Two trucks and a minivan collided killing the driver of the minivan at 7 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, 2019. According to a police spokesperson, the minivan was traveling eastbound on I-264 at Breckenridge Ln when a garbage truck hit the back of the minivan pushing it into a beer truck.
The woman driver of the minivan was pronounced dead at the scene, and both truck drivers were uninjured. Police are still investigating the incident, and its unknown at this time if any charges will be filed.
Chain-Reaction Crashes
On busy freeways and multi-lane highways, chain-reaction crashes often happen when one car hits another causing events with involve a third—and sometimes more—car. These crashes can be especially violent because of the speed of the vehicles and the prospect of some of the vehicles being involved in multiple impacts.
In fatalities and serious injuries, many times, the victim escapes injury from the first impact only to be struck again. This makes chain-reaction crashes especially dangerous.
How is Fault Determined?
Not only are chain-reaction crashes dangerous, they can also create unique—and at times confusing—liability issues. Most drivers know that generally speaking, if you hit the car in front of you, it’s your fault. While this is generally true, it’s not always that simple. In a chain reaction crash, you may be pushed into another car, even though you didn’t hit them on your own.
So what is done in those cases? The law requires an injured person to prove negligence on the part of the alleged at-fault driver. So if a car was pushed into another car by a third car, then it would be tough to prove that the middle car had any fault in the accident.
Also, it’s likely that the third vehicle would be on the hook for all damages and injuries for both cars. The bottom line, the law isn’t held to a hard and fast rear-end rule, rather each impact will be looked at to determine which driver was negligent.
Injuries in Pileup Vehicles
The most common injury is a thoracic spine Injury, also known as whiplash. This is because when someone is rear-ended, they are violently pushed back in their seats and then propelled forward into their airbag, steering wheel or dash, and then slammed back into their seat again. This injures the spine around the neck area and can be extremely painful and debilitating.
Other injuries include traumatic brain injuries, broken arms and ribs and deep contusions. An attorney is needed that understands these different types injuries and how they impact the client.
Do I Need an Attorney?
It’s up to each injured person whether they get an attorney. However, in multi-car wrecks, there are typically several insurance companies covering the many vehicles, and each one is going to point the finger at the other where liability is concerned.
You should at least talk to an attorney who can evaluate your case and give you advice on what to do. The attorneys at Kaufman and Stigger, PLLC, have vast experience working with all types of personal injuries, and they will give you the unbiased truth about your case. To discuss your case, call Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC today, at (800) 937-8443 or click here to contact them online.
