Pileup accidents tend to cause serious damages and injuries due to the number of vehicles involved. Here are some of the common causes of these accidents:
Driving Over the Speed Limit
A driver who is speeding is more likely to be involved in a pileup than a driver who is going at safe limits. The main reason for this is that you will need a longer stopping distance and more stopping time if you are driving at a high speed than if you are driving at a slow speed. A speeding driver, for example, may not have time to slow down and stop when they round a bend and notice an accident ahead.
Reduced Visibility
The risk of an accident is also high if visibility is poor, for example, if it is raining or if there is a fog. This is because if you can't see the road ahead, then you may not notice road obstacles or even accidents in time, and it may be too late to stop by the time you notice such things. This is why it's advisable to slow down when driving in foggy conditions; the reduced speed gives you extra time to stop in case of an emergency.
Reduced Road Traction
Anything that makes it difficult to brake or anything that increases your breaking distance/time increases the risk of a pileup. For example, it is difficult to stop when the road is slippery, which is always the case with wet or slippery roads. Therefore, if it has been raining or if the snow has been falling, you may find yourself crashing into road obstacles or hitting other cars because you can't stop in time.
Tailgating
Tailgating, which refers to the habit of driving too close to the car in front, is also a common cause of pileup accident because it reduces the stopping distance you have in the first place. If anything happens to the car in front, you are likely to drive into its rear because you will not have room to maneuver if you were too close to it, to begin with.
Distractions
Lastly, the presence of distractions may also cause you to be involved in a pileup accident. For example, if your mind is wondering, you are eating, or you are using your phone while driving, you may not notice an accident ahead of time.
Liability determination in pileups is always a complicated affair; most parties will be pointing at each other as the liable one. This is something you should not approach without an auto accident attorney's involvement.