Five vehicles tangled injuring at least one motorist Friday around 2 p.m. February 17, 2019. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the multi-car crash involved several vehicles which struck each other on I-275 near the Lois Avenue exit.
They towed three of the vehicles due to sustaining a fair amount of damage. The impact was significant enough to cause one of the drivers severe chest pains. Paramedics took them to a local hospital. It’s unknown if drugs or alcohol played a part in the crash. The Florida Highway Patrol said that the incident was still under investigation.
Multiple Car Wrecks
When more than two cars collide, the risks to those involved go up. Naturally, this is because there are more cars involved. Yet, the dynamics of a multi-car crash create the prospect of multiple impacts for any one car involved. There are typically two types of multi-vehicle accidents: chain reaction and pile-up.
Chain Reaction Crashes
A chain-reaction crash happens when two cars collide which creates a chain of events that cause other cars to collide as well. The most dangerous of multi-vehicle crashes happen on non-divided highways and freeways. This is because the vehicles involved are traveling at higher speeds and have significant momentum. These types of crashes are known for extensive damage, rollovers, cars crossing the median and/or leaving the roadway.
Pile-Up Crashes
Pile-up collisions are those that happen when cars approaching another accident or a stopped vehicle blocking the road and are unable to slow or stop in time. In fact, pile-up crash impacts can happen one right after another or in some cases up to an hour later as cars continue to back up due to the primary accident. Click the chain-reaction crash video to watch the shocking pile-up unfold on an icy freeway.
Problems with Multi-Car Crashes
In multi-car crashes, the greatest increase to the risk of death and injury occurs when there are secondary impacts. Also, many times a chain-reaction crash becomes compounded by a series of pile-up collisions with people trying to stop for the chain-reaction crash.
How is Fault Determined?
At the time of the accident and soon after, determining fault is often of little concern. Over time, this can change when the financial losses become overwhelming. Then fault will be important as you try to figure out if you can be compensated for your injuries.
At the time of the accident, the police will investigate the scene and issue a report on what happened. They usually refrain from concluding who is at fault, however, the report will be used by insurance agents, attorneys, and the courts to help determine who is responsible.
Comparative Fault
In states like Florida, they sometimes spread out fault in percentages. Whereas, each person bears a certain percentage of fault. If you are injured, and your percentage of fault is lower than the other drivers, then you can still be compensated, but your portion of the fault will lower your compensation.
Do I Need an Attorney?
It’s up to each injured person whether they get an attorney. However, in multi-car wrecks, there are typically several insurance companies covering the vehicles involved, and each one is going to point the finger at the other where liability is concerned. So talking to an attorney to be advised of the law is a good idea.
Contact a Tampa Auto Accident Lawyer
After any crash, contact an attorney if there is a serious injury or loss of a loved one. RHINO Lawyers is the powerful, results-driven law firm, that takes Insurance Companies and Bullies “head-on!”
Anyone injured due to the negligence of another driver in Florida may should us for a free consultation. Our personal injury team will offer you advice to help you get the compensation you deserve.
