Two people were killed recently in an accident that happened in Lesage when a pickup truck apparently rear-ended three motorcycles as they were turning off a highway and into a parking lot. The incident provides a glimpse into how a single act on the road can lead to multiple legal consequences.
Negligence liability: Following too closely is a frequent cause of rear-end accidents, as is distracted driving or driving too fast. Striking another vehicle from behind is almost always suggestive of negligent behavior.
Proximate causation: After the accident between the pickup and the motorcycles, two other vehicles also became involved in a follow-up accident as one of them attempted to avoid the first accident. This may raise questions of proximate cause if the second accident results in civil litigation.
Personal injury: Aside from the two people who were killed (both of whom were riding the same motorcycle), five others were injured in the accident. This could lead to a civil lawsuit with multiple plaintiffs seeking compensation not only for the injuries that they sustained, but also for the damage to their motorcycles and any other property damage that they may have sustained.
Wrongful death: If the two individuals who died as a result of the crash have any surviving relatives, those relatives may stand to be beneficiaries in a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver of the pickup.
Understanding the causation and multiple legal consequences of a car or motorcycle accident is something that an experienced personal injury attorney can help those involved with, as well as advising them on their options for recompense.
Source: WSAZ, “Update: Names Released in Deadly Crash on Route 2 in Cabell County,” July 10, 2015
