Oregon Injury Lawyer Blog
Multi-vehicle accidents can lead to serious or fatal harm, such as what happened in a late November crash in Aurora. Crashes like this fatality are a reminder of both the profound importance of driving with care and safety, and the many types of harm that can result when negligent driving leads to a chain-reaction crash. If you are the one harmed by this kind of collision, you need to understand that multi-vehicle crashes can involve many permutations. That is why you need an experienced Oregon auto accident lawyer on your side to get to the bottom of exactly what happened. That way, you can hold accountable all those who were responsible and get everything you deserve out of your auto accident case.
In the Aurora accident, according to the Oregon State Police, a 39-year-old Portland man driving a Dodge van rear-ended a Hyundai SUV driven by a 36-year-old Aurora man. The OSP’s report stated that the impact between the van and SUV pushed the southbound SUV into the northbound lane of Highway 551. A northbound Toyota van, driven by a 55-year-old from Happy Valley, crashed into the passenger side of the SUV.
A 38-year-old woman who was a passenger in the SUV died as a result of her injuries. Several others were injured and taken to a nearby hospital.
An incident like this one might seem simple and straightforward. The police report, as detailed in KATU’s report, potentially illustrates a crash in which the driver of one vehicle (the Dodge van) was solely responsible for the collision. That may be true, or it may not. Even seemingly straightforward crash scenarios may, upon full investigation, reveal more complex facts.
Many Variables and the Need for a Thorough Investigation
For example, take a hypothetical set-up like this one, where Vehicle A hits and pushes Vehicle B into an oncoming lane of traffic, where Vehicle C strikes it. There are actually multiple possible outcomes of a scenario like this. In one potential outcome, Vehicle A wrongfully slammed into Vehicle B; the driver of Vehicle C could do nothing to avoid Vehicle B, and the driver of Vehicle A is 100% responsible for the harm caused by the crash.
That is not the only option, however. Say, for example, that a thorough investigation revealed that the driver of Vehicle C was speeding, driving while distracted, driving while drowsy, or driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. This information could indicate that the driver of Vehicle C was negligent and bears some liability for the harm the occupants of Vehicle B sustained.
This example illustrates why having skilled legal counsel is critical in your serious or fatal auto accident case. An experienced attorney can help ensure you receive the benefit of a diligent, thorough investigation. This investigation will extend well beyond the police accident report. Your legal team will ensure you have the benefit of all available eyewitness statements, forensic crash scene evidence, photos, videos, blood-alcohol test results, and more.
By doing so, you may uncover additional information that bolsters your case against the driver who rear-ended you, such as proof that they were speeding or intoxicated. This thorough investigation may also serve another vital goal: identifying additional liable parties. Identifying all negligent parties is particularly important in catastrophic or fatal accidents because these scenarios often involve the most significant harm (and therefore the highest amount of damages). Finding all the liable parties can be crucial to ensuring that you can hold everyone accountable, as well as all the essential compensation you need.
It is not enough to acknowledge that you need to conduct a thorough investigation of your multi-vehicle crash; you must know how to conduct that investigation. That is where knowledgeable legal counsel is essential, allowing you to pinpoint all liable parties and theories of liability while avoiding pitfalls that can delay or derail your recovery. You can count on the experienced Oregon auto accident attorneys at Kaplan Law LLC to provide you with the diligent and skillful counsel you need to achieve these goals. To learn more about our services, call (503) 226-3844 today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
