Photo: courtesy of the Oregon State Police
A Slippery Slope–Black Ice and Speed
The northeastern corner of Oregon is a well-traveled route between Washington and Idaho. Law enforcement closed the westbound lanes of Interstate 84 for 13 hours due to a 20-car crash on Saturday. Investigators believe that black ice and speed are the culprits behind the collision.
Oregon State Patrol Troopers and numerous emergency response units rushed to the scene. The crash included seven commercial vehicles and thirteen passenger vehicles.
Multiple Vehicles with Multiple Injuries
Emergency responders transported several people to a hospital in Pendleton, Oregon. Flight for Life services carried still more victims to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, Washington. The crash injured at least nine people, with five in serious condition. Judging by the catastrophic condition of many of the vehicles, it’s shocking there are no reported fatalities.
Oregon’s Department of Transportation was able to clear the wreckage and debris to reopen the lanes by Sunday morning. The area is still an extensive and on-going investigation scene, and drivers should use extra caution when traveling through this area. http://www.kxl.com/nine-hurt-five-seriously-20-vehicle-crash-84/
When Multiple Vehicles Crash
Millions of car accidents occur every year. Most of these are classified as “fender benders” because damages tend to be fairly minor with few major injuries. Each year, however, there are serious collisions that take the lives of over 42,000 people. Drunk drivers cause nearly half of these types of wrecks.
So what about the many variables that cause the other half of these costly crashes? In the case of rear-end collisions, many factors can lead up to a domino-style crash. Some of the causes include driver distractions, poor weather and roadway conditions, faulty brakes or mechanical issues, and careless or negligent driving.
A Chain Reaction
Unfortunately, multi-car pile-ups are all too common on America’s roadways, especially in winter conditions or congested traffic. They occur when a driver rear-ends another vehicle, pushing them into the next vehicle, and so on. The description of “domino” aptly explains how the chain reaction starts. With just one “push”—or hit from behind, the chain reaction begins.
But a variable in the way a domino-effect wreck can occur is when the first driver in a chain of vehicles stops or loses control on the road, likely from driving too fast for road conditions, and other vehicles also fail to control their vehicles, leading to a pile-up. This is winter driving at it’s worst.
Check out: http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/state-by-state-overview for the types of crashes that happen most often in your state.
Who’s At-Fault in a Multi-Car Collision?
Photo courtesy of the Oregon State Police
Multi-car collisions can be more devastating and destructive than single or two-vehicle crashes. This is because numerous vehicles can hit a single car from various angles and speeds. This occurs in a successive pattern, causing multiple injuries and even fatalities with hazardous conditions. The impact and force can cause lethal injuries and irreparable property damage.
In the case of a multi-vehicle crash, each driver and their position on the road will be scrutinized as to the exact distance between them and the next vehicle, whether they were able to safely stop or were following too closely, and if they are liable for damages to other’s vehicles. Investigators will consider many facts, and regardless of the circumstances, chances are you will need an attorney to help litigate the claims between the insurance companies, to ensure that you are fairly compensated for all damages.
Multiple At-Fault Parties?
The sad truth about wrecks involving several vehicles is that more than one party may be at-fault. Investigators will try and pinpoint the underlying cause of the crash and identify the responsible party. But conditions of the road and poor judgment can escalate a minor wreck into one of catastrophic proportions. Eye witness accounts and as many details leading up to the event are important in identifying and assigning responsibility to at-fault parties.
More Stress with More Cars
The more vehicles involved in any type of collision, greatly increase the odds that you will need legal help to settle multiple claims.
If you have been the victim in a multi-car crash, you know life can get very stressful fast with bodily injuries and medical bills to worry about, haggling over repair costs and depreciation values, multiple insurance claims to be made, and low-ball settlements offers.
That’s when a trusted ally can be a lifesaver for you. An experienced personal injury attorney with Fielding Law Group can help you handle the miles of paperwork and relieve the stress that comes with multi-car accident claims.
Our Personal Injury & Auto Accident Lawyers are Here to Help
If you or a loved one have been injured in a multi-vehicle collision, you may be entitled to compensation for damages and injuries caused by another’s negligent driving in a multi-vehicle collision. Insurance companies have planned strategies to shift blame, discount or severely limit a victim’s personal injury claims, especially in these multi-vehicle situations. It is essential that you have someone that knows how to handle these types of cases so that you can get the representation and compensation you deserve. Fielding Law Group’s team of professionals and experienced accident attorneys will be with you every step of the way.
At Fielding Law Group, we provide you with a free consultation to determine the extent of these damages, create a game plan on how to proceed with your case, and ease the stress-load a multi-car collision has caused. You may not be familiar with the tactics insurance companies use to undervalue potential claims–but we are!
We have several offices throughout Washington and Idaho with teams of personal injury and auto accident attorneys that are ready to help you. Remember: Don’t let an accident wreck YOU!
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