A seven-vehicle crash in Manatee County recently resulted in two fatalities, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). The initial collision occurred when one car rear-ended another vehicle while traveling north on US-301. This triggered a chain reaction. A 38-year-old woman and a 7-year-old boy from Ellenton were thrown into a right turn lane, leading to a subsequent collision and rollover. Three other individuals sustained injuries, and the driver of the initial vehicle, a 25-year-old Sarasota man, suffered serious injuries. FHP is investigating the cause.

Liability in multiple vehicle collisions

Determining responsibility in a multi-vehicle crash can be complex and typically depends on the specific circumstances of the collision. It’s not uncommon for multiple drivers to share some level of responsibility. Here are some factors to consider:

• Initial at-fault driver:Often, the driver who initially triggers the chain reaction by rear-ending another vehicle or causing the first collision is considered primarily at fault. Their actions set the chain of events in motion.
• Subsequent actions:Subsequent drivers involved in the chain-reaction may also share responsibility if they were unable to stop in time or contributed to the severity of the accident through their actions.
• Contributing factors:Road and weather conditions, vehicle defects and other external factors can also play a role in multi-vehicle accidents.
• Duty of care:Each driver involved has a duty of care to operate their vehicle safely and avoid accidents. Failure to exercise this duty can lead to shared liability.
• Comparative fault:Many jurisdictions follow comparative fault or contributory negligence rules. This means that even if multiple parties share blame, they may be assigned a percentage of fault, and their compensation may be reduced accordingly.

Investigations, eyewitness accounts and evidence play a crucial role in determining liability in multi-vehicle crashes. Insurance companies, law enforcement and attorneys typically assess the situation to allocate responsibility and determine the appropriate compensation for the victims.

If you’ve been involved in a multi-vehicle pile-up, call the knowledgeable Sarasota, FL accident attorneys at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh today.