Multi-Vehicle Accidents

Car Accident Attorneys in Pocatello

A car accident occurs every 60 seconds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which amounts to nearly 6 million a year. About a third of these accidents involve multi-vehicle accidents, or pile-ups, which are often more deadly than two-car collisions. When several cars crash into each other, the possibility of a fire becomes a greater concern, passengers might be trapped, and there is a chance someone might suffocate from lack of oxygen or burn to death.

Causes of Multi-Vehicle Accidents

As with any type of accident, there are a vast amount of reasons for why multi-vehicle collisions occur. The most common ones include:

• Weather: Inclement weather such as snow and heavy rain can cause dangerous road conditions. Icy or slippery roads, and fog can all increase the potential for a multi-vehicle accident. Given that highways have higher speed limits, the hazards and resulting damage can be even greater.
• Speeding: Cars are composed of a multitude of parts, from airbags and heavy insulation, to stereo systems and windows made from large sheets of glass. While going at an incredibly high speed, one wrong move can easily set off a chain reaction, causing cars to pile up into each other like dominos, bending steel, and sending broken pieces of glass flying about. Driving at high speeds is never safe, but when an accident involves several cars, it can lead to some serious or fatal injuries.
• Fatigue: Many of us do not get the requisite amount of sleep necessary to function and, when a tired individual gets behind the wheel of a car, he or she is gambling with more than one life. Even shutting your eyes for just a second can cause a car to drift into another lane, off the road, or ram into the car ahead of you.
• Cell Phones: This is one of the most common causes for two-vehicle collisions as well. It is so easy for drivers to find the lure of a phone irresistible. Maybe you just want to send or read a text, post a quick update, or take a picture, but all of these actions are dangerously distracting and against the law. If something truly cannot wait, pull to the side of the road or somewhere else that is safe and take care of business before going back on the road.
• Police Chases: It might sound odd, but police chases frequently cause accidents. In fact, because of this, many cities restricted police car chases to those involving serious felonies to prevent these types of accidents from occurring. However, there are still instances of police officers or the people they are in pursuit of losing control and striking other vehicles.
• Other Causes: While it might seem obvious that cell phones are a major distraction for drivers, there are other forms of distracted driving that lead to multi-vehicle accidents. This includes having a conversation with passengers, reading a map or operating a GPS, eating, putting on makeup, and reaching for something in the vehicle.

Determining Fault

Unlike a two-vehicle collision, determining fault in multi-vehicle accidents can be a little more complicated since each driver has a duty of care, or responsibility to drive prudently, to the other drivers. Failing to exercise this duty might qualify as negligence.

Since these accidents tend to involve sizeable payouts from insurance companies, trained accident investigators are often sent to find the cause and the responsible driver, particularly since an at-fault driver is not likely to admit responsibility.

To determine fault, investigators will often look into several factors, including whether or not an officer arrested or issued a ticket to any of the drivers involved for:

They will also interview the drivers, any passengers, and witnesses who might have seen the accident occur.

Representing the Interests of Injury Victims in Pocatello and Burley

Any accident can be serious or result in injuries, but multi-vehicle accidents have a tendency to impact many lives at once and are much more complex than those involving two vehicles. To make sure you obtain the compensation you deserve and to ensure blame does not get unfairly shifted to you, you will need to seek the skilled and experienced representation of a personal injury attorney. At May, Rammell & Wells, our Pocatello legal team is here to support and represent you after you have been injured in a multi-vehicle accident caused by someone else’s negligence.

These accidents can result in serious injuries, overwhelming victims and their families with steep medical bills, lost wages, or even loss of work. This should not be your burden to bear. Filing a personal injury attorney in Pocatello can help you recover damages to cover these expenses and ensure the responsible parties are held accountable for their actions. We have the resources to investigate the details of the accident and put the evidence together to determine who is at fault. With over 70 years of collective experience backed by a history of success, you can be confident in our ability to effectively pursue justice on your behalf.

Contact our Pocatello and Burley car accident attorneys at May, Rammell & Wells today to request a consultation. You should not suffer in silence.