Common Causes of Multi-Vehicle Accidents

Determining who is at fault in a multi-vehicle or chain reaction accident is a complicated process. Unlike a straightforward two-vehicle accident where one driver may have been speeding or ran the red light and crashed into someone else’s car, when several vehicles are involved in a collision, it becomes much more difficult and confusing to find out the responsible party.

With all drivers involved in the accident pointing fingers at one another, insurance companies especially have a hard time determining liability. That is why most of these cases are settled in court where proper investigations are carried out for this purpose. The courts look up to state laws to evaluate liability and compensation to drivers who suffered from injuries and other damages.

Some states have the comparative negligence rule where the compensation is determined by the percentage of fault of each driver involved in the collision. Other states use the contributory negligence rule, where if it is found that you are at fault even 1 percent, you will not receive anything in compensation for your damages. As a standard, Illinois follows the comparative negligence rule, 735 ILCS 5/2-1116.

Causes of Multi-Vehicle Accidents

There are many internal (driver) and external (environment and surroundings) factors that can lead to a chain reaction accident. Some of the most common causes include:

Excessive or Slow Speed

A chain reaction accident can happen at high or slow speeds. If a person is driving at a high speed, there is a chance of losing control of the vehicle with just a small mistake, leading to cars piling up one after the other. In cases of vehicles traveling at slow speeds, the chances of other drivers at high speeds crashing into them increase dramatically. This is because they fail to gauge the speed of the slow vehicle in front of them, resulting in several interrelated collisions.

Adverse Weather Conditions

Snow, fog, rain, ice, and smog are some weather conditions that can result in slippery roads with low visibility, increasing the probability of accidents manifold. Bad weather can potentially transform a safe road into a dangerous one, especially highways with high speed limits.

Mobile Phones

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents on roads in the United States. Texting, talking, playing games, checking email, and taking photographs shift the focus of the driver from the road, resulting in collisions. A major portion of these distracted drivers are young people, who think they can multi-task while driving and don’t realize just how devastating it can be to take their eyes off the road even for a split second.

Falling Asleep and DUI

A vehicle with a sleeping driver is similar to a vehicle with no driver at all. If you doze off even for a second, your vehicle can go out of control, resulting in a collision. Some drivers are under the influence of medication and alcohol, which further add to the risk of crashing into the car in front, drifting into another lane, or careening off the road.

If you have been in a multi-vehicle accident, it is essential to have an auto accident attorney by your side to protect you from false allegations and secure the rightful compensation for your damages. Contact Fisk & Monteleone Ltd. today at 815-209-9030 to schedule a free case consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.