One dead in a crash that closed SB I-75 in southwest Detroit
A multi-car accident in Southwest Detroit on Wednesday, June 15th, 2022, caused the 7-hour closure of I-75, near Schaefer/Fort exit, around 1:55 p.m. southbound while Michigan State Police (MSP) investigated the scene. The highway was not reopened until after 9 p.m., when MSP had concluded their onsite investigation.
The Michigan State Police and witnesses reported that a double gravel hauler struck a pickup truck near the Schaefer/Fort exit, which caused it to catch fire, killing the vehicle’s driver.
After striking the pickup truck, the gravel hauler hit a semi-tanker. The impact caused the trailer on the semi-tanker to come undone, causing it to fall on a Dodge Charger on the shoulder.
The driver of the Dodge Charger sustained minor injuries, while the drivers of the semi-tanker and the gravel hauler were not injured.
What to do if you are injured in a multi-vehicle accident?
Multi-vehicle accidents can be overwhelming because of the large scale and the number of parties involved. A multi-car accident will always include no less than 3 drivers, so drivers often feel overwhelmed and confused afterward about what steps are to be taken to protect their rights and receive fair compensation for their injuries.
To protect your health and legal rights, you should understand the steps to ensure you are compensated fairly for your injuries after a multi-car accident.
Make sure you are safe and call the police.
Immediately after the accident, make sure you are in a safe place, do not move your car if it is not necessary. The officer will investigate the scene and where the vehicles ended up can show how the accident occurred. Once everyone is in a safe place, call 911 to make an accident report and investigate the scene.
Gather information.
Gather each driver’s name, plate number, contact information, and insurance information involved in the accident.
Document the scene and witness information.
Write down information while it is clear in your head, such as who hit you and what you saw leading up to the accident and during the collision. Speak to witnesses, write down their contact information, and note what they witnessed. Document any injuries to other drivers and damage to each vehicle. Take pictures of the scene, the vehicle damage, and the area surrounding the location, such as the road, nearby signs, and stoplights that could have contributed to the accident.
Contact an attorney.
Suppose you or a loved one suffered an injury or a multi-car accident that resulted in death. In that case, it is imperative to contact an accident attorney with Charles Boyk, who can protect your interests and fight for the compensation you deserve.
With multiple drivers involved, you will be contacted by their insurance companies about the accident, and they are not calling to help you. Their goal is to shift fault or persuade you to accept their offer before hiring an attorney. If you agree to an offer from an insurance company without an attorney’s advice, the amount often won’t even cover the medical bills you will incur from the accident. The insurance companies will attempt to contact you immediately in hopes that you will take a small settlement if they offer it to you quickly before you have hired a lawyer.
Protect yourself after a multi-car accident
After the accident, remember drivers will attempt to shift blame, so do not speak to anyone about who is at fault. When speaking to the police officer at the scene, do not admit guilt and only state the facts of what happened.
Contacting an attorney is crucial to protect yourself when you are injured in a multi-car accident because liability can be challenging to determine as each driver may have a different account of what happened.
If liability is not easily determined, the police and insurance companies will gather evidence, statements, and witnesses to assign liability to one or multiple drivers.
Contacting your insurance company to notify them of the accident is important. Still, it is in your best interest to consult an attorney before giving your statement of what happened to the insurance providers. A multi-car accident attorney can guide you through the process, so you receive the compensation you deserve. A multi-car accident’s legal procedures and complexities require an experienced attorney, so contact a lawyer with Charles Boyk for a free consultation.
