A 50-year-old Sarasota man was killed when his motorcycle hit a deer on I-75 in Manatee County. The motorcyclist was heading southbound around nine p.m., when he struck the deer and fell off his bike, onto the shoulder of the road. When the Florida Highway Patrol arrived, the cruiser struck the man. Another vehicle hit the motorcycle, which had landed in the road. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

Determining responsibility in chain reaction accidents

Chain reaction accidents can have tragic consequences, and they make proving liability difficult. In the case above, the motorcyclist may have been killed when he was thrown from his bike, or it may have happened when the cruiser struck him.

Personal injury attorneys typically use a combination of evidence, witness statements and expert analysis to establish liability. The first step is to conduct a thorough investigation of the accident. This includes collecting all available evidence, such as police reports, eyewitness testimony, photos, videos and more.

Attorneys may hire accident reconstruction experts who can use the available evidence to recreate the accident and determine the likely sequence of impacts. The extent and location of damage to the vehicles involved can also provide important clues about the sequence of impacts, depending on the type of collision. These experts can analyze factors like vehicle speed, braking distances and the point of impact to help establish liability.

Finally, in cases like this one, an attorney would likely consult with medical experts to determine what ultimately caused the victim’s death. This would determine whether the victim died as a result of an unforeseeable hazard or from a third party’s negligence. Depending on the results, the victim’s estate may have legal recourse.

If you’ve been involved in a chain reaction collision, contact an experienced Sarasota, FL auto accident lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh today.