Being involved in an injury-causing car crash is traumatic regardless of the circumstances. However, accidents involving more than two vehicles are often especially chaotic. In a multiple-vehicle collision, it can be hard to understand how the accident started and what each driver’s role in the accident was. This can make car accident injury claims even more difficult to navigate.

Many pile-up accident victims have questions about who is legally at fault for the crash. They also worry that they may be blamed for causing or contributing to the crash if their vehicle struck another vehicle during the hectic accident. If you or a loved one were in a chain-reaction car crash, pile-up, or a crash involving three or more vehicles, it is highly recommended that you contact a skilled car accident lawyer for help. Your lawyer can investigate the cause of the crash, protect your rights, and help you pursue compensation for your damages.

Disputes Over Liability in a Multiple-Car Accident

Many car accidents involving multiple vehicles become cases of he-said, she-said. Drivers may underestimate or outright deny their contributions to the accidents. Determining liability or fault for a car crash involving multiple vehicles is often a complicated process that involves the expertise of several different professionals. Accident reconstructionists often work closely with car accident lawyers in cases such as these. The car accident reconstruction expert may use evidence from the crash site, vehicle damage, and a deep understanding of physics to reconstruct how the accident unfolded. In some car accident injury cases, accident reconstructionists act as expert witnesses who provide sworn testimony about what they believe happened during the crash.

If you have ever been involved in a motor vehicle accident, you know how stressful and frightening the situation can be. This fear and frustration is only amplified when the perpetrator flees the scene and the accident becomes a hit-and-run. Whether the assailant is found or not, it is possible for you to recover damages with the help of a DuPage County car accident attorney.

What Is a Hit-and-Run Car Accident?

A driver leaving the scene immediately after hitting another vehicle, piece of property, or a person has just committed a hit-and-run. Every state has laws and consequences against committing this crime.

In Illinois, there are rules that must be followed after any car accident. For instance, all individuals involved in a car accident resulting in injury or property damages must first stop their vehicle as close to the scene as safely as possible and provide all necessary personal information (i.e., name, address, driver’s license). If the rules are not followed and the driver at fault does not remain at the scene, they could face a range of consequences from a small fine to a prison sentence.

For many Americans, driving is a daily task that is pretty much unavoidable. Many people in the United States live in areas that do not have very good public transportation systems, forcing them to spend more time commuting in their own vehicles. Driving can be a frustrating task, but most people can manage the stresses that come with it. However, some people may become so angry and frustrated that they lash out, usually toward other drivers on the road. In some cases, road rage can be the cause of a car accident that can leave other drivers with serious injuries. Fortunately, many victims of road rage are able to file a personal injury claim to help recoup some of the losses experienced as a result.

What Is Road Rage?

In general, road rage is defined as angry or aggressive behaviors exhibited by drivers when they are behind the wheel of a vehicle. Even though it may sound extreme, road rage is not an uncommon occurrence. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), one survey found that 80 percent of drivers had exhibited aggressive or aggravated driving behaviors at least once in the year prior. Road rage can include a range of behavior, such as:

• Tailgating or following other drivers too closely
• Yelling at other drivers
• Honking or making angry gestures toward other drivers
• Blocking other people from changing lanes
• Cutting off another driver in traffic
• Intentionally and purposefully ramming your vehicle into another car
• Getting out of your vehicle to confront another driver

Proving Road Rage

Just like in any other case, you must be able to prove that the other driver was negligent when they were in the accident. Evidence for road rage accidents may include things such as:

Following a car accident, most people’s concerns are focused on their immediate injuries, the ones they can feel and see. Next, they are focused on the injuries of the people around them. As time goes on and everyone heals, very few people focus on how the accident is affecting their emotional well being. A car accident is a scary experience, even if it is just a small rear-end collision. When circumstances are more serious, the accident can be traumatic and can leave a lasting effect on your mental state, which can develop into an issue that affects your everyday life. In some cases, you may be able to claim compensation for a mental illness or injury developed after a car accident.

What Is PTSD?

After a car accident, it is completely normal to experience some sort of anxiety or fear about the situation. However, most people will get better as the weeks go on. If they do not get better, there might be something more going on, possibly something such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Classic symptoms of PTSD include:

• Recurrent nightmares
• Flashbacks to the event
• Avoiding things that remind the victim of the accident
• Always being on edge or being easily startled
• Aggressive or angry outbursts

There are also other symptoms that could appear as a result of PTSD. These symptoms include:

Even though the number of deaths resulting from motor vehicle accidents have decreased for the third year in a row, the number of injuries that are sustained by victims is astronomical. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), there were 4.5 million people who sought medical care for injuries sustained in car accidents in 2019 at an estimated cost of $463 billion. Many people who suffer from car accident injuries suffer the effects of these costs, which include medical expenses, wage loss, motor vehicle damage and more. Many times, car accidents are caused by the negligence of another driver and are entirely preventable. If another driver was acting negligently, you may be able to hold them accountable for the costs related to your injuries.

What is Negligence?

According to Illinois law, negligence occurs when a person fails to do something that a reasonably careful person would do, or does something that a reasonably careful person would not do. In addition to proving negligence, you must also be able to prove that the driver’s negligence was the cause of your injuries and that you would not have been injured if they had not acted in a negligent manner.

Negligent Driving Behaviors

There are many different types of behaviors that can pose a danger when drivers take part in them on the road. Here are some of the most common types of negligent driving behaviors: