Are You Scared of Car Pileups in Wisconsin? You Should Be.

Repeated impacts crushing vehicles from all sides, escaping survivors hit as they try to reach safer ground, fires spreading quickly through spilled gasoline-car pileups can reach dramatic proportions and quickly overrun local emergency services that are unable to reach the victims.

How are car pileups caused?

Pileups generally occur in sudden low-visibility conditions, as drivers in fast moving traffic react too slowly to the changing conditions and are caught driving too close to the vehicle in front, hitting it as it slows down. The crash immediately triggers a chain reaction of rear-end collisions as the situation repeats itself endlessly, creating a chaos of cars braking, skidding and steering into other lanes and off the roadway trying to avoid the impact.

Why are car pileups so dangerous?

No car accidents in Wisconsin create as much physical and material damage as car pileups. Involving at times over 100 vehicles, the result is a scene of devastation. Even if survivors are able to exit their vehicles, another car impact may strike them. Each vehicle can be hit several times, and from different sides, increasing the risk of injury to passengers who have survived the first collision. It will take emergency services and first responders many hours to reach the victims and take them to nearby hospitals, which will be quickly overwhelmed.

How can you avoid being caught in a car pileup?

There is a single rule that all Wisconsin motorists should follow to avoid getting trapped in a multiple-vehicle crash caused by sudden low-visibility conditions such as fog or heavy rain or snow. The rule is:

If the traffic's speed forces you to drive faster than what is prudent, pull over and stop without hesitation.

In other words, as soon as you see your visibility range drop, slow down. If other cars don't, get out of the way and stop your vehicle until conditions improve. It is far better to anticipate potential problems ahead and wait on the sidelines, than to find yourself caught in a massive pileup that could transform your journey into the worst nightmare you have ever been through.

Hupy & Abraham, S.C. has offices in Milwaukee, Madison, and Appleton in Wisconsin, and Gurnee and Bloomington in Illinois. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a car, truck or motorcycle accident, contact Hupy & Abraham today at 800-800-5676 (toll-free) or 414-223-4800 (local) for a free evaluation of your case, or send us an e-mail with your questions.