Interstate 8 Pileup Causes Injuries
A series of crashes involved at least three drivers and blocked two lanes of Interstate 8 eastbound, according to recent reports. The accidents took place near Severin Drive in La Mesa and spilled over into the westbound lanes as well. Several victims were treated, although there do not seem to have been any serious injuries as a result of the crash.
Multi-Car Accidents and Liability
Whenever more than two cars are involved in a crash, there is always the chance that more than one driver will be at fault. In fact, multi-car crashes usually involve several angles of liability, from the driver who caused the initial crash to those who subsequently rear-end a vehicle because they are unable to stop in time to avoid the collision.
Multi-vehicle crashes often occur on freeways and other major roads because there are so many vehicles traveling at high rates of speed. This means that when one vehicle crashes, other drivers may be unable to avoid becoming involved in the pileup because they are traveling so fast and so close together. Therefore, it may not be easy to look at the crash data and immediately see who was at fault.
It is also possible that the victim of a crash injury may share some responsibility in the accident. Even when this is the case, however, it is important to remember that the victim may still be entitled to compensation from other at-fault drivers. California operates under a comparative liability doctrine that allows victims to collect money for their injuries even when they share some blame in the accident that caused them.
Therefore, it is never safe to assume that you cannot collect compensation in your accident. Insurance companies may try to dissuade you from pursuing a claim, but you owe it to yourself and your family to find out the truth. It is possible that you may actually be owed money by someone else involved in the crash.
Daniel M. Gilleon, a personal injury attorney in San Diego, has been helping car accident victims recover compensation for many years. He has worked with a number of victims of various types of crashes and can help you understand your rights and how to protect them, even if you believe you may share responsibility for the collision. Call today to set up a free consultation and find out how you may be able to recover money to pay for your medical bills, expenses and pain and suffering.
