7 Vehicle Pileup Attributed to ‘Freak Accident’

A seven-vehicle pileup in Long Island left half a dozen people injured in late May. Nassau County police said it was a “freak accident” in which a tractor-trailer clipped a school bus, lost control and flipped on its side. Fortunately, no one suffered life-threatening injuries.

What can you do if you’re injured in a freak accident? Is it possible to file a lawsuit to cover your medical bills and more?

Can you sue for a freak accident?

Personal injury cases are often litigated under a theory of negligence. To recover compensation, a plaintiff has to prove that the defendant had a duty to avoid causing them harm, they failed in that duty and as a result, the plaintiff suffered actual harm. In short, they require someone to be at fault.

If a plaintiff is injured in a true freak accident, which no one could have predicted or prevented, they generally will not be able to recover damages. The good news is that actual freak accidents are quite rare. A skilled personal injury attorney can identify potentially responsible parties and evaluate the chances of succeeding on a claim.

Potentially liable parties

In multi-car accidents, more than one driver may share fault. Depending on the individual facts of the case, injured parties may be able to file a claim against the drivers responsible.

In addition to driver error, other parties may have contributed to the accident. For instance, if a defective vehicle part caused the accident, the manufacturer would be liable. If road damage was to blame, the municipality in charge of maintaining roads can be held responsible.

The best way to find out which legal options you have is to consult with a personal injury attorney. Call the seasoned personal injury attorneys at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP to discuss your claim today.