Multi-vehicle road accidents involve more than two vehicles in a crash. These accidents are most common on roads with a high volume of traffic. Rogers, Arkansas, is no exception to such incidents. In fact, the city’s intersection of Walnut Street and 46th Street is among the most dangerous roads in Arkansas.
Unsurprisingly, this intersection is just a block from I-49 – another interstate infamous for multi-vehicle crashes. Besides a higher number of fatalities and immense property damage, these accidents also involve complex legal battles.
In this article, we will discuss Rogers’ multi-vehicle crashes in detail. Additionally, we will also explore the different legal provisions that help determine the liable party(ies).
Types and Causes of Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Road accidents involving multiple vehicles can be messy. Usually at high speeds, the impact is so severe that one vehicle is thrown off its track to hit others in the neighboring lanes. The most common types of multi-vehicle accidents in Rogers include –
- Head-On Collisions – an accident in which two vehicles crash into each other while advancing from opposite directions. In a multi-vehicle accident, this scenario includes another or more vehicles that collide due to the severity of the original impact.
- Rear Impacts – are accidents occurring when a vehicle hits another from behind. The crash could be so severe (due to the speed or proximity of vehicles) that it creates a domino effect. Therefore, multiple vehicles end up crashing into each other from behind.
- Side-impact Collisions – occur when the side part of one or more vehicles bears the brunt of the impact. Such collisions commonly happen in parking lots or at intersections.
- Sideswiping Collisions – occur when the sides of two or more vehicles scrape against each other. The vehicles may be moving in the same or opposite direction.
No one cause fits all accident scenarios. In some cases, speeding above the prescribed limit is the reason. In others, the driver may have tailgated another vehicle, could have been under the influence of alcohol, or violated weather-driving rules. Multi-vehicle crashes can occur due to something as seemingly innocent as driver drowsiness.
These accidents usually take place on interstates or highways with multiple lanes and a line of vehicles driving nearby. In the case of single-lane roads, they’re often the result of speed limit violations.
Establishing Fault in Multi-Car Crashes
Personal injury cases involving multiple car accidents are almost always complex. For instance – one incident on Rogers’ Highway 412 involved a young man, Jose Almanza-Anaya. He was initially driving southward on Highway 71. Suddenly, Almanza entered into the northbound lane and crashed into a semi-truck head-on.
The impact’s severity captured other neighboring vehicles in its clutches. Authorities were perplexed as to what caused the man to make a sudden crossover into the northbound lane. Only an experienced Rogers car accident lawyer can help determine the liable party(ies) in such cases (after a thorough investigation).
According to the Keith Law Group, the victim can seek justice in the following order –
- Claim filing with the insurance company
- Filing a third-party claim against the liable driver’s insurance provider
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit in a civil court
The situation often gets convoluted enough for insurance companies to have no answer as to who the liable party is. Moreover, there may be more than one liable party involved. When matters are taken to court, different legal provisions may help come to a concrete answer.
Pure Comparative Negligence
As per the pure comparative negligence rule, the plaintiff can claim compensation for even the 1% for which they were not at fault.
If 99% of the crash was the plaintiff’s fault, they are still considered eligible for compensation for the not-at-fault part. In this case, the amount the plaintiff receives will depend upon the determination of the assigned fault.
Modified Comparative Negligence
Under modified comparative negligence, the plaintiff is not considered eligible for compensation beyond a certain percentage of assigned fault. This means if the court determines that the plaintiff is 51% at fault, they will be denied any compensation.
Contributory Negligence
As per contributory negligence, the plaintiff must not have contributed to the accident. This rule tests whether the victim was in any way careless about their safety. An example would be not wearing their seatbelt while driving.
If the plaintiff is found to be even 1% at fault for the crash, they will not receive any compensation.
The state of Arkansas follows the modified comparative negligence rule. As long as the plaintiff is responsible for less than half (50%) of the liability, they will be eligible for compensation. However, this rule does not reduce the significance of evidence. Whichever party can provide the most solid evidence wins and receives greater compensation (even in case of fatalities).
Ways to Avoid Multi-Vehicle Accidents
Drivers must remember the golden rule that they need to help themselves on the roads. This means diligently following certain safety precautions that help avoid the possibility of a multi-vehicle crash. These include –
- Maintain enough space (distance) from other vehicles in the vicinity. Driving too close to other vehicles can hamper their drivers’ ability to reach quickly, thereby leading to a collision.
- At all times, it’s important to anticipate obstacles on Rogers’ roads, especially the dangerous ones like Highway 112. Sudden turns or swerving to bypass debris can cause serious accidents.
- Allow no distractions to disrupt your concentration while driving. This includes no meaningless chit-chat, eating, or playing with the radio.
- Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are unwelcome visitors in Rogers, where the sky is partly cloudy all year round. In case of a severe weather alert, drop the plan to drive or pull over (if you’re already on the roads).
Final Thoughts
Given how multi-vehicle crashes occur in a split second, Rogers’ drivers need to stay vigilant. If one should find themselves in an unfortunate pile-up, the first thing to do is to assess the injuries.
The damaged vehicle should not be moved unless it is safe to do so. In most cases, moving a vehicle after a pile-up is not possible. If it is, the surviving driver(s) must try to move theirs to a safe section of the road. This will prevent further accidents.
The final call is to wait for emergency services, whether or not the driver is injured. Rogers’ law enforcement alone cannot make the city safer; drivers are equally responsible for keeping their end of the bargain.
