Back on September 22 of this year, two passengers in a van were killed when the van’s tire blew out, causing the vehicle to crash. According to one local Indiana news source, police took the blood of the man who was driving the van and are awaiting the results of those tests to see if criminal charges are appropriate. However, two civil cases have already been filed against the driver by two people who were injured in the accident. Other civil suits may be filed in the near future.
What Caused the Accident?
The van involved in the accident was designed to hold 16 passengers, but authorities reported that there were 24 people inside at the time of the crash. While prosecutors believe that there was some undetermined substance in the driver’s blood, that has not yet been determined at this point.
What is known is that the tire on the van blew out, causing the van to crash. Some of the surviving victims told reporters and police that the driver was drag racing at the time of the accident, and this may have contributed to the accident. There also may be an issue as to the condition of the tire because it was noted that the van was in poor condition generally, with a long wooden board attached to the rear of the vehicle to act as a bumper.
Multi-Cause Accidents in Indiana
While many serious or fatal Indiana accidents are caused solely by one party’s negligence, a good number of accidents present a more difficult decision when it comes to determining who is at fault. In these types of accidents, Indiana law applies a theory called “comparative fault” to determine which parties can seek compensation for their injuries, and what amount of damages each party should be responsible to cover.
Comparative fault is a doctrine that requires the jury to apportion fault to each party according to how much fault the jury associates with each party. Any party who is deemed less than 51% at fault for an accident may be entitled to monetary compensation for their injuries from any of the other drivers involved. If a driver is found to be 51% or more at fault in an accident, the law will prevent that person from recovering even a penny for their injuries.
Have You Been Injured in an Indiana Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in any kind of serious or fatal Indiana car accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Whether there was only one other party involved, or there were several, it will be of great help for you to contact an experienced Indiana personal injury attorney prior to filing your case. The skilled attorneys at the law firm of Parr Richey Frandsen Patterson Kruse, LLP have over 40 years of experience recovering on behalf of their clients. From car and truck accidents to premises liability and beyond, the attorneys at Parr Richey Frandsen Patterson Kruse are well versed in all areas of Indiana personal injury law. Call 888-532-7766 to set up a free consultation with an attorney today.
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