You should speak with an accident attorney in Rapid City SD if you have been in a multi-car accident. These happen on a frequent basis, especially when it is dark, or the weather is bad. Whenever there is decreased visibility, and the roads are slick, it becomes harder for other cars to see an initial accident and stop in time to avoid becoming part of it unless they are proceeding at a sufficiently slow speed. This is one of the reasons that it is so important to keep a sufficient distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. This way you have more of an opportunity to stop or swerve out of the way and avoid becoming part of the pileup.
As a lawyer, these cases can be particularly interesting due to the concept of negligence. In a typically personal injury cases, negligence must be established since that determines who is financially responsible for the damage and injuries that occurred. In cases like a rear-end accident, is often much easier to prove who was to blame, whereas in other cases it may be less clear and require further research and investigation. This could not be truer than with a multi-car collision.
As accident attorneys in Rapid City SD, we see several types of multi-car accidents. Perhaps the most common is when there is a lot of traffic on the road and everyone is following the car in front of them too closely. When one stops abruptly or gets in a collision, the other cars subsequently hit each other until you have a line of vehicles that are sitting on the highway with damage. The best way to try to avoid such an accident is by ensuring that you do not following too closely and keep enough distance between you and the next car in front of you. Regardless of where you were in the pileup it is important that your interests are protected. We can do the research necessary to determine who was at fault so that you are compensated for your injuries and for the damage to your vehicle.
Another, less common occurrence is when someone becomes injured after his/her vehicle is struck multiples times. This is more likely to occur when a damaged car cannot make it off of the roadway. If, for example, a car is involved in an accident and ends up damaged and resting in the roadway, another car could hit the original one. If you are involved in such a collision, it is important to do whatever you can to ensure your safety and the safety of others, such as turning your hazard lights on and perhaps moving yourself to the edge of the roadway.
If you have been involved in a complicated case like this, we can help. As accident attorneys in Rapid City SD, we can review your case and let you know what steps to take next.
