On March 28, 2013, the Buffalo News reported on a tragic car accident on Wilson-Burt Road in Niagara County that resulted in two deaths. The wreck was a three vehicle accident that occurred just prior to 4 p.m.

Our Buffalo, NY accident attorneys know that multi-car pileups are very dangerous and often result in fatalities. Multi-car accidents may also raise complicated legal questions regarding who should be blamed for causing the wreck. When a death occurs, it is important to determine who was at fault for the accident because the responsible driver may be required to pay wrongful death damages to family members of those who were killed.

Multi-Car Accident Leads to Death

The three vehicle accident occurred when a large pickup truck was traveling east on Wilson-Burt Road. The pickup reportedly rear-ended a Buick LeSabre, which caused the Buick to be pushed into the westbound lane.

The LeSabre rolled over, crossed a ditch and went off the road. The driver of the LeSabre was one of the two victims of the multi-car pileup who died. The other victim who was killed was the driver of a Saturn that had been traveling in the westbound lane at the time. The Saturn was hit by the pickup truck when it was forced into the westbound lane as a result of the force of the collision.

The other two vehicles suffered significant damage, although the property loss is insignificant compared with the tragedy of the deaths of the drivers of both vehicles.

The Buffalo News reports that the multi-car crash may have occurred as a result of the pickup truck speeding. Reports indicate that an investigation is currently underway into how the crash happened, but that it is not believed that alcohol played any role in causing the accident.

Multi-Car Pileups Often Deadly

This multi-car accident demonstrates the extreme dangers that can occur as a result of a pileup. Multi-car accidents or pile-ups often occur on highways and on crowded roads where cars are in close proximity to each other and where there is no place for a vehicle to go in order to escape a collision.

Because the cars are close together in multi-car accidents, it is common for vehicles to be pushed into a lane going the wrong way. This can cause head-on and side impact collisions, both of which tend to be among the most serious types of crashes. Head-on accidents are especially dangerous because of the combined force of the vehicles while side-impact crashes can cause serious harm because there is little cushioning from the vehicle itself to deflect the pressure from the impact of the crash.

In some instances, it can also be difficult to determine what was the ultimate cause of the accident and who is responsible for the costs. The driver of the pickup truck could potentially be liable for wrongful death damages paid to the family members of those who were killed.

If you’ve been injured in Buffalo or the surrounding area, contact the Law Offices of James Morris today for a free consultation to discuss your rights. Call 800-477-9044.