At Saffren and Weinberg, Marc Alan Weinberg, Attorney and Kenneth Scott Saffren, Attorney are partners. The firm’s tagline is “The People’s Voice In Court.” They make themselves available via phone at (215) 576-0100 or by email on the Saffren and Weinberg website. Saffren and Weinberg provides a no-charge, complimentary case review and answers questions for prospective clients.
Who’s at Fault in a Chain-Reaction Accident That Results in Personal Injury?
It was a lovely summer evening. A father loaded his two children and a bunch of flowers into his truck and headed out to pick up his wife from work. A drunk driver, who was also an emotional wreck, was traveling two cars behind them.
He lost control of his vehicle, and it led to a chain reaction collision. Unfortunately, the car in which the dad and his children were in, flipped to the side and rolled a couple of times before bursting into flames.
A chain reaction collision is an accident that involves three or more vehicles where the force of the first collision causes a series of rear-end-accidents. Multi-car crashes can occur for various different reasons.
Usually, such accidents happen when the visibility is reduced, and the road conditions are not ideal for driving due to inclement weather. Not only is there a risk of injury in a chain reaction accident, but there is also a problem with figuring out who is responsible for the crash. In a multi-vehicle crash, it can prove to be very challenging to hold one person responsible for causing the accident.
Who is at fault in a multi-vehicle accident?
Under the legal theory of “negligence,” you will have to prove a liability to file an insurance claim or lawsuit in a multi-vehicle accident. By and giant, the driver who first caused the crash is held responsible in a chain reaction accident. But this might not always be the case.
In some instances, other drivers or public agencies that are responsible for keeping the roads safe may have to share responsibility. The fundamental point is to prove that each of these parties was careless and negligent.
Listed below are some instances where the people or agencies other than the first driver are to blame:
- A driver who did not maintain a safe distance and was tailing too close to the vehicle in the front.
- A driver who was driving aggressively at speeds above the legal limit.
- A driver who was under the influence.
- A driver who did not use their indicator lights or had malfunctioning brake lights.
- A distracted driver who was texting or using the phone, when they were behind the wheel.
- The county/public agency that did not install proper traffic signals.
- The public agency that did not clear the obstructions on the road that caused the drivers to brake unexpectedly.
There might also be situations where no single person can be blamed for the crash. The best example to illustrate this would be the road situation in winters. Natural hazards to driving such as an ice patch or harsh winds can result in an accident.
Another situation to consider is when the driver who caused the crash lost consciousness due to a medical condition. These circumstances warrant no liability.
Injuries that are sustained in a chain reaction accident are very rarely immediately apparent. Therefore, it is essential to seek a doctor shortly after a crash. In addition to cuts and bruises, whiplash is a common injury sustained in a motor accident.
Strains and sprains might appear the next day, causing headaches, neck pain, stiffness, fatigue, and back pain.
An accident such as a chain reaction calls for a meticulous and skilled investigation. Many aspects can be used to establish the at-fault party’s negligence.
Some of them are as follows:
- Narratives of the eyewitness, and your statement.
- Police reports relating to the accident.
- Photographs of skid marks, debris from the accident, vehicle damage or any other evidence from the scene of the accident.
- Records of traffic violations by the at-fault driver.
If you are injured in a multiple collision motor accident, Saffren & Weinberg can help you! Our law firm is dedicated to helping people with their personal injury claims. Contact us today at (215) 576-0100.
