Los Angeles Angels Star Mike Trout Involved in Car Accident

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By Yosi Yahoudai
Founder and Managing Partner

What are the most common causes of multiple vehicle accidents?

Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout was recently involved in a multi-car accident while driving home from Angels Stadium after a game.  Trout was traveling on South 55 near Tustin, California at about nine p.m. when traffic in front of him slowed.  Trout swerved to avoid the cars ahead but collided with the rear left side of a Chevrolet Sonic.  The force of the crash sent the Sonic into the truck in front of it.  Trout miraculously emerged from the accident uninjured, but a 27-year-old woman sustained major injuries and had to be cut from her vehicle.

Causes of Multiple Vehicle Accidents in California

Multi-vehicle accidents are responsible for over half of all fatal car accidents, killing over 10,000 people a year, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.  There are numerous potential causes of multi-car accidents, but some of the most common include:

  1. Speeding: A car or truck that is traveling about posted speed limits or too fast for the road and weather conditions may be unable to slow down or stop in the event of traffic ahead.  When a speeding car collides with the car in front, it can trigger a multi-car pileup.
  2. Following too closely: All drivers must maintain a safe following distance to allow themselves plenty of time to stop if the car ahead must slow or halt.  Cars that follow too closely can cause a chain reaction crash, careening into the vehicle ahead, and likely pushing that car forward into the lead vehicle.
  3. Distracted driving: Drivers who talk on their cell phones, text, eat, or engage in other distracting behaviors can set off multiple vehicle accidents when they swerve into the other lane or fail to stop.
  4. Driver fatigue: Several studies have shown that tired driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving.  Fatigue is especially common among commercial truckers and night shift workers.  If a tired driver nods off behind the wheel or becomes dangerously unfocused, he or she might hit the car in front, drift into another lane, or drive off the road.

No matter the cause, multiple vehicle accidents present complex issues of liability.  Anyone injured in such an accident should consult with an experienced Los Angeles car accident attorney as soon as possible.

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About the Author
Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.