A concertina collision occurs where a collision, usually from the rear, causes a vehicle to be pushed in to another one in front. This can subsequently involve several vehicles if the force is pushing one vehicle in to another which forces that one in to another, and so on. They are often known as a ‘pile-up‘ as vehicles can pile-up behind each other in a long collision.
Common areas where concertina collisions occur
Concertina collisions usually occur where there is high volume traffic and the cars are ‘bumper to bumper‘. In these instances the cars behind do not have time to brake or move out of the way before then they crash into the car in front causing a ‘chain reaction‘ or ‘domino effect‘. Other common times when they occur are during extreme weather or when the road is wet. They are extremely dangerous when they occur on the motorway because of the speed in which the cars travel and the volume of lorries on the road.
Who is at fault?
The cases can be become very complicated when several cars have been involved in the pile up.
It is more likely that the person found innocent will be one who is in the middle of the pile up. That is to say, a person who has been hit from the back and pushed in to a vehicle in front is more likely to be found innocent of negligence than the people who caused the initial first collision. These cases can be complicated so it is worth speaking to The Injury Lawyers to see if you can make a claim.
Sometimes it can be possible that the person leading up to the initial crash can also be found negligent for failing to stop. In this case they can be partly negligent for the collision.
Which injuries are common?
The cars further back in the collision are likely to have sustained a sudden movement in their neck, both forwards then backwards from colliding with the car in front and being hit from behind. If neck problems persist, this can be whiplash and can cause extreme discomfort and a change in the normal routine in your life. This means that you can claim for money from the negligent individual or individuals.
In other instances, such as when lorries crash into you, the injuries sustained can be substantial and cause a severe disruption to your life. Ensure that you claim for the disruption in your life, as well as all of the financial losses you sustained.
