Collisions can send cars spiraling into a second impact, causing even more damage.
Police Searching for Driver Who Hit Sedan, Crashed into Guardrail and Fled the Scene
According to a KSAT News report, a person was injured after a vehicle hit a sedan and a guardrail before running away on foot last night.
Police reported the driver was traveling southbound on the I-10 West access road at around 10:40 p.m. when the accident happened. The driver hit the back of the Sedan and then spiraled off into a guardrail before fleeing on foot. One person in the Sedan was injured and was transported to a local hospital. When the driver is found, they will be charged with failure to stop and render aid.
Did You Know?
There were 5,250,873 police-reported car accidents in 2020.
Pile-up Accidents: Am I at Fault if I’m Pushed Into the Car in Front of Me in an Accident?
Imagine this scenario: you’re driving along the highway normally when traffic ahead is suddenly stopped. You notice in plenty of time and come to a slow, smooth stop behind the car in front of you. Everything is great — and then suddenly, you’re slammed from behind and smashed into the car in front of you.
Turns out the driver behind you was on their phone and didn’t notice the slowdown until it was too late.
This scenario has happened many times before. But are you ever responsible for the damage to the vehicle in front of you if you’re rear-ended by another driver?
It depends. Let’s take a look at how liability works in pile-up accidents to answer this question.
Liability in Pile-up Accidents Explained
Liability in any auto accident is determined by the percentage to which each party shares blame for the accident. In the above scenario, you wouldn’t be liable for damages because you did not contribute to the accident. The rear driver is at fault in that scenario.
But the rear driver isn’t automatically to blame. If you contribute to the accident in any way, then you may be found liable for some of the damages, even if you were rear-ended.
For example:
It’s raining, and you are following too closely behind the car in front of you for current traffic conditions. The driver behind you is speeding and isn’t able to slow down in time because of the rain and rear-ends you into the driver in front of you. Because you were following too closely, you couldn’t avoid hitting the vehicle in front of you and, therefore, would likely be held partially responsible for damages.
Even if you weren’t driving recklessly, the rear driver may claim that you were so that they don’t have to bear all of the blame. If you were in a multi-vehicle accident that was not your fault, you need to hire an attorney to protect your rights.
In a Pile-up Accident? Call Carabin Shaw
Liability in pile-up accidents can be complicated. Don’t take the blame for something you didn’t do. If you were rear-ended into another vehicle, call Carabin Shaw auto accident attorneys ASAP at 800-862-1260. We’ve defended the rights of wrongly accused individuals for 30 years, and we care. We look forward to serving you.
Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney is free and does not obligate you to work with the firm.