Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of car accidents. Commonality notwithstanding, they can be terrifying and dangerous — potentially even causing harmful injuries and death.
A rear-end crash most often happens when the car behind collides with the car in front while both cars are traveling in the same direction. For example, if you come to a stop at a red light and the following car strikes you from behind, that is a rear-end collision.
As a victim of a rear-end collision, you have the right to seek compensation. If you or a family member has been injured, or you have lost a family member due to fatal injuries from a rear-end car crash, get legal representation to seek a fair settlement that will cover all damages.
Learn what your legal options are with CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm. Our team of Atlanta rear-end collision lawyers have deep knowledge and years of experience winning client settlements.
We will review your case, identify potential parties responsible for the accident, and avoid mistakes that could hurt your claim. To schedule your free, no-obligation, confidential case review, contact us online or call (404) 777-8800.
When Should I Contact an Atlanta Rear-End Collision Attorney?
When Should I Contact an Atlanta Rear-End Collision Attorney?Rear-end collision accidents, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, are the second most common type of car crash under the category of a collision with a motor vehicle in transport.
An NHTS annual report states that more than 400,000 rear-end collisions take place each year, with a 26% injury rate and a 6.8% fatality rate.
These enormous crash statistics from rear-end collisions alone mean that insurance companies receive thousands of claims for accidents like this every single week. Insurance agents follow an established and complex formula to help settle claims as quickly as possible.
In the United States, the automobile insurance industry is valued at a market share of more than $330 billion dollars. It’s big business, and one insurers wish to protect.
To that end, they have teams of lawyers to prioritize their business interests, which often means, first and foremost, protecting their profits. The compensation they may offer (especially at first) may not cover all of your medical expenses, lost wages, property damages, and future needs.
When facing insurers whose goal is to try to minimize the value of each and every claim, it’s beneficial to have a legal team representing your best interests.
Having an attorney that knows your rights will help you to seek the highest compensation for damages as a result of your rear-end collision accident.
They achieve results with deep knowledge of the law, an understanding of how to handle insurance claims, and their negotiation skills with insurance companies surrounding personal injuries and car accidents.
In cases of serious injury or when insurers refuse to offer a fair initial settlement, the best path forward involves contacting an Atlanta rear-end collision attorney.
If possible, retain representation before contacting any insurance company. This action will help to ensure that you have the representation you need from the start.
It will also lessen the chances that you’ll unintentionally make mistakes during the claims process — mistakes that might impede a favorable outcome and be harmful to your claim.
Benefits of Working With The CEO Lawyer
The CEO Lawyer has extensive experience, having worked with thousands of individuals and families on their rear-end collision claims and personal injury settlements. Accident victims with legal representation receive higher settlement offers than those who do not.
With a success rate of 95.5% managing attorney of The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, Ali Awad is determined to help victims win the compensation that they deserve.
Awad and his legal team are dedicated to representing all community members with a personal injury case — especially underrepresented communities.
Their combined skills and resources can help victims and their families seek to secure any and all losses they have suffered as a result of medical treatments, lost wages, and other punitive damages from a rear-end collision.
Ali Awad’s goal remains clear: any person in the United States who needs a lawyer for their rear-end collision and subsequent personal injuries has the opportunity for legal representation.
With The CEO Lawyer, you will benefit from experienced and compassionate counsel from start to finish. We will rigorously investigate your crash and determine all relevant factors to your claim, including possible proof of negligence and the full extent of damages you have suffered.
You can rely on our legal team to take some of the weight off of your shoulders so that you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normalcy after your accident.
Who Is at Fault in a Rear-End Accident in Atlanta?
After sustaining personal injuries, and personal property damages from the rear-end collision accident, you’ll likely want to initiate an insurance claim. In most cases, your claim will be filed with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
However, it can be difficult to thoroughly assess the blame and determine who is at fault for a rear-end collision. It depends on the details of the accident: in all instances, you must prove that the policyholder for the liability policy in question was at fault.
In most cases of rear-end collisions, but not all, the person driving behind is at fault, while the forward driver — who has been hit — is the victim.
In some states, it’s not necessary to determine fault, and those are considered no-fault states. However, Georgia follows the legal doctrine of comparative fault, which means drivers involved are liable for an amount determined by how much their actions contributed to the accident.
Common Causes of Rear-End Collisions Accidents
What types of scenarios cause rear-end collisions? In rear-end collisions — and across all types of motor vehicle accidents — the National Highway Traffic and Safety Information found distracted driving to be a significant factor.
Common causes of rear-end collision car accidents include
- Distracted driving — Instances where the driver’s focus is not 100% on the road, or the driver’s hands may not be on the wheel. Driving while texting, on the phone, adjusting the radio, talking to passengers, or using GPS
- Tailgating — Aggressive driving, including failure to keep a safe distance between cars on the road; tailgating is a contributing factor in one-third of all car crashes
- Speeding — Excessive speeding can impair the driver’s ability to make unexpected stops and increase the chances of a dangerous accident
- Inclement weather — Roads that are wet, snowy, or otherwise have low traction can lead to hydroplaning and increased stopping distances.
- Poor road conditions — Damaged roads, lack of signage, or vandalization of important markers like stop signs
- Drunk driving — Driving under the influence of alcohol can significantly impair the driver’s ability to focus and causes slow reaction time
- Sudden Braking — Situations where intense, sudden braking is needed to avoid a pedestrian, animal, or debris in the road, or in the event the vehicle needs to stop suddenly to avoid a multi-car accident
What Are Common Injuries in Rear-end Collisions?
Many victims of rear-end collision car accidents suffer from severe or even fatal injuries. It’s always important to consult a doctor even if you feel that you are not injured because there might be injuries internally that do not present themselves immediately.
Some medical symptoms may be delayed.
Common injuries inflicted during rear-end collisions include:
- Whiplash and neck injuries — These are some of the most prevalent injuries due to the nature of rear-end collisions. Sudden stops and jolting impacts with the steering wheel, windshield, or airbag can be intense and immensely harmful to your neck and upper spine.
- Concussions and head injuries — In rear-end collisions, there is a high propensity for head injuries, even traumatic brain injuries, which may cause lifelong disabilities as a result of forceful contact with the steering wheel or windshield.
- Broken bones — Fractures in the wrists, arms, ribs, and other bones are common injuries, especially in instances where the driver’s immediate reaction is to throw up their arms or extend their hands to shield their face.
- Back and spinal cord injuries — Back injuries from the jarring impact of rear-end collisions can cause long-term and persistent pain and discomfort, sometimes necessitating multiple surgical procedures to treat the injury. Traumatic spinal cord injuries are also likely and can result in temporary or permanent paralysis requiring tremendous lifestyle adjustments and near-constant medical treatments and support following the accident.
Steps to Take Immediately Following a Rear-End Collision
Immediately following the rear-end collision, there are certain steps that you can take to protect yourself and minimize possible mistakes that can later hurt your case.
It may not be an easy task to stay focused on these details in the aftermath of an automobile accident, but taking these steps will put you in a better position to defend your future claim.
- Get medical attention — Either at the site of the accident by requesting emergency medical services or by going to a nearby medical center. Not only does this step mean treating your injuries immediately, but after a rear-end collision accident, getting medically evaluated is an effective way to document the severity of your physical injuries while connecting them to the time of the accident.
- Record the details — Write down the details of your accident while they are fresh in your mind. It’s also prudent to record the name of the driver and get the driver’s license number, license plate number of the vehicle that struck you, insurance provider information, and the name and contact number of the policyholder. If possible, take pictures of the accident, including photos of the scene, the vehicles, and all evident damage or injuries. It’s also a good idea to get the name and contact information of any witnesses.
- Accident Report — If police officers do not arrive at the scene of the accident, make sure that you contact the police to file an accident report. After filing, request a copy of the accident report to keep for your files.
- Legal Counsel — You may want to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after your rear-end collision accident to secure representation and protect your rights now and in the future.
What Will Compensation Cover For Rear-End Accidents in Atlanta?
When working to assess damages, there may be areas that you think will not be covered by your claim but actually are. The insurer in question may even make statements that cause you to think you deserve less coverage than is offered under the policy, given your current situation.
An experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer will know to include these items on your behalf, holding insurers accountable according to the letter of their policy and the prior rulings for cases similar to yours.
An experienced lawyer can also help you by applying their expertise to estimate the current and future losses that you have endured from the rear-end accident.
It’s estimated that over 40K people die in the United States annually from car accidents, and over two million people are injured on U.S. roads. The sheer volume of motor vehicle accidents annually results in a large number of insurance claims.
As mentioned previously, there’s a high probability that the insurance companies will initially offer a low settlement that is in alignment with their best interests. They are eager to close out your claim for as little as possible.
However, it is within your rights to pursue a fair and just settlement. The settlement may extend to cover:
- Medical expenses and rehabilitation
- Lost wages — past and future
- Damages for the vehicle and personal property that were lost in the accident
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages for cases that proceed to trial
Work With An Experienced Atlanta Rear-End Collision Law Firm
When it comes to your quality of life and returning to normalcy as quickly as possible after your rear-end collision accident, it’s important to retain competent and effective representation.
Led by Managing Attorney Ali Awad, we are committed to educating and representing all victims of personal injuries.
Our deep bench of legal professionals has years of combined experience providing legal expertise, and compassionate leadership, in seeking fair compensation for negligence and unjust practices leading to your rear-end collision personal injury claim.
Contact CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm to schedule an appointment for a free, no obligation, confidential case review.
Our team is standing by to help guide you through the process of evaluating data, filing claims, negotiating with insurance companies, and pursuing potential third-party liabilities, all while seeking your best interests at all times.To schedule a consultation, contact us online or call (404) 777-8800.
