The Domino Effect: How Multi-Car Accidents Happen and How to Avoid Them

While every type of car accident can be traumatic and devastating, one of the most dangerous types that a person can encounter is multi-car accidents. As a result, you may have severe and extensive injuries and property damage, and it can be very difficult to determine who initially caused the crash and should be held liable for your losses.

If you need help dealing with the aftermath of a multi-vehicle accident, the York car accident attorneys at KBG Injury Law are ready and available to assist you.

What is a multi-car crash?

A multi-car crash is a collision involving three or more vehicles. Multi-car crashes are also known as chain-reaction crashes, pileup crashes and domino crashes. These accidents can be extremely devastating, especially in the winter months. Pileup crashes on major interstates often lead to serious injury and death. They are often caused by poor visibility due to heavy snow, thick fog, and other weather occurrences.

As with any car accident, it is in your best interest to speak with an experienced and compassionate car accident attorney when injured in a multi-car accident. You deserve to be compensated for your losses so that being out of work does not have as much of an impact on your financial situation as it possibly could.

What causes multi-car accidents in York, PA?

There are various causes of multi-car accidents. Some of the most common causes include:

• Distracted driving: When a driver is looking at their phone, messing with the radio, or even conversing with their passenger, they may not be paying attention to the roadway or other vehicles, which can lead to a multi-car accident.
• Speeding: Speeding reduces a person’s ability to react to certain situations quickly enough. Therefore, like in the first example mentioned above, a driver who is speeding is unable to stop, slow down, and adapt to certain traffic changes fast enough, resulting in multi-car accidents.
• Poor weather conditions: Snow, rain, fog, and sleet can cause slick roadways and visibility issues for drivers, leading to an increase in multi-car crashes.
• Aggressive driving or road rage: When a driver becomes angry and impatient, they may begin to act aggressively behind the wheel. A few signs of aggressive driving and road rage are weaving between lanes, tailgating, and yelling and shouting, which can lead to reckless and careless behavior and cause a multi-car accident.
• Drunk driving or intoxication: Drunk driving or intoxication causes poor judgment, lack of attention, and reduced reaction times, which can cause a multi-car crash.
• Heavy traffic and congestion: Heavy traffic and congestion result in frequent braking and accelerating, lane changes, and impatience among drivers. Therefore, when heavy traffic and congestion occur on a busy roadway, there is an increased risk of multi-car accidents.

How do you determine who is responsible for a multi-car crash?

Determining fault for a multi-car crash takes a lot of time and investigation. In these types of accidents, multiple vehicles can crash into each other quickly, making it extremely difficult to know who made a mistake or error that initially caused the crash.

Every aspect of the accident must be studied and analyzed to pinpoint who acted negligently first and is ultimately responsible for the crash. Here are some evidence pieces you can gather to help you prove that you were not at fault for the multi-car crash:

• Surveillance footage
• Dashcam footage
• Photos
• Videos
• Witness statements
• Police reports
• Medical records
• Cell phone records
• Drug or alcohol tests

Six tips to help you avoid multi-car accidents in York, PA

While you may not be able to control other drivers’ behavior, you can control your own actions and try your best to avoid a multi-car accident during your daily commute. You can do this by following these six tips, which will help reduce the risk of being involved in a multi-car crash:

1. Leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Follow a three-second rule at all times. If driving in inclement weather, double the three-second rule to ensure an even larger following distance.
2. Always pay complete attention when driving. Do not talk on the phone, send text messages, scroll social media, watch videos, eat or drink, or even allow your pets to sit in your lap while driving. Even talking to your passengers or changing the radio station can be a distraction that leads to a multi-vehicle accident in York, PA.
3. Follow the speed limit. This is true in any weather condition, but if you are driving in poor conditions, you should drive slower than the speed limit. Speed limits are especially important when driving through school zones and residential areas.
4. Always slow down when the light turns yellow. Running red lights can increase your chance of being in a multi-car accident, especially at larger intersections with multiple turn lanes.
5. Never drink and drive. Avoid driving when consuming alcohol, drugs, or certain prescription medications. Alcohol and drug use mixed with a motor vehicle is always a recipe for disaster. If you are unsure of the side effects of your prescription medications, call your doctor or pharmacist before getting behind the wheel of any motor vehicle.
6. Always use your turn signals and check your blind spots before changing lanes. Turn signals make it easier for other drivers to anticipate your movements, preventing them from changing lanes at the same time.

Were you or a loved one recently involved in a multi-car accident in York, PA? If so, you may be eligible to file a car accident claim and seek the compensation you need and deserve for your injuries, medical bills, and other losses. Please call the office of KBG Injury Law or submit our contact form to schedule a meeting at no cost to you today. Our team is located in York, Hanover, Harrisburg, Lancaster, and Gettysburg.