Suing somebody after a car accident can be complicated. This is especially true if you have never had to take legal action against someone. Our Atlanta accident lawyers meet with new clients every day who have been hurt in some sort of motor vehicle accident. For the most part, the cases we handle are rather straightforward.
However, every now and then, we do have a case where we need to sue multiple defendants. Thankfully, our accident attorneys in Atlanta have decades of combined experience handling car accident cases. They aren’t intimidated by a complicated case. Nor are we afraid of suing multiple parties at the same time. While it may make the case more convoluted, it doesn’t make it any harder to win.
Here, we will discuss the various situations where you may have to sue more than one party. It’s important to remember that, even if you sue multiple people, it doesn’t matter which one of them pays. Usually, the defendants will get together and try to settle the matter between them.
However, even if your Atlanta injury lawyer isn’t able to settle your case, they will still pursue a judgment against all the defendants. Once they receive these judgments, you’ll be able to work toward executing the judgment against one or all of them. They are all jointly and severally liable. It usually makes sense to pursue the person with the deepest pockets.
If you still have questions about your own car accident lawsuit, contact our office. We will gladly schedule your free, initial consultation over the phone. Or, if you would rather do this yourself, you can reach us through our website as well.
Your Atlanta Accident Lawyer May Sue Multiple Parties if You’re Involved in a Multi-Vehicle Crash
Usually, if your case involves more than one defendant, it’s because you were involved in a multi-vehicle accident. If you have ever watched the evening news, you are familiar with stories about car crashes that involve half a dozen cars. When a driver hits the car in front of them, there’s a good chance the second car will hit the car in front of them. It starts a domino effect of sorts.
When our accident attorneys in Atlanta meet with someone who has been involved in a multi-car accident, they usually can’t remember exactly who caused it. Things get confusing, especially if you’re behind the wheel of a vehicle that is hit out of the blue. You try to pay attention to what is going on around you, but you’re probably more concerned with making sure everybody is okay.
Our Atlanta Injury Lawyers Normally Sue Multiple Parties in a Tractor-Trailer Accident
If you’re involved in a tractor-trailer accident, you’ll have to sue at least three or four parties. First, you will need to sue the person driving the truck. Even if they were on the clock, there’s no guarantee that their employer will cover your damages.
You will also need to sue the driver’s insurance carrier. If the driver works for a commercial trucking company, or any other company, you’ll need to name that business in your complaint as well. In addition, you’ll need to name their insurance carrier in your complaint as well.
While this may already seem confusing, there is the chance you may have to pursue other people as well. For example, if the truck was serviced recently, your Atlanta accident attorney will check to see if there was a defect with the truck that hit you. If so, you may need to pursue the service center as well.
Accident Attorneys in Atlanta Handle Cases Where the Auto Manufacturer is Liable
One final party you may need to go after is the company that manufactured the car or truck. If there was a defect of some sort, you may have a direct claim against the auto manufacturer. Your Atlanta accident lawyer will check to see if there was a recent recall on the vehicle the defendant was driving. If the recall wasn’t addressed, you can use this as evidence of negligence on the part of both the driver and the manufacturer.
You will also need to find proof that the auto manufacturer was aware that there was a problem with the vehicle and chose to leave it on the market. Your accident attorney in Atlanta will work hard to make sure you get the compensation you deserve, regardless of where it comes from.
It’s in Your Best Interest to Reach Out to an Atlanta Accident Lawyer Immediately
We always tell our clients that there is no law that says they must hire an Atlanta injury lawyer to handle their car accident case. There’s nothing wrong with coming into the office for a free, initial consultation and then deciding to handle things yourself. However, in a case involving more than one defendant, it may be in your best interest to hire an accident attorney in Atlanta instead of doing things on your own.
If you forget to name one of the other drivers in your complaint, you may not be allowed to add them later on. Not only will you have to name each of the drivers involved in the crash, but you’ll also have to sue their insurance carriers. By the time all is said and done, you may have to name up to ten people in your civil complaint.
Rather than deal with this all by yourself, we recommend you call our office instead. We can schedule your free, initial consultation at any time. Come into the office and sit down with an Atlanta accident lawyer. They will review your case and give you an idea of what it’s worth. They will also make sure a copy of your complaint is served on each and every defendant.
Since the consultation is free, you really don’t have anything to lose. And keep in mind – we don’t charge any of our clients anything upfront.
