strive to maximize the value of yours.

Is a Trial Necessary for Your Indianapolis Pile-Up Accident?

When presented with compelling evidence of your losses and the defendant’s misconduct, a sensible insurer may decide to propose a generous settlement rather than risk a worse verdict. Indeed, most Indianapolis car accident cases are resolved prior to trial, though a battle-tested litigator will be indispensable if a trial is necessary.

Whereas approximately 96 percent of plaintiffs lose when they represent themselves in the courtroom, plaintiffs who retain professional representation statistically win more often than not and could even be awarded the resources they need to become whole again.

Get in Touch with Our Indianapolis Car Accident Lawyers

Hensley Legal Group has been advocating for the wrongfully injured for over a quarter century. If you are struggling to get back to normal after a pile-up accident in the Indianapolis area, get in touch with our Indianapolis car accidents lawyers to explore your legal options.

For a free consultation with a knowledgeable Indianapolis car accident attorney, call us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form now.