Multi-Vehicle, or Pileup Accidents, Involving Commercial Trucks
In 2015, a man was killed and dozens more suffered injuries in a crash that involved 13 vehicles along the New Jersey Turnpike. The pileup included a bus as well as multiple tractor-trailers as well as icy roadways. When bad weather conditions mix with negligence, sometimes these accidents occur. But what if you can pinpoint that a truck driver caused your pileup accident and you wish to receive compensation for your injuries, what can you do?
Reasons for Multi-Vehicle Accidents
About 6 million accidents happen in one year. You may be surprised to find that one-third of these are multi-vehicle accidents, or pile-ups. Most of the time, drivers are distracted when the accident occurs, causing many others to crash into it. Because these cars can be destroyed in these catastrophic events, the probability of injuries is much greater. Here are some of the most common reasons for these serious accidents:
Weather: When bad weather conditions like snow, ice, rain, and fog occur, the roadways become more dangerous. When you mix the high speed limits of highways with this, an accident could occur quite easily.
Speeding: Just because you are surrounded by airbags and speedy engines, doesn’t mean that you will always be protected by the violence of a pile-up accident. One wrong turn by the truck driver in front could set off a train reaction that could take lives.
Falling Asleep: When somebody falls asleep at the wheel, a car could drift into another lane or plow into the car in front of them.
Intoxicated Drivers: Drinking and driving could cause altered time and depth perception, which could lead to a pile-up.
Cell Phones: When somebody chooses to talk, text, or take photographs on the road, they could easily cause a collision. Nobody is invincible. It pays to pay attention to the road.
Who is at Fault?
When an accident involves four, five, or more vehicles, it may be difficult to determine who was at fault. Trained accident investigators usually take a look at the scene to determine whether or not the truck driver was at fault based on certain criteria, such as the cause of why the accident occurred. This could be an entirely complicated process, as investigators will have to review police reports, speak with officers, look at warrants, look for intoxication, see whether or not the driver was speeding or driving without insurance, following too closely, and so much more.
Because these accidents can be entirely complex, as with truck accidents of all kinds, it is vital to have an experienced attorney on your side. Call us today at Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, as we have experience with these cases and can help you every step of the way.
