Chain Reaction Accidents

While many car accidents only involve two vehicles, it is not uncommon for accidents to involve three or more cars. These accidents, often known as chain reaction accidents, can result in considerable injuries and property damage. It can be difficult to determine who is at fault in a chain reaction accident, and often the negligence of more than one party contributed to the cause of the accident. If someone else’s negligence caused you to suffer injuries or property damage in a chain reaction accident, you should seek compensation. The New Hampshire car accident lawyers at Peter Thompson and Associates have a combined experience of over 60 years helping individuals injured in New Hampshire chain reaction accidents in their pursuit of compensation. We vigorously advocate on behalf of our clients to help them pursue the damages that they are owed.

Chain reaction accidents can occur for a variety of reasons, but they are generally caused by the negligence of one or more drivers. Unsafe actions such as speeding, following too closely, and distracted driving are common behaviors that can combine to create a chain reaction accident. For example, if driver 2 is following driver 1 too closely, and driver 2 is subsequently struck from behind by driver 3, who is is speeding and driving while distracted, the force of the impact may push driver 2 into driver 1. Additionally, issues such as inclement weather or unforeseen hazards can play a part in causing chain reaction accidents. Police reports often break down each element that played a part in causing an accident, and they are a helpful resource for identifying any factors that brought about an accident. An experienced car accident attorney will seek documents and eyewitness testimony via the discovery process to help identify the amount of liability that should be attributed to each party.

Lawsuits filed to recover damages sustained due to chain reaction car accidents generally proceed under the same theory of liability as other car accident cases, in that they allege that negligent actions caused the accident. To prove negligence, you must show that the drivers involved in the accident owed you a duty to drive in a safe manner and that they breached the duty in some way. You must also show that the breach was a substantial factor in bringing about the accident and that the accident would not have happened absent the breach. You must have sustained damages due to the accident.

Chain reaction cases differ from other car accident cases, however, in that there are usually multiple parties who breached the duty to drive in a safe manner and therefore may be held liable for any harm caused by the accident. Often, one or more of the drivers involved in a chain reaction accident will attempt to shift blame to someone else involved in the accident, and they may attempt to preclude an injured party from recovering damages by arguing that the injured party’s negligence caused the accident. Even if a plaintiff is found negligent in a chain reaction car accident case, it does not automatically preclude his or her recovery, however. Instead, in New Hampshire, a negligent plaintiff may still be entitled to damages as long as his or her fault was not greater than 50%.

In car accident cases, it is common for both economic and non-economic damages to be awarded to the plaintiff. Economic damages compensate the injured party for any actual monetary loss sustained due to the accident. Economic damages can include the cost of repairing damaged property and the expense of any medical treatment needed due to the accident. These may also include damages for any lost income caused by the accident. Non-economic damages may include damages for pain and suffering caused by any injuries sustained due to the accident. The amount of time that it took an injured party to recover from any injuries, the severity of the injuries, and whether any surgery was needed to treat the injuries are factors that help determine pain and suffering damages.

If you were injured due to a chain reaction accident, you may be entitled to recover damages, and you should meet with a skilled New Hampshire attorney as soon as possible. At Peter Thompson and Associates, our attorneys can work diligently to provide you with a strong chance for a favorable outcome under the facts of your case. Our knowledge and skill in pursuing damages in New Hampshire car accident cases has allowed us to compile a record of successful verdicts. We have offices in Bedford, Nashua, Portsmouth, and Manchester, New Hampshire, and we represent clients across the state. Contact us at 800.804.2004 or via our online form to schedule a meeting.