Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Major Crash Temporarily Shut Down I-85
A major crash temporarily shut down all lanes of I-85 South in Gaston County. The accident happened at about 8:50 in the morning and involved at least eight vehicles. The crash happened near mile marker 23 on I-85 South near Main Street. Numerous people were injured in the multi-vehicle crash. Law enforcement was conducting an investigation to determine what occurred to cause the incident. The lanes were closed for several hours, and all traffic was diverted until I-85 reopened after crash cleanup.
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What Causes Multiple Vehicle Crashes?
This particular accident is under investigation, but it is helpful to understand some of the causes of multiple-vehicle crashes. There are usually several or more factors at play that may contribute to pile-ups. Speed is a common factor in these types of incidents. Vehicles may be traveling too fast and are unable to react quickly enough when they encounter traffic that is slowed or stopped ahead of them. Distracted driving often contributes to accidents. Distractions include anything that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your focus on driving. Some common distractions include texting, eating, changing radio stations, and talking with passengers, among others.
Who is to Blame for Multiple Vehicle Accidents?
Multiple vehicle accidents are usually quite complex. Generally, rear-end accidents are caused by the driver in the rear. The driver may crash into the vehicle in front of them, resulting in injuries and damages. When more than one vehicle is involved, it is necessary to investigate each impact to determine what happened. For example, if a driver plowed into one vehicle, it may have caused it to move forward and hit other vehicles. The negligent driver or drivers are responsible for the damages or injuries they caused. In this case, an investigation will need to be conducted to determine how each part of the multiple-vehicle crash happened.
What is Contributory Negligence?
While many states allow accident victims to collect compensation even if they are partially at fault, North Carolina is not one of them. North Carolina uses the contributory negligence doctrine. If a person has any portion of negligence in an accident, they cannot collect money for their damages. Typically, the insurance company assigns a portion of negligence to parties in an accident based on the details of the claim.
Collecting Compensation for an Accident
In order to get money for your damages in an accident, you cannot have been negligent. The negligent party should pay you for all your damages caused by the accident. Damages may be economic and non-economic. Damages could include such things as medical bills, money for lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering. In multiple vehicle crashes it can be more difficult to determine or assign negligence to each driver involved. It is helpful to seek legal guidance to assist you in seeking the money you deserve.
If you have been seriously hurt in an accident that was not your fault, you may be owed money for your injuries. Call us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 for a consultation to discuss your case.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/contributory_negligence
https://www.wbtv.com/2025/03/21/crash-closes-all-lanes-i-85-south-gaston-county/
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