A complicated car accident in St. Joseph last week involved no fewer than four vehicles. Thankfully, the crash did not produce any serious injuries.
Four Vehicles Involved in St. Joseph Car Accident
The incident occurred on the afternoon of Thursday, October 18, on a busy stretch of the Belt Highway, just north of its intersection with Route 36. According to police, one of the vehicles was going southbound on the Belt Highway. The driver, however, was following another car too closely. When the leading car slowed down, the driver failed to stop in time and rear-ended it.
The impact sent the leading car into a third vehicle, which was pushed into a fourth.
Five people suffered minor injuries in the crash. All of them were treated and released on the scene of the accident.
Not All Car Crashes are Simple
The crash highlights an important point about personal injury law, in general, and car accidents, in particular. Not all of them are simple incidents with a clear cause.
In this case, the driver who caused the initial collision was following too closely. At least, that is what the police report said. However, there are other possible explanations for the crash, as well.
One possible explanation is that there was a problem with car that rear ended the first vehicle, causing the chain reaction. If the brakes were faulty—whether they were defectively made or whether a mechanic improperly maintained them—then the crash would not be the fault of the driver.
Additionally, this crash happened near the stretch of the Belt Highway set to see a speed limit increase. If the drivers who were involved in the crash were confused about the changes, it could have contributed to the crash.
Another problem can arise with proximate cause. Even if the first driver was responsible—and at fault—for rear ending the first vehicle, they might not have actually caused the rest of the chain reaction. If the car that got rear ended was too close to the one in front of it, or if the driver had plenty of time to hit the brakes and prevent the chain reaction, but failed to do so, then the driver at the back of the line should not be held liable.
St. Joseph Car Accident Lawyers at the Smith Law Office
In these cases, the police report can have an oversimplified version of what happened. Unfortunately, police reports carry great weight in car accidents, and it often takes an independent investigation to challenge their conclusions.
Personal injury attorneys, like those at the Smith Law Office in St. Joseph, can conduct those investigations and discover what really happened. The results of those investigations can make a huge difference on the outcome of your case.
If you have been involved in a car accident in St. Joseph, Kansas City, or the rest of western Missouri, call the personal injury and car accident attorneys at Smith Law by calling them at (816) 875-9373 or by contacting them online.