Multi-Vehicle Accident

A multi-vehicle accident is a vehicle accident that involves more than 2 vehicles. Such accidents are also referred to as chain reaction accidents or pile-ups. While they can occur at any time during any type of weather conditions, major multi-vehicle accidents often occur during times of severe weather where the roads are slippery or where there is low visibility. The multi-vehicle accident starts with one collision. The force of the first collision leads to a second collision, and sometimes more collisions. While some multi-vehicle accidents are a result of icy roads, heavy fog, or other poor weather conditions, chair reaction accidents also occur because of driver negligence. A victim of such a car accident may suffer a painful, devastating injury such as a brain injury, broke bones, contusion, abrasions, a neck injury, or a spinal cord injury. These types of injuries may involve long recovery times, requiring the victim to miss a significant amount of work. However, under New York law victims of multi-vehicle accidents are allowed to seek compensation from the person whose negligence resulted in the accident. If you are in need of a New York Injury Lawyer because another driver’s negligence sparked a multi-vehicle accident that left you or a loved one injured, contact an experienced Bronx Multi-Vehicle Accident Lawyer who will review the facts of your case and work closely with you to help you get the compensation to which you are entitled to based on the losses you suffered. In addition, if during the course of the treatment for your injuries your doctor commits medical malpractice, the party responsible for your car accident injuries may be required to compensate you for the medical malpractice injury as well.

One of the most common causes of multi-vehicle accidents is a driver following a vehicle too closely. Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law section 1129, drivers are prohibited from following another vehicle "more closely than is reasonable and prudent." Following another vehicle too closely is commonly referred to as tailgating. If a driver tailgates another car and that car slows down unexpectedly, a collision is likely. In fact tailgating is one of the primary causes of rear-end collisions. Once a driver rear-ends one car, the car that was hit may be pushed into the car in front of it resulting in a second collision. This collision may lead to additional collisions, depending on the force of the first collision.

In Passos v. MTA Bus Co., 2015 NY Slip Op 4916 (N.Y. App. Div., 2015), three vehicles were involved in a multi-vehicle accident. The first vehicle was driven by DiPaoli, the middle vehicle, a truck, was driven by plaintiff Roberto Passos, and the rear vehicle, an MTA bus, was driven by defendant Victor Moses. In finding MTA driver Victor Moses at fault, the court noted that when approaching another vehicle from behind the law requires that drivers maintain a reasonably safe rate of speed and take care to avoid a collision. When a collision is a rear-end collision there is a presumption of negligence based on proof that a stopped car was struck in the rear.

It is important to note that in cases where a multi-vehicle accident occurs during bad weather conditions, such an accident may still be due to the negligence of a driver. Under New York law, drivers are required to drive in a reasonable manner based on road and traffic conditions.

Negligent driving that causes a multi-vehicle accident can have devastating results. Victims often suffer severe injuries. In some cases there are deaths. Serious injuries require extensive medical treatment and prevent the victim from working. The result is mounting medical bills and little income. However, New York law allows victims to sue to recover damages to compensate for losses. Through a personal injury lawsuit you may be able to recover compensation for your past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, and pain and suffering. In addition if your property was damaged in the accident, you can sue to recover compensation to repair or replace the property. If a family member died in the accident, then you may be able to recover damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Multi-vehicle accidents are complicated. Oftentimes each driver involved tries to avoid liability by pointing a finger of fault to another driver. However, an experienced New York Car Multi-Vehicle Accident Lawyer will be able to sort through the complex evidence in order to make sure your rights are protected. The staff at Stephen Bilkis and Associates, PLLC has extensive experience representing clients injured in chain reaction accidents, head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, side collisions, sideswipe collisions as well as other types of vehicle accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your car accident.