Multi Vehicle Crashes

Multi Vehicle Accidents

Multi-vehicle crashes, in addition to the damage and injuries they cause, are legally more complex than single or two vehicle accidents. Determining the responsibility for the accident requires investigation and research. This often involves a visit to the scene in order to reconstruct the events and facts of the case. It is frequently important to verify the details by interviewing witnesses and those personally affected by the accident.

Experienced attorneys with the resources to handle complex vehicle accidents

At Shandell, Blitz, Blitz, & Ashley, our lawyers and investigators are well-equipped to handle multiple vehicle crash cases. We consult with accident reconstruction experts, investigators, and medical specialists to build a strong case for clients. We have recovered large awards for clients involved in multi-vehicle crashes. If you have been injured in a multi-car crash in Brooklyn, Queens, or anywhere in the New York City region, contact our Manhattan law firm for a free initial consultation. Learn about your options and your rights. Call 646-736-0959.

Causes of multi vehicle crashes

A multiple vehicle crash often involves drivers traveling too fast for road conditions, giving themselves little time to stop when they come upon an accident or other road hazard. Ice, snow, water, or construction activity can affect a driver's ability to stop, especially if moving too quickly. Once a road is blocked by damaged vehicles, a pileup is almost inevitable. Add factors such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, defective equipment in a vehicle, and distractions such as passengers, cell phones, and noisy children, and it becomes remarkable that there aren't more multi-vehicle crashes on the streets, parkways, and interstates of New York.

The complexities of joint and several liability in multiple vehicle accidents

At our law firm, we work to identify the responsible parties, using the skills of our investigative team to determine liability. New York follows a modified system of joint and several liability, which means if more than one defendant is found liable for an accident, each one of them is liable for the entire amount of the award made by the judge or jury. In the case of non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, a defendant may be held liable only for that portion of the accident he or she caused if that amount is less than 50%. If it is more than 50%, then joint liability, or the entire amount, applies.

At our Manhattan law firm, our lawyers are well versed in the theories of liability that apply in New York multiple vehicle crashes. If you have been injured or a loved one killed in a serious vehicle accident, contact Shandell, Blitz, Blitz, & Ashley.