Rear-end accidents are one of the most common types of collisions, and they almost always stem from negligent driving behaviors. Following too closely, speeding, driving distracted, and other careless actions all stand to lead to a negligent driver accidentally slamming into the back of someone else’s vehicle.
The rear-ended victim may then face steep medical costs on top of lost work income and the need for expensive vehicle repairs.
Fortunately, Georgia’s law requiring every driver to carry liability insurance means that injury victims likely have legal options available. They can pursue an injury claim against the driver who hit them — and any other at-fault parties — in order to seek the maximum compensation possible for all of their damages.
If you’re among the many Georgians who are injured in rear-end accidents each year, Ali Awad can help you receive compensation for your injuries and pain. Awad leads the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm.
In three years, he’s secured millions of dollars in settlements and jury awards for his clients. Schedule a free case review by calling (404) 777-8800 or using our convenient form to contact us online.
Reasons to Hire an Atlanta Rear-End Accident Attorney
Rear-end accidents are extremely common. In fact, estimates show that 1.7 million rear-end accidents occur in the United States each year. These accidents frequently happen in busy, urban areas with heavy traffic, but you could get hit from behind anywhere, at any time.
What’s more disturbing, a shocking 87% of rear-end accidents can be attributed to distracted driving. You might think that rear-end accidents wouldn’t have serious consequences, but these collisions can be devastating.
Roughly 1,700 people die each year from injuries that stem from a rear-end accident. Further, this type of collision accounts for 29% of all car accidents that lead to serious injuries and 85% of car accidents that result in neck injuries.
These facts clearly demonstrate that a rear-end accident can have lifelong consequences. If you were hit from behind, you might be tempted to shrug off the incident, especially if the crash didn’t result in serious damage or immediate pain.
However, collisions can cause injuries that may not be obvious from the get-go. Neck and back injuries are exceptionally common, and without proper treatment, the consequences may plague you for years to come.
If you were injured, you’d have to contend with medical bills, insurance claims, and other unpleasant tasks that follow a serious car accident. Managing these tasks, in general, is not fun, but having to deal with these challenges while facing pain, uncertainty, and financial stress is overwhelming.
Having a legal representative takes the time-consuming and stressful tasks involved in building an injury claim off of your shoulders. What’s more, their experience and knowledge of the claims process give you access to resources and strategies that raise your claim’s chances of success.
A personal injury attorney can’t fix every problem, but they can reduce your stress by offering the following services and benefits.
Helping You Understand Your Legal Rights
In Georgia, car accident victims are allowed to claim compensation for medical bills, lost wages, damages, and pain and suffering. This is a legal right that people often overlook.
As a result, they live with high expenses, fret about how to cover their bills, and live with the anguish that comes from life-altering injuries.
It doesn’t have to be this way; a personal injury attorney can help you build a successful case to get the compensation that you deserve. They’ll help you understand your rights, even in complex situations where it’s not easy to determine who is at fault.
You’ll rest assured knowing that you’re pursuing every avenue to protect your own personal, legal, and financial interests.
Advocate for You and Help Manage Your Claim
If you’ve been injured in a rear-end collision, you may have to visit with doctors, specialists, or surgeons from various clinics and hospitals. You’ll receive bills from multiple places and providers, and they’ll come at different times.
Further, you may have to coordinate with insurance companies or the driver of the other vehicle.
If you’re trying to negotiate payments for medical bills or coordinate with insurance companies, you don’t want to be stuck on hold or passed from one representative to the next. You deserve to have your questions answered in a timely manner.
An attorney can serve as your advocate as you navigate the legal and medical systems.
Help You Seek the Maximum Compensation for All Damages
There is no guarantee that you’ll receive compensation after an accident. The amounts and options available to you may vary since every accident is different.
That said, working with an attorney increases your chances of receiving the amount that you deserve.
Personal injury attorneys are familiar with the legal system and know what needs to be proven for your claim to be successful. They’ll help you gather the necessary documentation and guide you through the complexities of the claims process in order to maximize your chances of successful recovery for all damages suffered.
What Happens During a Rear-End Collision?
Rear-end collisions often occur when one vehicle that was following too closely or not paying attention suddenly has to slow or stop because they are quickly approaching the vehicle in front of them — but they fail to do so in time. These collisions can lead to a chain effect, where multiple cars collide because of the stopped car at the front of the line.
Alternatively, they can occur as an isolated incident between two vehicles.
Fault for the accident depends on several factors, including how the person at the front of the line was operating their vehicle (for instance, why they slowed down or stopped and what they were doing at the time of the accident), as well as the actions of the person who rear-ended the driver in front of them. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the vehicle that hits another vehicle from behind is considered at fault, but there may be other circumstances to consider.
Distracted driving is highly common in rear-end accidents, so law enforcement and insurance companies will look for signs that a driver wasn’t paying attention when the collision occurred.
What Makes Rear End Accidents Dangerous?
Many rear-end accidents usually don’t result in significant damage or injuries. However, when a car traveling at high speeds barrels into the back of another vehicle, the result can be catastrophic.
Your body gets thrown forward at a high speed, and even with a seat belt on, you could hit your head, shoulders, chest, and arms against the dashboard or your airbags. These extreme forces may result in whiplash, broken bones, a concussion, cuts and scrapes, or other injuries.
If you’re not wearing a seatbelt, this force could send you through your windshield. Therefore, it’s critical to put on a belt, no matter the circumstances.
Rear-end accidents can be especially dangerous in urban areas. Your car could get pushed into another vehicle or shoved into the path of oncoming traffic.
Because of the great forces involved, rear-end accidents can lead to significant neck, back, or head injuries. Injuries to these complex and delicate parts of the body may require special treatments, medications, therapy, or even surgery to correct.
What to Do if You’ve Been Rear-Ended — When to Contact an Atlanta Rear-End Collisions Lawyer
Since these types of accidents are so common, you’re bound to be involved in one at some point. When they occur, you should take the following steps to protect yourself:
- Make sure you’re in a safe position: If you’ve been involved in a minor accident where you have no obvious injuries and you can still control your vehicle, make sure to pull off to the side of the road so that you aren’t blocking traffic. There is the possibility of being hit again by a different car if you stay in the path of other vehicles.
- Call the police: No matter the severity of the accident, you should call law enforcement to the scene. They’ll gather information from all the drivers, take pictures of the vehicles, talk to witnesses, and ensure that the entire accident is properly documented.
- Get medical attention: Of course, this step rises to the top of the list if you’ve sustained a clear injury in the accident. Request a paramedic to come to the scene if you or anyone else is hurt. Accept transport to a hospital if they recommend it. In any event, seek medical care promptly after the accident to ensure you don’t have hidden injuries. A doctor can conduct a physical exam, assess your range of motion, and let you know what to watch out for in the weeks after the accident.
- Contact your insurance company: You’ll want to start the claims process with your insurance company as soon as possible. If needed, you can coordinate with the insurer to get a rental car until yours is repaired or replaced.
- Get in touch with a personal injury attorney: Finally, get in touch with a personal injury attorney as soon as you can after the accident. Georgia has a 2-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims, but it’s best to get legal help long before the time runs out. Speak with an attorney while the events are fresh. You’ll want to take action before you start to forget small details about what occurred.
Contact an Atlanta Rear End Accident Law Firm Today
A rear-end accident can have serious consequences. If you’ve faced challenges with your health, finances, or peace of mind after being rear-ended, the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm can help.
The CEO Lawyer advocates for individuals to get the compensation they deserve after an accident.
Led by attorney Ali Awad, we have a 99%+ success rate. In every case, we aim to help you get as much compensation as possible for your medical bills, damages, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Our compassionate and skilled team works with individuals in Atlanta and beyond. If you want to discuss your legal options after being rear-ended, give us a call at (404) 777-8800 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation case review today.
