{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Fiesta Auto Insurance and Tax Services","provider_url":"https:\/\/fiestainsurance.com","author_name":"Bharathi P","author_url":"https:\/\/fiestainsurance.com\/author\/admin-bharathi\/","title":"Tips For Multi-Car Accidents - Fiesta Auto Insurance and Tax Services","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"pH0QHR9ivW\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fiestainsurance.com\/tips-for-multi-car-accidents\/\">Tips For Multi-Car Accidents<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/fiestainsurance.com\/tips-for-multi-car-accidents\/embed\/#?secret=pH0QHR9ivW\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Tips For Multi-Car Accidents&#8221; &#8212; Fiesta Auto Insurance and Tax Services\" data-secret=\"pH0QHR9ivW\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/fiestainsurance.com\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/fiestainsurance.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/12-scaled.jpeg","thumbnail_width":2560,"thumbnail_height":1761,"description":"Tips For Multi-Car Accidents Tips For Multi-Car Accidents You\u2019ve likely passed by one, or maybe even been involved in one\u2026We\u2019re talking about a multi-car accident, aka a pile up. What is a multi-car accident? As the name implies, it\u2019s a car accident that involves more than two \u00a0In the early 2022 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there was a 16 percent increase in multi-vehicle accidents from 2020 to 2021. To be more specific, in 2020 there were 17K multi-vehicle accidents on U.S. roads. In 2021, there were nearly 20K. With distracted driving, road rage and other dangerous driving behaviors contributing to multi-vehicle accidents, it\u2019s important to understand how the logistics of car insurance can apply in those sensitive, often complex, scenarios of pile ups.\u00a0 We\u2019ll share the ins and outs of multi-accidents and offer drivers a few tips on how you can navigate a pile up, should you be involved in one. Complexities of Multi-Car Accidents When you think of a pile up happening, you\u2019re likely picturing a big headline story on social media with more than 10 vehicles crashed into one another and an entire freeway shutdown. But more often, a multi-car accident can be:\u00a0 A car entering an intersection and a collision happening between two or more vehicles A car sliding on black ice at a stop sign and hitting multiple vehicles What are most often the causes of multi-car accidents? According to our team, distracted drivers. Driving distracted, as we\u2019ve talked about a time or two, is one of the main reasons for accidents on the road. The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that the total number of fatal, distraction-caused crashes increased 11 percent in 2021 compared to 2020. Outside of distracted driving, other factors that contribute to multi-car accidents include people following other vehicles too closely or speeding. In rare instances, a medical condition like a seizure or heart attack can lead to pile ups on the road. The effects of a multi-car accident can feel like too many to count. From injuries to damages, any accident that involves multiple people and vehicles is made more complicated because you often don&#8217;t know who&#8217;s involved, the full extent of the damage and what types of injuries were sustained. For car insurance companies, pile ups often means starting with a complete and thorough investigation to try and determine fault or percentages of negligence and to then apply your own insurance coverage to meet those demands. Insurance Coverage in Pile Up Accidents Due to the complexity of multi-car accidents, often enough, minimum car insurance requirements of your state may not cover the extent of the damage. For example, in Arizona, you\u2019re legally required to only have liability coverage in these amounts:\u00a0 You must maintain a minimum of $25,000 in Bodily Injury Liability coverage for one person and $50,000 for two people. You must maintain a minimum of $15,000 in Property Damage Liability coverage. And while that minimum seems like a great way to potentially save yourself some money every month, consider the scenario of a multi-car accident. While your Liability coverage can help cover for injuries or damages to the property of others (if you\u2019re responsible), there are other factors to think about such as if there are uninsured or underinsured drivers involved or how damages to your vehicle will be addressed.\u00a0 This is where other coverages beyond Liability come into play. With the Insurance Research Council reporting that 1 in 9 drivers are uninsured, it\u2019s not a bad time to consider having Uninsured\/Underinsured Motorist (UM\/UIM) coverage added to your policy. In a multi-car accident, drivers may flee the scene or carry minimal insurance, which may not cover expenses resulting from a pile up. UM and UIM coverage can help bridge gaps, offering financial protection when the responsible party is unable to fulfill their obligation.\u00a0 To provide additional support, Comprehensive and Collision coverages can help cover damages to your vehicle in a multi-car accident.\u00a0 Steps to Take After A Multi-Car Accident In the event you\u2019re in a multi-car accident, one of the first steps you should take is to prioritize your safety and seek medical attention (if needed). Try and move your vehicle to a safe location and turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers. Call authorities immediately, regardless. A police report is valuable evidence in an insurance claim.\u00a0 Next, if you are able to, gather evidence and exchange information with other involved drivers. Here are some suggestions:\u00a0 \u00a0 Take videos and photos of the scene. This includes vehicle positions, damage, road conditions and any relevant traffic signs or signals. Exchange information with drivers. Get names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance information and driver\u2019s license info.\u00a0 Collect any witness statements. If there are witnesses, get their info and statements about what they saw.\u00a0 \u00a0 Reporting the accident to the police and obtaining the police report for your records will be a vital next step before contacting your insurance company to start the claims process. Being involved in a multi-car accident isn\u2019t an ideal situation. And whether you\u2019re at-fault or not, having a robust car insurance policy that goes beyond your state\u2019s minimum requirements can help in big ways. When dealing with complex claims like multi-car accidents, remember the value of speaking to someone who knows the world of insurance. Whether that\u2019s your own personal attorney or the claims adjuster at your insurance company\u2014remember, you don&#8217;t have to do it alone. And at Fiesta Insurance, we\u2019re here for you."}