Chain Reaction Traffic Accidents

A rare but potentially life threatening occurrence on interstates and highways is the multi-car pileup, also known as a chain reaction accident. Depending on the speed at which such a roadway collision happens, as well as the number and types of motor vehicles involved, the injuries sustained by drivers and passengers in the affected vehicles can be very serious at times. In especially high-speed collisions involving semi tractor-trailers and smaller passenger cars, fatalities have been known to result.

Whether a traffic wreck leads to bodily injury or wrongful death, there is usually a good reason to request the services of an experienced personal injury attorney. The lawyers at the Baltimore law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, have litigated numerous car, truck and motorcycle injury accidents over the years. We understand the pain and suffering that can arise from injuries received in chain reaction accidents, as well as head-on crashes, broadside collisions and other multi-vehicle wrecks caused by the negligence of another individual.

In the situations leading to a chain reaction pileup, the ordeal usually begins with one vehicle being struck by a second car or commercial vehicle. The fast and furious cascade of other vehicles hitting the next vehicle ahead of them continues until there are no more collisions. Obviously, the more dense the traffic the larger the number of involved cars, truck and/or motorcycles.

Serious injuries and untimely deaths are often caused when a much heavier motor vehicle such as a big rig 18-wheeler slams into the last of the piled up cars, minivans and SUVs compressing the chain and possibly causing massive vehicle damage and loss of life. Every accident is different; therefore, police and accident investigators will usually determine where the fault lies for official purposes. In many instances, the driver who causes the initial collision that sets off the chain reaction may be held liable for all the subsequent injuries or deaths, though each individual driver involved in the crash may have some responsibility as well.

The initial cause of a multi-car pileup can precipitate from a single negligent or careless action of one driver. Many times the reason can be a seemingly harmless event. Stories abound of massive injury accidents happening because a driver sneezed, coughed, or put on sunglasses at just the wrong moment. As drivers ourselves, the attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen recommend complete concentration when operating a motor vehicle in traffic regardless of the location. Obviously road accidents on Maryland’s beltways, interstates and rural routes can happen at any time. Being constantly aware of one’s surroundings is every driver’s responsibility.

Here in Maryland, the law provides for both joint and several liability. Because of this, there can be more than one proximate cause of an injury accident. This part of the law comes into play quite often in cases involving multi-car pileups, where a victim receives injuries from not one but a number of impacts, not all from the same vehicle. The difficulty is in determining which impact cased which injury. Not surprisingly, personal injury lawsuits arising from multi-car pileups can be some of the more challenging cases for an automobile accident attorney.

While we always advise caution when traveling the roadways around Maryland, we know that it’s sometimes difficult to escape the mistakes of other motorists. Since tailgating is one of the leading causes of chain reaction car and truck wrecks, avoiding situations that can lead to tailgating or promote a chain reaction crash can help by maintaining a safe distance that is reasonable and prudent given traffic speed and weather conditions. If a crash does occur, the skilled legal team at Lebowitz & Mzhen can assist victims of injury accidents. We have the trial experience and the knowledge of Maryland law to help.

We also understand fully how stressful the days and weeks following a bad car accident can be for victims and their families. Not only do victims of serious automobile wrecks require medical care, which can cost a great deal of money, but being laid up in a hospital bed for weeks on end can lead to lost wages as well. For some victims, they may never be able to return to work or do the same job they did prior to the crash. The consequences of partial or total paralysis and other life-altering conditions can not only cause major changes to the victim’s own lifestyle, but can also affect the family’s future as well.

In addition to normal cuts, bruises and muscle aches; back and neck injuries as well as whiplash are common complaints following a chain reaction car wreck. As Maryland injury attorneys, we are dedicated to assisting those individuals who have been hurt in auto and trucking-related collisions. Although not every injury lawsuit goes to trial, by preparing a strong legal case against the responsible individuals we can fight for the victim’s right to compensation in or out of court.

If you or a loved one has been hurt in a traffic accident of any kind, we recommend that you talk with a qualified auto-truck injury lawyer who has years of experience handling Maryland personal injury suits. Our automobile injury accident attorneys are ready to speak with you about your car, truck or motorcycle traffic accident so you may be better informed regarding your options. Call us at our toll-free number -- (800) 654-1949 -- or contact Jack Lebowitz or Vadim Mzhen by email and arrange for a free, no-obligation consultation.