Personal Injury Law

Dense Fog can lead to multi-vehicle pile ups.

By Steve Lombardi

Another reported death in December caused by dense fog.

Scott Nelson, 42, was transported to Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Iowa State Patrol. According to state troopers, a semi-tractor trailer driven by Kendall Tews, 45, of Palmer, Iowa, was eastbound on U.S. 20 at around 2:45 p.m. when it struck the rear of a car, causing both vehicles to go into the median. The semi's trailer skidded across the east lane of U.S. 20, blocking traffic. The fatality occurred when a fourth vehicle, driven by Nelson, approached the wreck at highway speed and struck the rear end of the semi trailer, according to state troopers. After this pile-up, about six or seven other cars swerved into a ditch to avoid the accident at the Fifth Avenue overpass near Epworth, according to accounts of drivers.

I've previously blogged about fog and comparative fault. The question previously posed was whether the at-fault driver can be excused claiming the thick fog created a sudden emergency. My answer then was no, and it's the same today. This fog is obvious the minute you drive out of your driveway and begin heading down the road. If knowing there is dense fog on the highway why would you enter the interstate and drive 65 mph when you can't see 100 feet to the front? Are you aware of how many feet per second a car travels at any given speed?

Full post as published by Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer on January 23, 2008 (boomark / email).