8/1/2023 0 Comments Texas pile upThat is why federal regulations and industry standards place an obligation of motor carriers and their drivers to pull over if the conditions prevent the safe operation of a semi-truck. Types of vehicles involved: People driving commercial vehicles have the same obligations as all drivers but to a much greater extent.Īn 80,000-pound big rig can cause much more damage than a regular car. However, if a driver swerves into the ditch to avoid hitting a pile-up in front of them, they are still considered part of the overall crash event. The number of vehicles involved: In assessing fault and liability for chain-reaction crashes, we look at both the number of cars and trucks involved in the direct chain and also the number of drivers who were able to avoid the pile-up. For example, if we see that the crash occurred near the I-90 Snoqualmie mountain pass, we know that the weather, speed, and elevation are all factors. We also look at traffic patterns to see if speeding is common in the area, or if the location has varying weather patterns. These can be serious, but a pileup on a highway is much more dangerous because of the rates of speed. Location: In urban areas, multi-car crashes usually happen at stoplights. We also know that the temperature is lowest just before dawn: so drivers may not be prepared for surface ice. Time of day: The time that the crash occurred can help us investigate the causes of the crash-for example, the likelihood that a driver was tired or intoxicated. Weather: Multi-car pileup crashes are most common in winter when the road surface is wet or rain and snow affect visibility and stopping time. Helpful Reading: How to Prove You Are Not At Fault in a Car Accidentīut other factors may increase the effect of bad driving. They are predictable, preventable events caused by a driver who is speeding, driving too fast in rain or snow, distracted, tired, or impaired. Most multi-car pileups are not just an accident. There is an important distinction between an accident and a crash: an accident is a happenstance, an unlikely and unlucky occurrence. When a driver loses control of his or her vehicle, due to their failure to operate the vehicle in a safe manner, they become responsible for the damage they cause. Recently, when a 12-vehicle pileup closed Highway 599 and the ramp to I-5 in Seattle, police officers were able to clearly identify the cause of the first crash as a driver who fled the scene and was later charged with hit-and-run.Īnyone driving on public roads has an obligation to drive safely-that includes considering the weather, traffic, and road conditions. When someone drives dangerously, they are responsible for the damages they cause. The driver who caused the first collision in a multi-car pileup is usually considered to be the first cause of the chain reaction of crashes. Often, they miss talking with witnesses who have relevant and important information. Officers on the ground may not be able to interview injured people, and they are also responsible for managing traffic and road clearance. While we always consider police reports, they are often imperfect. In a chain-reaction collision, the responding police officers try to document and record the crash scene. Helpful Reading: What Happens if you Crash a Leased Car Here’s how a lawyer might go about sorting out fault and damage in a pileup. The 130+ vehicle pileup in Texas is an extreme example of the difficulty in determining fault and factors in a chain reaction crash event.
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