Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Americans love their cars, and nowhere is that more true than in Kentucky
Statistics show that in a state with roughly four million people, there are nearly 1.8 registered motor vehicles. This adds up to nearly 2 vehicles for every three registered drivers. And with the majestic scenery, especially the mountains in the eastern part of the state and the hills and meadows elsewhere, Kentucky is a wonderful place to take a drive. However, scenery doesn’t always lend itself to safety: hills mean blind curves and mountains mean steep grades. These factors, mixed with a large number of vehicles and often unpredictable weather, cause Kentucky to have its share of crashes. One type of crash is especially dangerous – a multi-car, or chain-reaction, accident.
Let The Johnson Law Firm Help You
If you or someone you love has been injured by someone else’s negligence or recklessness in a multi-car collision, the The Johnson Law Firm can help. Practicing from offices in Pikeville for more than 15 years, The Johnson Law Firm has the knowledge, experience and resources necessary to pursue your claim and get the compensation you deserve. We advise you and your family on how to proceed following an accident or injury and help you navigate the maze of legal requirements to make sure you have the best chance at success. We will take evaluate your options, and help you decide what’s best for you. If you have any questions or would like to set up a consultation, contact us online or call us at 606-437-4488. The consultation is free, and you pay no out-of-pocket expenses until we successfully conclude your claim.
Definition
Multi-vehicle accidents, also called chain-reaction collisions or pile-on accidents, occur when more than one car is involved in a collision. They are often the result of motor vehicles’ driving too close to one another, and when a vehicle in front crashes, the vehicles behind it don’t have time to stop. These crashes are also often caused by poor visibility.Causes of Multi-Vehicle Accidents
While the specific details of each accident may vary, statistics show multi-car collisions occur more frequently on highways and interstates, and some causes occur more frequently than others.
- Visibility – This is the main cause of multi-vehicle accidents. Visibility may be affected for many reasons, including fog, snow, heavy rain and even smoke. In the mountains, fog can be especially dangerous, causing drivers to miss sharp turns and steep inclines and declines.
- Inclement Weather/Slippery Road Surfaces – In addition to affecting visibility, bad weather may also create slippery road surfaces. When this occurs, even if a following vehicle has given distance to the motor-vehicles in front of them, there may not be room to stop, and the accident repeats itself as other vehicles lose traction on the roadway and collide with the ones in front of them.
- Tailgating – Tailgating is always dangerous, no matter the type of road or weather conditions. When a car in front must stop quickly, the one behind does not have room to stop or to avoid a collision, and vehicles behind them also often lack the space and reaction time needed to stop.
Liability
Law enforcement, insurance companies and, many times, juries will analyze the wreck and try to determine which driver is at fault. In many situations, liability in multi-vehicle accidents will rest with several defendants, and juries will assign a percentage of blame to each driver involved.
Hire a Lawyer
While there is no law against filing a suit or defending yourself in court, in most situations, especially in multi-car accidents, the services of an attorney are indispensable. In these sorts of accidents, each party tries to assign blame on someone else and reduce their own fault. With others trying to blame you for the accident, an experienced attorney will give you the best possible chance of creating a strong defense and also of pursuing compensation for your own damages.
Billy Johnson and The Johnson Law Firm, practicing from offices in Pikeville since 1998, understand the confusion and devastation that vehicle accidents and personal injuries can cause and are here to help. If you or a loved one has been involved in a multi-vehicle accident, you need experienced help from a law firm familiar with Kentucky. For a free evaluation or to set up an appointment, contact The Johnson Law Firm online or call 606-437-4488.
Attorney Billy Johnson
William “Billy” Johnson grew up in the Dorton area of Pike County, Kentucky, and early on decided to stay in the beautiful Appalachian mountains. Like many others in Eastern Kentucky, Billy’s dad worked as a coal miner, a hard job but one that taught his son how to meet challenges head on and persevere. Attorney Billy Johnson has years of experience helping injured clients with claims such as car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, wrongful deaths, work injuries, and more. [ Attorney Bio ]
