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4 Things You Can Do If You Are Involved In A Smoke or Fog Accident

All motor vehicle collisions are upsetting. But some accident scenarios are much scarier and more dangerous than others. Arguably, dense smoke or think fog accidents are the most terrifying types of car accident situations.

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Why?

• Smoke or fog accidents tend to envelop a large number of vehicles. A chain-reaction crash in New Orleans in late 2011 that was caused by intense fog affected 40 vehicles. And in January of 2008, a massive pileup on Interstate 4 north of Lakeland, Florida (caused by a combination of smoke and fog from a brush fire) involved a mind-boggling 70 vehicles over a two-mile stretch of roadway.
  
• The vast majority of motor vehicle collisions last only seconds from start to finish - so motorists often don't have time to become frightened. But accidents in areas of smoke or fog frequently can last for the better part of a minute or even several minutes. As a result, people have more time to succumb to fear, terror, and even panic.
  
• Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of situations where smoke or fog is present is that there is no standard course of action to take. For example, drivers on icy roads are told to slow down, avoid sharp maneuvers, and turn into a skid. But in smoke or fog, if the visibility is zero (or close to it), then a driver does not have enough information to make an informed decision. Should they drive forward (and risk a collision) or stop (and risk getting hit by another vehicle)? Should they pull to the side (and risk striking a stopped vehicle) or abandon their vehicle (and risk getting run over)?

Smoke or fog accidents are not only frightening; they are also problematic when it comes to figuring out who is to blame. It's not uncommon for victims in these collisions to fail to see the vehicle that hit them, which is why reliable witness statements tend to be rare. In addition, because of the huge number of vehicles that are often involved, determining which vehicles cause which crashes can be a complex, time-consuming process. That's why it is a wise idea for victims of these types of incidents to notify an auto accident attorney as soon as possible. If necessary, the attorney can arrange for crash investigators to examine the smoke or fog accident site before the massive cleanup is completed.

In some cases, liability can be placed on the person or entity that started a nearby fire which led to the smoky and hazardous conditions. Such parties could be named as defendants in any personal injury lawsuits or wrongful death lawsuits that were to be filed by the accident victims.

The best advice that we can offer about smoke or fog accidents on roadways

• Don't drive into these areas if you think visibility will be reduced to an unsafe level. But if you do find yourself in a zero-visibility situation, try to make your driving decisions based on what you remember about the surrounding road conditions.
  
• Consider making an attempt to drive out of the foggy or smoky area if possible (but don't make a U-turn on the road you are on - you may drive straight into the oncoming traffic behind you).
• It is generally smarter to stay in your vehicle than to leave it, because you will be better protected from any impacts which may occur.
• When the smoke or fog accident is finally over, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

The Law Offices of
Barry G. Doyle, P.C.
5215 Old Orchard Road
Suite 710
Skokie, IL 60077
Phone: 312.263.1080
Fax: 312.263.0153

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