Multi-Car Accident: Fault, Causes & Your Legal Rights

A multi-car crash occurs when three or more cars collide in a series of accidents, often leading to a “pile-up.” A multi-car accident can be particularly traumatic because of repeated collisions that increase the risk of injury. If you were injured in a multi-car crash caused by someone else’s bad behavior, an accident attorney in El Paso can investigate the case and advise you of your legal rights and options.

Types of Multi-Car Accidents

Some common types of multi-car accidents in El Paso, Texas include:

• Rear-end accidents – These accidents occur when one vehicle hits the back of another. Depending on the force of a rear-end impact, the vehicle behind could push the leading vehicle into the car in front of it, resulting in a pile-up.
• Side-impact accident – When one vehicle hits the side of another car, it is considered a side-impact accident. These accidents can involve multiple vehicles if one driver sideswipes or T-bones another vehicle hard enough to knock it sideways into another vehicle.
• Head-on accidents – A head-on collision occurs when the front of one vehicle hits the front of another. If one driver swerves head-on into an oncoming vehicle, a head-on accident could immobilize both vehicles on the road and start a chain reaction of secondary accidents.
• Pile-up accidents – Pile-up accidents often appear on the news because of the number of vehicles involved. In worst-case scenarios, pile-up accidents involve many cars that get crushed or “piled up” on top of each other in heavy traffic.

How Fault Is Determined in Multi-Car Accidents

Determining fault in a multi-car accident is no simple task. There might be multiple at-fault parties, each with their own insurance companies or defense attorneys who will try to shift the blame to others. If you get hurt in a multi-car accident, you need an accident attorney in El Paso to review your case, assess the liability of the parties involved, and seek compensation on your behalf.

An injury lawyer in El Paso can start on your case by gathering evidence from the accident scene. Their investigation could include interviews with responding officers, emergency medical personnel, and witnesses. They might also take statements from the other drivers and vehicle passengers. Attorneys also often look at video footage, photos, and crash reports to piece together how the accident occurred.

Texas law bars you from recovering compensation for your losses if you are more than 50 percent responsible for an accident. As a result, insurance companies often try to save themselves money by pinning the blame on crash victims. At the Law Offices of Michael Gopin, PLLC, we can stand up to the insurance companies and fight for fair compensation on your behalf.

Injured? How Michael Gopin Can Help You

The El Paso car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Michael Gopin, PLLC have been helping accident victims in El Paso, Texas for more than 30 years. If you were injured in a multi-car accident due to someone else’s negligence, we’re here to help you demand the recovery you deserve. Contact us today to get started with your free initial consultation.

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How Much Do Vehicle Crashes Cost Americans Every Year?

The amount of money a car accident costs depends on several factors, including the severity of the injuries and property damage involved. There are also costs beyond the more obvious ones for medical treatment and property damage. When accidents occur, and particularly when people are injured or killed, it creates costs like lost workplace productivity, lost household services, legal expenses, and other costs.

If you have been hurt in a car accident, turn to the Law Offices of Micahel J. Gopin, PLLC. Our El Paso accident attorneys have more than 30 years of combined experience fighting for the rights of car accident victims. We want to help you pursue the compensation you need for your injuries and losses. Call us today for your free initial case review.

Cost of Vehicle Collisions Each Year

According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), roadway incidents cost Americans $340 billion in one recent year. That’s equivalent to $4,140 for a family of four. However, the number doesn’t account for other costs related to car crashes, such as diminished quality of life and similar losses. Including these factors increases the annual cost to $1.4 trillion.

The NHTSA released a report of all factors considered in the study and the costs to Americans each year. They include:

• Medical expenses – $31 billion
• Lost market and household productivity – $106 billion
• Property damage – $115 billion
• Traffic congestion from crashes, including excess fuel consumption, greenhouse gases, travel delay, and criteria pollutants – $36 billion

The report also shows the number of traffic-related deaths was lower than the analysis from a decade earlier, a trend that has recently reversed course and reached record highs, according to the NHTSA. Still, the 36,500 fatalities included in the report accounted for $1.6 million in economic costs for each person.

Non-Financial Costs of Accidents

Unfortunately, car accidents cause other consequences besides financial strain. Medical bills can be expensive, but an insurance claim can lead to a settlement covering those costs. However, compensating someone for their physical and emotional suffering is challenging.

Diminished or lost quality of life, physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other non-economic losses can significantly affect someone after a car crash. Dealing with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other physical or psychological issues can have long-term consequences. An experienced car accident lawyer can also help fight for fair compensation that covers these non-financial losses.

Involved in an Accident? Michael Gopin Can Help

Car accidents are costly in terms of money and the damage they do to people’s lives. Many accidents are preventable, but other drivers may act carelessly and wreck into you. If you have been hurt in a collision, a car crash attorney from the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC can help pursue the compensation you deserve.

Call or contact us online for a free consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer in El Paso if you sustained injuries in a car crash due to someone else’s negligence.

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Survey Reveals the Cities that Tweet About Road Rage the Most

The publication Get Circuit recently conducted a Twitter survey in search of the cities that tweeted the most about road rage. The results are in, and the findings are alarming for those in The Lone Star State.

Road Rage Statistics

Here are some concerning statistics about road rage:

• The Insurance Information Institute reports that approximately 56 percent of fatal crashes were caused by aggressive driving during a recent five-year period.
• 2021 was the worst year on record for gun violence in traffic incidents, accounting for more than 500 deaths and serious injuries in road rage shootings, according to a report from Everytown Research & Policy.
• Over 300 people have died in road rage incidents in the last ten years.
• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identified over 10,000 reported incidents of road rage during a 10-year period it studied.
• An AAA Foundation study reviewed more than 10,000 road rage incidents over a seven-year period and found they resulted in 218 murders and 12,610 injuries.

How Do We Define Road Rage?

The NHTSA defines aggressive driving as operating a motor vehicle in a way that endangers or is likely to endanger others or property. Road rage occurs when drivers behave in more extreme ways on the aggressive driving spectrum and are typically considered criminal offense. Aggressive driving or road rage behaviors may include:

• Tailgating
• Speeding
• Passing in prohibited areas
• Failing to yield the right-of-way
• Running red lights or disobeying traffic control devices
• Making erratic lane changes
• Reckless driving
• Yelling or making gestures at other motorists
• Purposefully causing a crash
• Ramming into other motorists
• Physically confronting other drivers
• Physical assault
• Murder

Locations Where Road Rage is Most Common

The Get Circuit survey searched for cities with the most posts referencing #roadrage. According to the survey, the top 20 cities with the most #roadrage tweets per 100,000 people were:

1. Eugene, Oregon – 500
2. Atlanta, Georgia – 336
3. Orlando, Florida – 273
4. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – 214
5. Miami, Florida – 178
6. Birmingham, Alabama – 158
7. Nashville, Tennessee – 155
8. Cincinnati, Ohio – 142
9. Tampa, Florida – 141
10. Buffalo, New York – 139
11. Boston, Massachusetts – 137
12. Knoxville, Tennessee – 131
13. Cleveland, Ohio – 129
14. Des Moines, Iowa – 112
15. Dallas, Texas – 109
16. Grand Rapids, Michigan – 108
17. Kansas City, Missouri – 107
18. Minneapolis, Minnesota – 105
19. Fort Lauderdale, Florida – 102
20. Denver, Colorado – 99

Alarmingly, some of the cities where road rage was most often tweeted about were in states with more lax gun laws. The survey revealed:

• 4 percent of drivers admitted to brandishing a weapon.
• 65 percent of drivers admitted to carrying a weapon with them for protection when driving.
• 40 percent of those who admitted to carrying a weapon identified they carried a gun.

It is not difficult to imagine a situation involving an angry driver and weapons easily escalating into a dangerous encounter that results in death or serious injury.

Injured in a Road Rage Accident? Michael Gopin Can Help

If you were injured in a road rage accident in El Paso or surrounding areas, a car accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Michael Gopin, PLLC can help. We have been advocating for the rights of accident victims since 1987. Contact us today for a free case review.

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Safe Driving Tips for Texas Highways This Season

Although Texas is notorious for having some of the hottest summers in the country, extreme weather can wreak havoc in the winter, too. The combination of cold temperatures and unpredictable precipitation can create dangerous driving conditions for motorists on Texas highways in the wintertime. Here are some tips on protecting yourself and your vehicle this season. 

Why Does This Season Present Dangers on the Roads?

Winter weather can create driving hazards like low visibility, high winds, and sudden temperature fluctuations. The following data from the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) and the Texas Department of Insurance illustrate how dangerous this weather can be:

• On average, more than one in five motor vehicle crashes in the United States are weather-related.
• Roughly 5,000 Americans die, and more than 400,000 suffer injuries in weather-related car accidents nationwide every year.
• In Texas, inclement weather contributes to more than 10 percent of reported crashes statewide.

What to Look Out For

If you’re commuting to work, visiting loved ones for the holidays, or going on a road-trip vacation this winter, keep the following safe driving tips in mind:

• Check road and weather conditions in advance – Before you leave, check the weather and traffic reports to know what to expect. You might want to avoid specific routes due to bad weather or congestion. 
• Slow down and turn off the cruise control – You need more time to slow down and stop in bad weather conditions, so decrease your speed and avoid relying on cruise control. You will likely need to make frequent adjustments.
• Watch out for snow plows and other vehicles – Be sure to give plows and other snow removal vehicles at least 200 feet of space. Watch your blind spots in case other vehicles are nearby.
• Drive defensively and signal your turns early – Too many drivers do not adjust their speed or driving habits to account for bad weather. Drive defensively to compensate. Signal your turns early to let other drivers know what you are doing.
• Avoid braking too hard or turning too sharply – Hard braking and sharp turns can result in loss of traction on icy roads. Maneuver slowly and deliberately.
• Pull over if visibility is poor and you can’t see – When heavy precipitation, intense glare, or other conditions reduce your visibility, pull over and wait for safer weather before you proceed. Activate your hazard lights and place flares or reflectors near your vehicle so other motorists can see you.
• Make sure your vehicle is in good condition – Winter weather wears down rubber seals, fluid levels, battery charges, and more. Ensure your brakes, fluids, lights, and other equipment are in good shape before hitting the road.

Remember to Keep These Items in Your Vehicle

You can prepare yourself for possible emergencies on the road this winter by keeping the following in your vehicle:

• A spare tire, car jack, and wheel wrench
• Jumper cables and a basic toolkit
• A flashlight with extra batteries
• A car charger for your cell phone
• A complete first-aid kit
• Nonperishable food and drinking water
• A snow shovel, scraper, and brush
• Warm clothing and blankets
• Cat litter for traction

If an Accident Happens, Remember To…

If you get hurt in a Texas car accident this winter, remember to take the following steps to protect yourself and your legal rights:

• Seek prompt medical attention and follow your doctor’s orders
• Ask for the other driver’s contact and insurance information
• Take photos of the crash scene and ask witnesses for their names and contact info
• Keep medical bills and other crash-related documentation
• Watch what you say to others or post online while your case is pending
• Contact a knowledgeable El Paso car accident lawyer for legal advice

Why Legal Representation Matters

The best way to pursue the financial relief you deserve in the aftermath of a car accident is with the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer. Contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC to learn about your legal options during a free case review.

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