South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
If you or a loved one has been injured in a chain reaction accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have legal options and should reach out to a knowledgeable Miami car crash attorney as soon as possible. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we understand that the legal process is stressful, but you don’t have to go through it alone. We are prepared to answer your questions and address your concerns in regard to your case.
Earlier this year, a Florida National Guard soldier died and five others were injured in a chain reaction crash involving military vehicles in Sebring. An initial investigation revealed that three Palletized Load System vehicles (similar to a semitrailer truck) collided in a chain reaction crash. The convoy was traveling north on the highway when the third vehicle failed to stop for a red light in time and hit the second vehicle. The driver of that vehicle sustained fatal injuries and had to be extricated from the damaged vehicles. No civilians were involved in the accident.
Chain reaction accidents, also commonly known as multi-vehicle accidents, take place when more than two cars hit each other in a chain of rear-end accidents. Unfortunately, chain reaction accidents are more common than you may think. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that more than 15,000 people are killed in chain reaction accidents every year, and about 57.2 percent of crashes involve two or more vehicles. In addition, a total of 12 percent of the measured crashes involved three or more vehicles. The NHTSA also reports that around 40 percent of all car accident fatalities arise from multi-vehicle crashes.
If you have been hurt in a chain reaction accident, you may be able to recover compensation through a negligence claim. In general, negligence is a failure to take proper care behind the wheel. In order to win on a negligence claim, the plaintiff must prove:
- The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care to drive how a reasonably prudent person would drive in the same or similar circumstances;
- The defendant breached the duty of care owed to the plaintiff by failing to drive how a reasonably prudent person would drive in the same situation (such as by excessively speeding);
- The defendant’s breach was a direct cause of the chain reaction accident and the plaintiff’s injuries.
While chain reaction accidents can be results of a single driver’s negligence, they often involve instances of carelessness by more than one driver.
Chain reaction accidents typically involve complicated issues of causation that require an extensive investigation. If you have been injured in a chain reaction accident that was not your fault, you need to reach out to a seasoned Miami car accident attorney as soon as possible. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we have successfully negotiated settlements for many South Florida clients. Additionally, we are not afraid to zealously advocate for your rights in the courtroom, if required. For more information about your rights and options, call 1-877-499-HURT (4878) or reach out to us online today.
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