A 5-vehicle crash on the 710 Freeway in South Gate early Sunday morning left one person dead.
The accident happened on the southbound 710 Freeway at Firestone Blvd. at about 4:16 a.m. Two of the vehicles involved were a big truck and a green four-door Nissan.
The victim was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The identity of the decedent has not been released.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Multi-Vehicle Accident – Who Pays?
In a multiple vehicle collision, the insurance company for the at-fault party or parties will pay for the harm caused, including property damage, medical bills and lost wages. Often times, it is not immediately clear who the responsible party or parties are. There may be finger-pointing by the involved drivers, without agreement about who is responsible. The insurance companies for each of the drivers will want to take everyone's statement, and they will want to see the police report to see who the police report puts at fault.
What do You do about your Car while Waiting for Fault to be Determined?
It can take weeks before fault is accepted by the insurance company or companies. In the meantime, if you have collision coverage under your own auto insurance policy you can go through your insurance on your property damage claim. Your insurance company will later seek reimbursement from the at-fault party's insurance company.
Multi-Car Accident – Talk to a Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a multi-car accident, you should speak with a personal injury lawyer regarding your legal rights. All personal injury lawyers give free consultations. The sooner you speak with a lawyer – the better. You don't want to fail to do something that could decrease the value of your claim. For example, you should not delay seeking medical treatment. If you do not have health insurance, your attorney can refer you to a doctor who can treat you on a lien, which means that the doctor agrees to wait to be paid until your case settles.
McGee, Lerer & Associates is a personal injury law firm that specializes in serious injury and death cases. We have four office locations: Long Beach, Pasadena, Los Angeles and Santa Monica. A car accident lawyer at our firm is available 24/7 for a free consultation.