Multi-vehicle pileups are relatively uncommon but devastating enough to make the news when they occur. Multi-vehicle collisions frequently occur on interstates or freeways, where numerous vehicles travel closely together at high speeds.
These devastating wrecks often occur during kinds of inclement weather, especially during blizzards. Motorists navigating some of the busiest highways that crisscross Illinois, including I-90 south of McHenry, State Route 31 and I-94 in the greater Chicagoland area, could be at risk of a multi-car pileup.
What do motorists need to know about these unusual and frequently severe types of crashes?
Fault and liability require careful assessments
Compensation claims after collisions involving multiple vehicles are often quite complex. There may be several parties that have varying degrees of fault for the crash. Fault related to negligence or misconduct can make motorists liable for collision expenses.
Each party that contributed to the collision may need to provide insurance coverage or may be partially liable during civil proceedings. It may be necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit to recoup medical expenses and lost wages. When people die in multi-car pileups, surviving family members may need to pursue wrongful death lawsuits to cover their losses.
Companies can be liable
Multi-car pileups may involve people who are on the job while driving. Those who occasionally operate motor vehicles while on the clock could be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits after a collision occurs while they work.
They may need to juggle the complicated process of pursuing compensation directly from the parties at fault in addition to seeking workers’ compensation benefits. Other times, the professional on the job may have been partially at fault for the crash. Their employer could have a degree of responsibility under vicarious liability rules.
Getting legal help for your injuries
Making sense of a multi-vehicle collision can be challenging for those dealing with grief or serious injuries. It is often necessary to work with a legal professional to evaluate the crash, determine who was at fault and identify potential sources of compensation for collision expenses. People planning to file personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits, as well as those who need to file collision-related workers’ compensation claims, may benefit from legal guidance as they prepare to take action.