A pileup crash that involved six cars killed a woman. The crash happened on Sunday afternoon, January 27, 2019, on 49th Street. According to the Tampa Bay Times, the woman was a passenger in a taxicab that rear-ended a Chevy Tahoe that was pushed into a Ford Escape. The Escape hit Kia Optima which then hit a Hyundai Santa Fe. The paramedics took the Taxi driver and passenger to a local hospital in serious condition. Tragically, the passenger died later at the hospital.
Pile-up Crashes
Multi-car crashes happen in two ways, chain-reaction, and pileup collisions. A chain-reaction crash happens on a freeway where a collision between two cars causes other cars to collide. In a pileup crash, cars arriving on stopped cars are unable to slow down in time and plow into the cars in front of them. Sometimes the stopped cars are there because they were in a previous accident.
Every collision is dangerous. But in a pileup, secondary crashes can subject some vehicles to multiples hits. In many cases, a person survives the first crash with little injury. Yet, then is seriously injured or killed in the subsequent crashes.
According to the American Automobile Association, the best thing to do when you are involved in a crash where there is a possibility of a secondary collision is to stay in your vehicle with the seatbelt on. This is because once you get out, you are no longer protected by your vehicle. However, if there is another reason to leave the vehicle like you smell leaking gas or see smoke or flames, then you are better off getting out of the vehicle and to a safe location.
How is Fault Determined in a Pileup Crash?
Immediately following an accident, fault doesn’t seem to be very important. Especially, when compared to the need for safety and treatment. Yet, after many of the injured suffer with medical bills and other financial losses that can become substantial.
Then the issue of fault will become important. In serious crashes, traffic investigators will process the scene to determine what happened and then will issue a report giving their opinion as to what happened, and typically these reports do not give a conclusion as to who was at fault.
In pileup crashes, complicate finding fault. As in many cases, a car might be a victim for one impact and at-fault for another. This leaves the parties, their insurance companies and possibly the courts to figure out who bears financial responsibility.
Another problem motorists involved in a pileup crash face is that the insurance company will often try to point the finger of blame toward everyone but their client and will attempt to use the accident report to validate their position.
Do I Need an Attorney?
The answer is yes! After any serious injury or death of a loved one, you need to talk to someone who has your best interest in mind and can give you realistic and unbiased advice. You need an attorney that understands multi-car and chain-reaction crashes and has experience dealing with insurance companies. Don’t wait until they start treating you poorly before you contact an attorney.
Contact the RHINO Lawyers which is a powerful, results-driven law firm, that takes Insurance Companies and Bullies “head-on!” Anyone injured due to the negligence of a driver in Florida call us for a free consultation. Our personal injury team will offer you advice to help you get the compensation you deserve.
