Rear-end collisions are the most common type of motor vehicle accident to occur, both on public roadways and on private property such as retail center parking lots.
They aren’t the most dangerous type of accident on average in terms of severity of injuries produced, they can still leave crash victims with serious medical needs. Injuries like whiplash or head trauma can lead to severe pain, missed work, and often the need for extended treatment.
Paying for all of these medical costs adds up, but the good news is that an attorney can help you file a claim against the at-fault driver in order to recover the losses you have suffered.
Ali Awad, the CEO Lawyer, has extensive experience helping rear-end accident victims. In addition to representing you on an injury claim, he can help you find the medical care you need at no up-front cost, as well as a reputable place to repair your vehicle and other services.
The sole goal of the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm is to help our clients get their life back on the right track after a devastating injury. Our services always cost nothing up-front, and we don’t charge you unless we are able to recover money for your losses.
Find out how much your case could be worth and what steps you’ll need to take to seek damages during a free, confidential, no-obligation case review. Schedule your free appointment with a rear-end collision attorney today when you use the contact form located on this page.
A Rear-End Collision Attorney Who’s on Your Side
You may find yourself on the receiving end of a rear-end collision when you least expect it. Before you speak to any insurance company representatives, you should consult with an attorney for guidance.
Your rear-end collision lawyer can be of service to you in the following ways:
Evaluate Your Case
Every detail of your case will be analyzed carefully so that nothing is missed. By evaluating your case, your attorney can devise a legal strategy that’s intended to help you succeed in getting the monetary compensation that you need to try to put your life back together again.
Collect Evidence
To give you the best chance of succeeding with your claim, you’ll need evidence to support your version of what happened during and after the accident and possibly what occurred in the lead-up to the rear-end collision
Your attorney will collect any evidence that you wish to submit and will also look for additional evidence that might have been missed to build the strongest case possible in your favor. This evidence can include:
- Any recorded statements from the other driver
- Witness statements
- Police reports
- Photos and videos
- Medical records
Negotiate a Settlement
Auto insurance companies are supposed to pay for damages that result from vehicular crashes that were the fault of their policyholder. Your lawyer will work hard to try to get you the fairest monetary settlement possible.
Attorneys who handle these types of cases know how to communicate with insurance representatives effectively and never want to settle for less than you need in order to recover fully.
Argue Your Case in Court
Most accident claims are settled by insurance companies, but you may need to go to court if the insurance company that’s responsible for paying you refuses to do so.
You and your attorney can consider filing a lawsuit if the insurance company still refuses to pay even after several attempts to negotiate a settlement have been made. A lawsuit may also need to be filed if your case involves other complicating factors.
Get You the Right Type of Compensation
Compensation is granted for damages in the form of an out-of-court settlement or, sometimes, a court verdict.
In order to request damages, the claimant must be prepared to demonstrate the exact damages they have suffered, connect them to the accident, and justify why the amount is being requested.
If an insurance representative (or a jury) questions why you need the money, your attorney will work to prove that the amount that you’re asking for is justified.
Common forms of damages sought in a rear-end accident claim include compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Long-term/rehabilitative care
- Vehicle repairs or replacement
- Additional property damage
- Lost work wages/future lost income
Additional money for punitive damages is sometimes awarded in rear-end collision cases, but this is usually only under the most extreme circumstances.
To receive extra compensation for punitive damages, you and your attorney will need to prove that the other driver caused the collision through gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional actions.
Insurance Companies Shouldn’t Be Trusted to Offer a Fair Settlement
You want to trust that your insurance company will always act in your best interest, but unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen.
Insurance companies are often in the business of trying to settle for as little as possible — or deny paying on claims entirely — in order to preserve profits earned from policy premiums.
An insurance representative might pressure you into accepting a compensation amount that’s lower than what you should be getting, and you may not even realize that you’re getting a low offer.
The representative might even knowingly give you misleading information, such as by saying certain medical costs aren’t covered, in order to try to convince you to accept a smaller settlement amount.
An experienced rear-end collision lawyer is familiar with the tactics that many insurers use to try to offer lower settlements or deny accident claims outright.
We will fight for you at the negotiation table by providing sound evidence and reasonable justification for a settlement amount that covers as much of your damages as possible.
Rear-End Collision Statistics Show They Are All-Too-Common
Statistics show that nearly half of two-car crashes that occurred between 2012 and 2014 were rear-end collisions, and 32.5% of crashes were registered as rear-end collisions in 2019 alone. In 2020, 17.1% of rear-end collisions with other vehicles resulted in death.
These statistics show only a small representation of how frequently rear-end collisions happen. Injury victims are often left struggling to pay for the care they need and recover their damages from the at-fault party.
Hiring an attorney ensures you don’t have to deal with insurance companies and legal challenges alone. A compassionate rear-end collision lawyer will view you as more than just a statistic and will give your case the personal attention it deserves.
Common Causes of Rear-End Collisions
As one of the most common types of accidents, there are many ways a rear-end collision can happen.
Distracted Driving
If another driver behind you gets distracted and isn’t paying attention to their driving or what’s happening on the road, they could fail to notice that you’ve stopped or slowed down, leading to a collision with your vehicle.
Talking or texting on mobile phones or listening to loud music are among the most common distractions that often take drivers’ minds off of operating their vehicles.
A driver may also take their focus off the road while using their vehicle’s infotainment controls or communicating with passengers, which can also lead to rear-end collisions.
Driving While Under the Influence
Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs can cause vision impairments and alter a person’s decision-making as well as the perception of the world that’s around them.
When a person tries to operate a vehicle while they’re in this condition, the chances of rear-ending another driver on the road greatly increase.
If the other driver was under the influence, your rear-end collision lawyer will present all the supporting evidence to prove that the driver wasn’t fit to operate a vehicle and that you’re entitled to receive compensation.
Tailgating
Tailgating, which is when a vehicle follows another vehicle closely, can lead to a rear-end collision if you slow or come to a stop and the other driver isn’t able to stop quickly enough. A driver should keep a safe following distance from a vehicle that’s ahead of them.
The ideal distance can vary depending on the speed of travel, road conditions, and the type of vehicle that’s being driven.
A large portion of rear-end accident situations will see the rear driver cited for “following too closely” because they are supposed to allow enough space to react in the event of sudden braking or slowdowns.
Weather Conditions
Rain, snow, and ice can make roads slippery and make stopping a vehicle more difficult. Glaring sunlight can also pose a danger and obscure what drivers can see in front of them.
Extreme heat can also make people more lethargic and slower to react to vehicles that are stopped ahead of them.
Drivers are expected to account for these conditions and respond through proactive defensive driving techniques, such as reducing their speed and increasing the distance between the vehicle in front of them.
Mechanical Failures
A rear-end collision can happen if a driver’s brakes fail and they’re unable to stop their vehicle while driving. Tire and wheel problems can also cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles and collide with other motorists.
You may also get rear-ended if a vehicle that’s traveling behind you experiences steering or suspension problems. These mechanical failures may be the result of the vehicle owner’s negligence or a defective auto part.
Obstructions on the Road
The road ahead isn’t always clear, and drivers are sometimes forced to slam on their brakes abruptly because of obstructions on the road.
If a pedestrian or an animal seemingly appears in your path out of nowhere and you have to stop your vehicle quickly, another driver who’s behind you and doesn’t react quickly enough could rear-end your vehicle.
Foreign objects on the road and other car accidents ahead can also trigger rear-end collisions.
Multi-Car Accidents
Multiple vehicles are sometimes involved in accidents, and this is often especially true on highways.
If you’re involved in a multi-vehicle crash, any drivers who are behind you might not be able to stop soon enough from hitting you, or their vehicles could even be pushed into yours from behind by other drivers.
Third-party drivers are sometimes held responsible for at least part of the damages if they pushed vehicles into one another during the accident.
Common Rear-End Collision Injuries
One common misconception is that rear-end crashes are unlikely to produce serious injuries compared to other scenarios, like head-on collisions. While it is true that rear-end crashes are less lethal on average than other accident types, they can still lead to injuries like the following.
Whiplash
Whiplash happens when the neck moves violently in a back-and-forth motion and is one of the most frequently reported injuries from rear-end collisions. In addition to neck pain, whiplash often causes back pain, headaches, and dizziness.
The effects of whiplash usually go away within a few weeks but might last for months or even years after a rear-end collision if the injury is more severe.
Concussions
A concussion is a brain injury that can happen if the head hits a window, a seat, or another part of a vehicle during impact. Concussions also sometimes occur from whiplash.
Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, and blurred vision. The effects of a concussion could even limit your ability to work and function in other areas of life, so your rear-end collision attorney will try to get you the money that you need to sustain yourself while you recover.
Broken Bones
You or any passengers could suffer fractures if another vehicle crashes into the rear of your vehicle. In addition to broken arm and leg bones, the bones that make up the spinal column could fracture from the traumatic impact and cause additional medical complications.
Dislocated Joints
The major blow to the body that can occur from a rear-end collision may even cause bone joints to slip out of place and separate from each other.
Whether you sustain a dislocated shoulder, elbow, or knee from the collision, you may need medical attention after the accident if you can’t reposition the bones yourself safely.
Lacerations
Shattered glass and metal pieces with sharp edges that come from a rear-end collision can cut the skin and cause bleeding. If any cuts are deep enough, you could experience significant blood loss and require emergency medical attention.
These lacerations may also leave scars that require additional treatments to make them less visible.
Debilitating Injuries
Some injuries from rear-end collisions can have long-term effects and negatively impact a person’s life. The most serious injuries that occur from rear-end collisions sometimes result in:
- Brain damage
- Disfigurement
- Paralysis
- Death
Frequently Asked Questions About Rear-End Accidents
You might still have additional questions about rear-end collisions, and many other drivers who are involved in these accidents have the same questions.
What if the Other Driver Is Uninsured?
You can still file a compensation claim if your insurance policy covers uninsured motorists, and your policy might also cover rear-end collisions that were caused by underinsured motorists.
Your rear-end collision attorney can give you more detailed information on how to go about pursuing this type of claim.
What Does “No-Fault” Mean?
This insurance term means that each driver must use their own insurance to pay for their own damages after an auto accident.
Some states have statewide no-fault laws, while other states, such as Georgia, operate under a tort liability insurance system and allow drivers to submit compensation claims to the at-fault drivers’ insurance companies.
Can I Sue or Press Criminal Charges Against the Other Driver?
In most cases, an insurance company is responsible for covering the resulting damages from a rear-end collision instead of the driver who caused the accident.
However, you might be able to sue the other driver in small claims court if they are uninsured or if their insurance policy lacks the coverage to pay for all damages. Other third parties may also be involved in a lawsuit, including vehicle manufacturers, if a defect led to the accident.
If the driver’s actions committed criminal offenses that caused the accident, criminal charges against them might be filed through a separate course of legal action to the civil injury claim.
If I Get Rear-Ended, Is There a Chance That I Could Be the One Who’s Held Responsible?
Most rear-ended collisions are the fault of the driver who was following, but there are a few situations where you could be at fault.
If you change lanes suddenly without giving another driver enough time or distance to stop or slow down safely and a crash occurs, you could be held liable for the resulting damages. If your brake lights or taillights are out, you may be found partially liable.
You might also be held at least partially responsible for a rear-end collision if your vehicle was parked illegally on a road or if you were backing up without taking proper precautions.
A Rear-End Attorney Who Listens
When you bring your case to CEO Lawyer, you’ll be assisted by an attorney who wants to hear about your claim and will do everything possible to make things right for you.
To learn more information about how we help you fight for damages, schedule a consultation with the CEO Lawyer injury team by filling out our contact form or calling (833)254-2923.
