Major Crash During First Lap of IndyCar Race

The No. 29 Dallara-Honda of Andretti Autosport driver Devlin DeFrancesco was hurled airborne in a crazy multi-car crash during the first 2023 IndyCar season race held at Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The crash happened during the first lap following a huge pileup that occurred when Scott Dixon clipped Felix Rosenqvist, who was coming out of Turn 2.

After being clipped by Dixon, Rosenqvist spun, causing a chain-reaction crash that caused Benjamin Pederson to plow directly into DeFrancesco. IndyCar had to throw a red flag and pause the race for almost 20 minutes to clean up the crash. Fortunately, no drivers were seriously injured in the crash. Outside of the IndyCar Race scenario, who should be held liable in a multi-car crash when someone gets injured?

Who is Liable in a Multi-Car Crash?

Multi-car crashes, also known as chain-reaction car crashes, can cause significant property damage and severe injuries to the people involved. These crashes can be especially complicated since it can be difficult to prove who or what caused the crash. In most cases, three or more drivers are involved in the crash, meaning that there will be multiple drivers and insurance companies all trying to blame each other for the crash and referring to the comparative negligence rule.

To illustrate, Driver X rear-ends Driver Y while Driver Y is stopped at a red light. The speed and impact of the crash caused Driver Y’s vehicle to shoot forward, crashing into the car in front, which was driven by Driver Z. In this situation, Driver X can be liable for the injuries and related damages of Drivers Y and Z because Driver X was speeding or did not slow down and started the chain-reaction crash.

However, what if Driver Y was following Driver Z too closely or was not stopped at the red light when the crash occurred? If this is the case, they might also be found partly liable for the crash.

How Florida’s Modified Comparative Negligence Rule Impact Liability in Multi-Car Crashes

The modified comparative negligence rule allows the allocation of fault or negligence between multiple parties involved in personal injury claims. Your compensation or damages award will be decreased based on your level of fault. For instance, you would only receive $85,000 out of $100,000 if your level of fault for the crash is 15%. On the other hand, you will not receive any compensation if your level of fault is found to be 50% or higher.

Seek Legal Guidance From a Skilled Florida Car Accident Lawyer Now

Navigating comparative negligence in car accident cases involving multiple parties and insurers is immensely complicated. Our skilled Florida car accident lawyer at Tragos, Sartes & Tragos will collect evidence to support your claim, handle negotiations with all parties involved, and make sure you obtain the compensation you need to cover all your losses. To set up your free case evaluation and discuss your specific situation with our Florida car accident lawyer, please call our office at 727-441-9030 or send us a message online.