Collecting Compensation for Injuries Sustained in Multi-Car Pile-Ups

Collecting Compensation for Injuries Sustained in Multi-Car Pile-Ups

Recently, three people sustained life threatening injuries in a multi-vehicle car crash on I-55 near Edwardsville. According to police reports, the initial crash occurred when a semi-truck driver took his eyes off of the road to reach for a drink, at which point he collided with the car in front of him. This caused a chain reaction of collisions involving ten vehicles.

Unfortunately, these types of devastating car accidents are not uncommon in Illinois, where thousands of people are injured in collisions every year. The fallout from multi-car pile-ups can be not only painful, but also expensive, especially for those suffering from serious injuries, so if you were involved in a serious multi-vehicle collision, it is important to contact an experienced car accident attorney who can help you seek compensation for your medical expenses.

Multi-Car Pile-Up Causes

Multi-vehicle collisions occur at an alarming rate across the country. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that as many as 40 percent of all traffic accident fatalities can be linked to multi-car pile-ups. This makes sense when you consider the fact that in these types of accidents, victims are forced to undergo multiple impacts, often from more than one direction.

Although multi-vehicle collisions can occur in a variety of different situations, they are more likely to occur in poor weather when visibility is low, when there is high traffic density, or when a driver is:

• Driving aggressively, which includes weaving in and out of lanes, tailgating, and speeding;
• Distracted;
• Under the influence of drugs or alcohol; or
• Fatigued.

Anything that takes a driver’s eyes or mind off of the road increases the risk of being involved in a multi-car pile-up, especially when there are a lot of cars on the road.

Liable Parties

Assigning responsibility for any kind of car crash can be difficult and this is especially true for multi-vehicle collisions, as there are usually a number of responsible parties. While an initial collision may clearly have been one person’s fault, later chain reaction crashes could be at least partly attributable to another driver’s negligence. If, for example, one driver was texting and rear ended the car in front of him, he can be held accountable for damage sustained to the victim’s car and person. However, if that individual then collided with the vehicle in front of her because she was tailgating and so couldn’t swerve out of the way, she may also share responsibility for some of the damages.

Vehicle manufacturers and government agencies can also be held partially liable for accidents if a defective car part or a poorly maintained road caused or contributed to a crash. In fact, it is not unusual for more than just a single party to be held responsible for this type of collision, so it is important to conduct a thorough investigation to determine which parties were at fault by measuring skid marks, calculating points of impact, interviewing witnesses, and reconstructing the accident.

Call an Experienced Car Accident Attorney Today

Please contact the SAM LAW OFFICE LLC at 847-255-9925 to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer about your case. Our dedicated legal team is eager to assist you immediately.