PILEUPS AND MULTI-VEHICLE ACCIDENTS

One negligent driver usually starts a pileup. In most cases, one vehicle is following another too closely. The vehicle ahead stops or slows, and the vehicle following too closely is unable to brake in time resulting in a rear-end collision. But the damage does not stop there. The vehicle that is rear-ended is often catapulted into the vehicle ahead of it causing a third impact. Depending on the severity of the initial collision and the distance between the vehicles in traffic, the initial impact can start a chain reaction causing multiple rear-end impacts ahead of the negligent vehicle.

Furthermore, the vehicle that starts the “chain reaction” will usually stop abruptly as the result of the initial impact, thus causing the vehicle behind it to rear-end it. It is not unusual for rear-end pileups to involve five (5) or more vehicles.

What Are the Major Concerns in Multi-Vehicle Pileup Cases? 

The biggest concern in multivehicle accident cases involves insurance coverage. Every insurance policy has a limited amount of money that the insurance company can be responsible for after an accident; this is typically referred to as the policy limit. For example, if a driver’s insurance policy has a policy limit of 25/50 and he causes a multivehicle accident, the total amount that his insurance company can be responsible for in bodily injury payments is $50,000.00. Thus, if ten (10) people are injured in the multivehicle accident caused by the one negligent driver with 25/50 liability limits, all 10 people will have to share the $50,000.00 available under the policy.

Thus, it is extremely important for a person injured in a multivehicle accident to consult with an experienced accident attorney so that an exhaustive search of available insurance can be made. For instance, an accident victim with uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM) coverage will be more protected in this type of situation because he or she will be able to utilize UM coverage to pay for his or her medical treatment and pain and suffering once the liability limits of the negligent vehicle is exhausted (used up).

Another important concern in these cases is fault: Who is responsible for the multi-vehicle accident?  The fault usually lies with the vehicle that created the initial impact. But this is not always the case. The police report documenting the accident will be an important source of information to determine who is responsible for the accident. The investigating police officer will typically interview all the involved drivers and witnesses and make a determination of fault. Although the police officer’s conclusion of who is at fault is not admissible in court to prove liability, the officer’s conclusion is typically used by insurance companies and attorneys as a guide when determining responsibility for an accident.

Common Injuries Sustained in Pileups and Multi-Vehicle Accidents

The injuries that can be sustained in a pileup can be severe.  Examples of these injuries include:

1. Bone Fractures: One of the most common bone fractures is broken facial bones. Your chin, cheek, eye socket, jawbone, or nose can break on the steering wheel, dashboard, or even the airbag in a violent pileup collision. Serious fractures occur in violent front-end to end crashes.

   • Frequent signs and symptoms of bone fractures include:

     • Pain and swelling

     • Tenderness

     • Paleness and deformity

     • Loss of pulse below the fracture, usually in an extremity

     • Numbness, tingling or paralysis below the fracture

     • Bleeding or bruising

     • Weakness and inability to bear weight

2. Internal Damage: Internal organ damage occurs due to the seatbelt and rapid deacceleration in rear-end pileup collisions. The intense forces at play result in blows to the chest, which often result in rib fractures and/or organ damage. Some of the most common internal injuries include:

   • Abdominal aorta aneurysm (rupture to abdominal aorta)

   • Broken ribs (fractured ribs, punctured internal organs)

   • Internal bleeding (damages blood vessels)

   • Organ injury (puncturing of internal organs, internal bleeding)

   • Ruptured spleen (internal bleeding, puncturing of spleen)

   • Pneumothorax (puncturing of the lungs, chest cavity)

• Spinal Cord Damage: Symptoms may include loss of muscle function, sensation, or autonomic function in the parts of the body served by the spinal cord below the level of the injury. Much worse, the spinal cord can be damaged in such a collision; it may be bruised or even cut, which can cause partial or total paralysis – even death. A severe pileup crash can cause a serious back injury, such as compressed discs. One or more of these soft discs can herniate and lead to serious pain and weakness.

  • Spinal cord injuries of any kind may result in one or more of the following signs and symptoms:

    • Loss of movement

    • Loss or altered sensation, including the ability to feel heat, cold and touch

    • Loss of bowel or bladder control

    • Exaggerated reflex activities or spasms

    • Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity and fertility

    • Pain or an intense stinging sensation caused by damage to spinal cord nerve fibers

    • Difficulty breathing, coughing or clearing secretions from your lungs

4. Traumatic Brain Injury: You may suffer serious brain damage if the skull fractures. But you also can suffer a traumatic brain injury without a skull fracture, if the brain slams into the inner wall of your skull with sufficient force. The forces needed can be generated in multi-vehicle wrecks at high speeds. Your skull may fracture upon impact with the windshield or steering wheel.

• • Symptoms of a brain injury include:
    • Unconsciousness
    • Inability to remember the cause of the injury
    • Confusion and disorientation
    • Difficulty remembering new information
    • Headache
    • Dizziness
    • Blurry vision
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Ringing in the ears
    • Trouble speaking coherently
    • Changes in emotions or sleep patterns

5. Leg or Foot Injury: A NHTSA study found that fractures are the most common serious injury to the lower extremities in car accidents. It found that most foot-ankle injuries are related to the floor and foot controls. When the foot is squeezed in the pedals or in the folds of the floor during a collision, dislocation of the foot and metatarsal (foot bone) fractures may result. Types of injuries to the ankles, knees, and feet suffered in auto accidents include the following:

• • Strains and sprains – Painful stretching or damage to the muscles, tendons, or ligaments can easily occur in traffic crashes.
  • Fractures – Broken tibia (shinbone), fibula (lower leg bone), talus (ankle bone) and fractured kneecaps are common in car accidents.
  • Meniscus tears – Meniscus, or cartilage in the knee, can tear when the knee is twisted or bent into an unnatural position during a collision.
  • ACL or MCL tears – ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and MCL (medial collateral ligament) are ligaments found in the knee that can be sprained or torn during a traffic crash.

Have You Been Injured in a Louisiana Vehicle Pileup or Other Multi-Vehicle Accident?

If you or a loved one was injured in a multi-vehicle accident caused by another driver’s mistakes, you might be able to receive compensation for the damages suffered. A vehicle pileup in Louisiana can be fatal or lead to serious injuries. In such a devastating situation, medical costs lost earnings, and auto repairs are overwhelming. Pain and suffering can be tremendous as well. Fortunately, there are legal remedies and help available.

Louisiana Pileup and Multi-Vehicle Accident Attorney

Donald D’Aunoy Jr. “Lawyer Don” is highly experienced in handling these types of cases. These accidents require an exact approach, including conducting thorough investigations and consulting with expert witnesses.  Lawyer Don may consult with vocational experts who can testify as to the financial losses you have experienced and will suffer in the future due to your accident injuries. These cases can be especially complicated, and your attorney should have direct experience and in-depth knowledge of pileup and multivehicle collision cases.  Lawyer Don can help regardless of whether the pileup accident occurred in Kenner, Metairie, New Orleans, or other Louisiana cities. Lawyer Don has offices on the Westbank and Eastbank of New Orleans.  Lawyer Don also makes free house calls to all Louisiana Parishes.

You do not have to pay for the negligence of another driver. Victims of multivehicle collisions face medical bills, ongoing care, loss of income, loss of work capacity, and intense pain and suffering. If you were a victim in a pileup or other multivehicle collision or if you have lost a family member in a multivehicle collision, Lawyer Don can help. Please contact Lawyer Don today for a free consultation.-