News Outlets have reported that a five-vehicle crash involving a bus and 4 cars took the life of one and left at least two others injured in Katy, Texas, this afternoon. According to a Channel 13 news report, the crash was caused by a chain of events that began when one car in the center of the HOV Lane/Tollway switched lanes, striking another vehicle. One of the vehicles rolled over and landed in the main highway travel lanes. Police have not yet released the results of their investigation.
The Confusing Katy HOV Lane and Tollway
The HOV Lane on I-10 is separated from the main lanes by permanent plastic “barriers,” showing cars where the lanes are without a barrier like concrete that could cause serious injury when hit. What makes it different from many is that there are actually two side-by-side lanes, allowing the highway to be a combined HOV lane and a paid Tollway for those who do not wish to wait in traffic. The Katy Tollway runs down I-10 from just east of Highway 99 to Loop 610.
When a car travels along the shared area of the Tollway and HOV lane, the car will go under toll plazas. Cars traveling the HOV, which is free, must pass on the left side of the plaza to get their toll exemption. Cars traveling on the Tollway must pass under the toll plaza on the right side and are charged. You can get a ticket if you are caught on the HOV side without the right number of riders in the car. The lanes, however, are separated by dotted lines. So, cars moving to pass may find themselves in the wrong lane when they approach a toll plaza. This may result in sudden and unsafe lane changes by drivers trying to avoid a toll or avoid a ticket. Texas sovereign immunity laws shield government entities from any responsibility for the poor design.
Crashing Into a Crashed Car
Consulting a Katy car accident lawyer is important to help victims determine who is liable when a moving car hits another car that has been left disabled (or, in this case, upside down) in a moving lane of traffic. The determination often comes down to the answer to the question: “How quickly after the initial accident was the subsequent crash?” If the second impact follows closely behind the first, liability will likely relate to the person who caused the initial impact. However, if the direct effects of the initial negligence have effectively come to rest and someone else comes along and runs into an obvious impediment, then the negligence may not be imputed back on the person responsible for the first collision.
Insurance Issues in Multi-Car Crashes
In addition to the above issues, multi-car accidents often involve insurance issues. Only a small percentage of drivers carry sufficient liability insurance to pay for the damage to four other vehicles, much less compensate victims for a death or serious injury. In this situation, knowing what your auto insurance will cover is important. Furthermore, getting compensated by the negligent party’s insurance may come down to who submits their Stower’s demand to the insurance company the fastest.
Cases often have to be tried by a jury when they involve confusing liability issues. Lack of sufficient insurance may leave victims scrambling to get a claim filed timely to avoid being left out. If you find yourself in this situation, seeking a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Katy is wise to determine your rights. Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., have been helping car accident victims recover from accidents caused by the negligence of others in the Katy area since 1979.
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