Rear-end accidents can cause more damage than we may realize and can result in the same serious and fatal injuries suffered in other major crashes. A rear-end collision occurs when one vehicle hits the back of the vehicle in front of it. These types of accidents are the most common type of accident on the road, and they tend to result in injuries that require medical attention. If you or a loved one have been involved in a rear end car accident it is important that you contact an experienced car accident attorney to help maximize your claim.
Reasons Why There Was a Rear End Accident
While many factors can contribute to a rear-end accident, the following are five ways to determine the reasons why rear-end accidents occur:
- Determine whether the rear driver was distracted. Reading or sending a text message, or dialing a phone number are just a few of many distractions that cause drivers to take their eyes off the road and slam into the rear of another vehicle.
- Determine if the front driver was making a sudden lane change. The front driver may change lanes without signaling and allowing enough distance to move safely from one lane to another. These maneuvers make it difficult for the rear driver to stop or change lanes in time to avoid hitting the front car.
- Check for the Existence of Skids Marks and their Length
- Make Sure that the Police Performs a Detailed Police Report
- Identify the Names, Addresses and Contact Information of Any Witness and get to provide a detailed description of the accident.
- Take Pictures or Video of the vehicles involved in the accident including the front and back of the vehicles.
- Get All Parties Involved in the Accident to Provide a Detailed Description of What Their recollection of the accident is.
- Determine if the front driver’s brake lights were working. Chances for a collision increase when the front driver does not have working brake lights and makes sudden stops.
- Observe the traffic volume. Traffic congestion forces drivers to slow down. While drivers may be well under the speed limit, driving too closely behind a vehicle that makes a sudden stop in heavy traffic can cause a rear-end crash.
- Check the rear driver’s speed. Drivers are responsible for driving within the speed limit so they can stop suddenly without causing a crash.
Investigating Rear-end Collisions
Determining the reasons for rear-end accidents may require conducting an investigation. Some of the evidence collected during an investigation may include:
- A police report
- Traffic camera video
- Drivers’ smartphone records
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- Weather condition reports at the time of the accident
These documents and other evidence are important in proving negligence and liability in injury accidents.
Rear-End Collisions Can Cause Serious Injuries
A rear-end crash can cause serious injuries, even in low-impact collisions, particularly if a commercial truck is involved. As a result, drivers and their passengers can sustain such injuries as:
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Knee injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
If you or your passengers require hospitalization or suffer injuries that cause permanent disability, you can request compensation from the at-fault driver and the driver’s auto insurance company. However, you may need assistance from a car accident attorney to hold the at-fault driver responsible for your damages and to prove that your injuries were caused by the rear-end accident and not by pre-existing health conditions.
Insurance Companies’ Involvement in Accidents
If you were injured in the crash, you can file a claim to recover compensation for your losses. But auto insurance companies do not simply hand over checks without conducting an accident investigation.
If the company finds that its policyholder’s negligence caused the accident, the insurer may offer to settle your claim. An insurer’s initial offer is typically so low that it does not cover your medical bills and other accident-related expenses. You are not obligated to accept a low offer from an insurance company. The insurer can also deny your claim or reduce your award amount if the company believes you are partially responsible for causing the rear-end crash.
Rather than wrangle with an insurer over a low settlement offer or a rejection of your claim, contact a car accident attorney. An experienced auto accident lawyer can calculate your financial losses, and pursue compensation for the emotional pain and suffering you endured. What’s more, your car accident attorney can negotiate a settlement on your behalf with the insurance company.
Since there is a statute of limitations on filing personal injury cases, contact a lawyer as soon as it is conveniently possible for you.
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