When a traffic accident involves more than two vehicles, it becomes a “pileup”or a multi-vehicle accident. From the standpoint of fault, it also becomes significantly more difficult to understand. For the most part, these accidents start out with one vehicle crashing into another vehicle. Then comes the calamitous chain reaction of vehicles crashing into each other or into the vehicles from the original wreck. We have all seen them on I-95, 76 and even on arterial roads such as Roosevelt Blvd. These types of pile-ups almost always happen on highways, freeways and expressways that are heavily traveled with high speed limits. That’s the primary reason why chain reaction crashes are deadlier than others. What started out as a minor property damage accident can escalate into a multiple fatality tragedy in a matter of seconds.
Common Causes of Multiple Vehicle Accidents
Speeding and distracted driving are two of the most common causes of multiple vehicle accidents. Here are some other causes:
- Poor visibility due to snow, rain or fog.
- Slippery roads due to weather conditions.
- Failure to maintain a proper interval from the vehicle ahead.
- Driving in the opposite lanes of traffic.
- Attempting to avoid obstructions on the roadway.
- Drowsy driving.
- Drunk driving.
Multiple Organ Impact
In most car crashes, there are three impacts. The first is with an object from the front or rear, but the victim’s body continues to move until it’s stopped by a seat belt, air bag or another object. That’s the second impact. The third impact involves the brain and other organs. They keep moving until they’re stopped by the skeleton or other body parts. When there are multiple impacts, that force and trauma continues again and again. Concussions, severe whiplash and spinal disc damage requiring surgery are often the result.
If There’s No Settlement
A common difficulty in multiple vehicle accidents is the issue of fault. Police investigations can be slow and take weeks due to the number of parties and witnesses. Everybody involved in the accident will be pointing at each other. Different people will be telling different stories about what happened. In many of these types of accidents, if a victim’s claim doesn’t settle, a lawsuit might be the only way to stop the finger pointing. A judge can then instruct a jury on how to decide on the issues of liability and damages.
Contact a Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer
You can put our history of success to work for you by contacting us and arranging for a free consultation and case review with Philadelphia car accident lawyer Edith Pearce. The call is free and we will only offer you advice which is in your best interest. We will make you aware of all of your legal options and if it makes sense to retain us we will seek the maximum amount of compensation available to you by holding all responsible parties accountable for their negligent actions.