Whenever you get in your car and drive anywhere, you share the road with other drivers. Sometimes, you may not even notice the other vehicles on the road because there are so few of them. If you are driving in traffic, though, you are sure to see vehicles all around you. This can feel uncomfortable because there is not much room for vehicles to maneuver. It is not surprising that vehicles traveling in heavy traffic occasionally collide with each other. Sometimes, one or more additional vehicles will hit the vehicles that were involved in the original collision. When this happens, it is called a chain reaction accident or a pile-up accident.
Traffic is not the only thing that can cause a chain reaction accident. They can also happen in bad weather, when road conditions are slippery and visibility is poor. Pile-up accidents caused by distracted driving can even happen on sunny, dry days on roads with few cars.
One important step you can take to avoid becoming caught up in an already-existing accident is to maintain an awareness of your surroundings and move over whenever you see a vehicle stopped in the road or on the shoulder. Also, always adjust your driving to the weather and the road conditions. Rain, fog, snow, and sleet affect both traction and visibility. Failing to adjust your speed and driving style under those conditions not only increases your risk of having an accident, it increases the risk that you will not see a disabled vehicle or accident that is is already in the roadway and that you will collide with it. Adjusting your driving gives you a better chance of avoiding a pile-up crash because you have more time to respond to things like accidents, animals, or traffic that has slowed down or stopped.
Following at a safe distance is another way to reduce the risk that you will get caught up in a pile-up accident. A gap of one car length for every ten miles per hour of your travel speed can enable you to see what is going on in front of your vehicle in enough time to respond to it and avoid a collision.
Barrett Law PLLC: Serving the Victims of Mississippi Car Accidents and Their Families
Sometimes, even drivers who follow all of the safe driving tips listed above have accidents, including chain reaction accidents. If you have been injured or someone that you love has been killed in a pile-up accident, it is important that you speak with a knowledgeable and compassionate automobile accident attorney as soon as you can. Your automobile accident attorney can accurately calculate the amount of damages that you have suffered as a result of the accident, and they can help you to pursue the financial recovery that you deserve. The experienced and dedicated Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorney at Barrett Law PLLC are here to help you. Please call us today, at 1 (800) 707-9577 to schedule your free, initial consultation.