What is a Chain-Reaction Accident?

When more than two vehicles are involved in an accident, it is called a chain-reaction accident. These accidents are especially common at this time of year when cars sometimes slip and slide on ice or snow.  They usually occur when one vehicle collides into another and then the vehicle that was hit goes flying forward into another because of the impact of the first crash. Accidents like this one can lead to a lot of damage for drivers and might even cause some drivers to suffer from serious injuries.

How Does This Type of Accident Happen?

When there is traffic on the road with plenty of drivers headed in the same direction, a chain-reaction accident could eventually occur. These types of accidents would involve at least three vehicles at one time, but sometimes dozens of vehicles are involved in these accidents because of the impact of the initial crash. When you have several drivers getting into an accident, you have a huge problem on your hands because figuring out who is at fault is often much more challenging. Expert witnesses will usually need to focus on recreating the scene of the accident to figure out how it all started.

An accident of this nature will usually start with someone who simply is not paying attention while driving. A driver might be distracted with a call or with something that is going on inside the vehicle. When that distraction occurs and the driver takes his or her eyes off the road for several seconds, they could easily end up getting into an accident. The driver could crash into the vehicle that is directly in front of him or her, causing a pileup to occur as the car veers off into the road and slams into several other vehicles. The driver who initially crashed into another car is often the person who is responsible for causing the accident. However, each situation is different.

What to Do When Additional Drivers Involved

Although many chain-reaction accidents involve three separate vehicles, some of these accidents involve more than three vehicles. When there are additional drivers involved, things start to become even more complicated. The first person behind the wheel could crash into the second driver, but the third driver could get hit by the second driver because he or she could not come to a complete stop fast enough. If another driver is following too close behind the third driver, that fourth driver could crash right into the bumper of the third driver’s vehicle.

Letting a Lawyer Help With the Situation

It is necessary for a lawyer to get involved in the situation to determine who the at-fault drivers are. A lawyer works with other professionals that can reconstruct the accident and comb through surveillance footage that might be available. Upon gathering as much information on the accident as possible, an experienced lawyer will use that evidence to back up claims that certain drivers involved in the chain reaction accident are at fault for specific reasons. A judge can sometimes make a pre-trial decision as to which driver is responsible for everything that transpired. The lawyer may then push forward with attempting to get compensation from the insurance company for the clients that need it.  Usually, however, it will be up to the jury to decide how much fault to assign each driver involved in a chain-reaction accident.  

Contact a Perth Amboy Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a chain-reaction car accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at CourtLaw represent clients injured because of car accidents in Perth Amboy, Jersey City, New Brunswick, Roselle, East Orange, and throughout New Jersey. Call 732-442-5900 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 163 Market Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 as well as offices in Jersey City, New Brunswick, Roselle, and East Orange.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.