How Dangerous Accidents Can Happen in Bumper-to-Bumper Traffic

 Posted on March 29, 2022 in Car Accidents

Serious car accidents are typically associated with high speeds. When cars are driving at normal highway speeds, it is easy to see how crashing could result in serious harm. Of course, everyone who has spent any time in L.A. traffic knows that “normal highway speeds” are about one mile per hour most of the time. However, even in bumper-to-bumper traffic, car accidents can still lead to serious injuries. Injuries in this type of traffic can be dangerous - ambulances cannot always get through as quickly as they could if traffic was less congested. If you were injured in a car accident that occurred in heavy traffic, a lawyer may be able to help you recover compensation. 

What Types of Serious Accidents Occur in Congested Traffic?

Cars do not need to be moving very fast at all to cause serious harm to a person. Common types of dangerous crashes that occur in heavy, slow-moving, traffic include: 

• Pile-ups - All it takes is for one driver to make a big enough mistake and suddenly, there are eight damaged vehicles and multiple injuries. The people at the back of the pile-up and the people at the front are less likely to sustain major injuries because they generally experience only a single collision - although they are still at risk. People in the center of the pile-up typically experience multiple collisions. When they are struck from behind, or even from the side, they are likely to be pushed into another vehicle. This can effectively crush their car, making them more likely to sustain injuries. 
• Rear-end collisions - When traffic starts moving after being at a standstill, some drivers will rapidly speed up, assuming that the cars ahead of them are going to continue accelerating. However, more than likely, there will be another slowdown very soon. Drivers who fail to anticipate this may not be able to stop in time to avoid rear-ending someone at a high speed. This can also cause a pile-up. 
• Secondary injuries - Even if a crash victim makes it out of their vehicle unharmed, there is a substantial risk that they could be struck again while on foot near the crash. Quite a few drivers are lulled into a false sense of security by the slow speed at which they are moving and allow themselves to become distracted. Distracted drivers can easily fail to notice a stranded motorist standing alongside the highway. 

Even slow-moving or stop-and-go traffic can become deadly very quickly when drivers fail to use appropriate care. 

Contact an L.A. County Car Accident Attorney

If you were hurt in a car accident on a congested freeway, Tahmazian Law Firm, P.C. may be able to help you recover compensation. Our experienced L.A. car accident lawyers are skilled at investigating these often complex crashes to determine who may be liable to you. Call our law office at 818-242-8201 for a free consultation. 

Source:

https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/auto-and-vehicles/driving-tips-for-traffic-jams