Rear-end accidents are some of the most common types of car accidents to occur on the road. They can happen due to a variety of reasons, but they mainly occur because a driver wasn’t paying attention to the road or miscalculated their ability to stop. Depending on the nature of the rear end collision, it can cause debilitating and chronic injuries like whiplash and back pain. These injuries can prevent you from working and can cause you to rack up tons of huge medical bills, which is why it is recommended to hire an experienced lawyer who can help you through this endeavor.
Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is a law firm that specializes in personal injury law and their team of attorneys are prepared to fight for your rights. With over 35 years of experience and a proven track record of securing fair settlements and expertly negotiating with insurance companies, the legal team at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers are confident that they can get you the compensation you deserve after a rear end collision.
The firm has represented clients from all walks of life and have handled a variety of cases from the simple to the complex and understand the subtle nuances of rear end accident claims. Whether you’ve been rear ended by a drunk driver or a truck driver, our team of attorneys will make sure your voice is heard and your rights are protected.
Call us today at (800) 718-4658 or fill out our easy online contact form for a free case consultation!
Rear-End Accident Statistics
Rear-end accidents are some of the most common motor vehicle collisions in the United States. According to a 2023 report from the National Safety Council, about 40% of all car accidents were rear end collisions according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, on average, a rear-end collision occurs every eight seconds in the U.S. This can be correlated to the increase of distracted driving accidents as practices such as texting and using the phone while driving is slowly becoming a habit.
However, to some people’s surprise, most rear end collisions occur at low speeds with the NHTSA reporting about 17% of rear-end collisions causing injuries, and another 7% cause severe disabling injuries. Despite the number of preventive measures and educational courses about the dangers of distracted driving, rear end still remains to be one of the most common types of car accident in the country. With these numbers in mind, it is more important than ever to follow traffic guidelines and best driving practices to avoid getting into an accident.
Common Injuries in Rear-End Car Collisions
Rear-end collisions can result in many injuries, depending on how bad the crash is. With that in mind, if you suspect any injuries after a rear end crash, it is vital that you seek medical attention immediately, because some conditions may lay dormant until something triggers it and it can complicate your accident claim in the future if you do not have documentation for it.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a neck injury that is resulted from a sudden back-and-forth movement of the head and neck during a crash. This motion can cause damage to the muscles, ligaments and tendons in the neck which can result in pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. Depending on the severity of the impact force of a crash, the injured driver may need to wear a neck brace until it is healed.
Back And Spinal Cord Injuries
Due to the spine’s limited ability to absorb impact force, a rear-end collision can cause injuries to the back and spine and can easily create long-term medical conditions for the injured driver. These include herniated discs, fractures, or even severe spinal cord damage. Depending on the severity of the accident, these injuries can result in chronic pain, limited mobility, and in some extreme cases, it can even result in paralysis.
Head And Brain Injuries
A rear-end accident can cause a victim’s head to hit the steering wheel, dashboard, or windows. When that happens this can lead to various head injuries such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), concussions or skull fractures. Much like spinal cord injuries, it is vital to seek medical attention immediately, because if the brain is severely injured in an accident, it can dramatically disrupt a person’s lifestyle and the road to recovery is often long and costly.
Facial and Chest Injuries
A rear-end accident may throw the driver or passengers forward and depending on the impact force, broken glass, airbag deployment, or an impact with the steering wheel can hit the driver and cause a variety of face and chest injuries. These things can cause cuts, bruises, fractures, and in some instances, internal organ damage.
What to Do After a Rear End Crash
At a Glance:
- Get to Safety
- Call 911
- File a Police Report
- Collect Information and Evidence
- Call an Experienced Law Firm
If you have been in a rear end crash, it is important to appropriate prompt action to ensure everyone’s safety. While it is understandable to be shaken up, it is imperative that you do not do anything to make the accident worse or else the at-fault party can report your actions after the accident as negligent or reckless and can increase your degree of liability.
Get to Safety
The first thing you need to do, if possible, is get your vehicle to a safe location. Whether it is on the side of a highway or to a more secluded part of a street, you should move your vehicle to an area that would cause the least amount of disturbance. Remember to put on your hazard lights while you do it, so you can alert other drivers about the accident and help guide everyone involved to a safe and secure location. However, do not go too far away from the accident scene or else you can lose potential evidence.
Call 911
Once you have reached safety, check everyone, including yourself, for injuries. If anyone has even minor injuries, call 911 and have them get treated immediately. Should the accident scene become too much for you and those involved to handle and control, calling 911 and having first responders take control is always an option and often the best route.
File a Police Report
According to the California DMV, any accident which leads to death or injury must be reported to law enforcement within 24 hours. This includes any accident leading to death, injury, or $1,000 or more in property damage and it also needs to be reported to the DMV before 10 days elapse. If an officer arrives at the accident scene it’s important to make sure a police report is filed and you get a copy of it. An experienced attorney can use that police report to secure you the most compensation possible after an accident.
However, when you are making a police report, keep the conversation to the bare minimum. Anything you say at the scene of the accident can be used against you to attribute fault for the accident to you and/or minimize the compensation you’ll eventually receive from insurance. Do not admit to anything or apologize for anything.
Collect Information and Evidence
One of the most important steps after a car accident, is to collect the contact and insurance information of every driver involved, as well as their driver’s license numbers. Note the type, color and model of each vehicle involved. If there are any witnesses at the scene, feel free to ask for written or recorded statements from them.
Additionally, take pictures and videos of the accident scene from multiple angles and be sure to document any injuries, property damage, and relevant roadway conditions, signs and signals. This will be crucial when filing an accident claim with the insurance company.
Call an Experienced Rear End Accident Law Firm
An experienced rear-end accident lawyer can negotiate with insurance companies for you, make sure you don’t incriminate yourself with insurance companies, and maximize your financial recovery. If you’re injured and can’t afford treatment, a rear end collision lawyer can get you to doctors who will treat you without charging you until your case is over.
This is important after an accident because dealing with injuries can be stressful and the last thing you need to deal with during a difficult moment like this is having to deal with a complex, time-consuming insurance claim. Lawyers can help you focus on what’s important: recovery and your family.
Recoverable Compensation in a Rear End Collision
If you have been rear ended in an accident, there are multiple types of expenses you can recover to become financially whole again. Depending on the severity of the accident, the costs and recoverable damages will vary – as will your rear end collision settlement amount – but the following are the most common types of damages that are found in rear end collisions.
Medical Bills
After any car accident, you may experience injuries like head injuries, back injuries, and maybe even internal trauma. You might have to see a doctor or be treated in the hospital for several days and depending on the extent and severity of your injuries, you can accrue a significantly hefty bill at the end where you have to pay out of pocket.
Lost Wages
Lost wages are referred to as the income you have lost as a result of the accident in question. If you’re hurt and can’t work, you might lose money because you’re not getting paid and a skilled attorney can help you get compensated for their missing wages as if you weren’t injured in the first place.
Property Damage
Property damage is referred to as physical damage of your personal property. In the context of rear end accidents, if your car or other belongings inside the car has gotten damaged as a result of the accident, then you can file a claim to recover the cost to fix or replace the damaged goods.
Pain And Suffering
Being in an accident can cause physical pain and emotional suffering and whether it was a minor fender bender or a catastrophic car accident, accident victims can receive compensation for experiencing that kind of trauma. However, due to the subjective nature of pain and suffering, it will vary significantly on a case by case basis.
How Much Does a Rear End Collision Injury Lawyer Cost?
The cost of a rear end lawyer can vary widely, but they tend to charge either hourly or by a contingency fee basis. If an attorney operates on a contingency fee basis then it means the client will not have to pay any upfront legal fees for their services and will only have to pay a flat fee if their attorney either receives a settlement amount or wins their case. This can be extremely beneficial for those who do not have the funds to hire an attorney who charges by the hour, but it also means the attorney they hire will be more motivated to win your case.
Do I Need A Rear End Collision Attorney?
While it is not mandatory to hire a car accident attorney for a rear end collision case, it is always recommended to do so because it ensures your chances of recovering damages like medical treatment, car repairs, and any other out-of-pocket expenses as a result of the accident. If you try to file a rear end accident claim on your own, then the chances of not recovering a full and fair compensation increases significantly.
This is largely due to insurance companies trying to minimize their costs and will employ a variety of tactics to not pay you as much money as possible. From insurance adjusters trying to use your words against you to offering you a series of low ball offers, trying to deal with insurance companies after a car accident can be a nightmare.
By having an experienced attorney by your side, it will mean that insurance companies won’t try to offer you low ball deals or try to shift blame onto you for the accident. As a result, injury victims can focus on recovering while their attorney can deal with the insurance company and the at-fault party.
Contact a Rear End Accident Lawyer Today
Getting rear ended is always an unfortunate experience that is caused by the negligence/recklessness of others. Should it ever happen to you, you may be able to file a claim to recover what you lost as a result. Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is a law firm with over 35 years of experience and their team of rear end collision lawyers are prepared to fight for your rights.
Whether you were rear ended on a freeway or while on the way home, our team of car accident attorneys have seen them all and are confident that they can not only resolve the accident quickly and seamlessly, but can get you the compensation you deserve. The firm has recovered over $750,000,000 for our deserving clients and we will continue to do our duty to represent clients who need legal representation.
We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay us anything until you win. Call us today at (800) 718-4658 or fill out our easy online contact form for a free case consultation.
FAQs
Should I Call a Lawyer After Being Rear-Ended?
It is always recommended to call a lawyer after being rear ended because they can give you sound legal guidance to ensure your chances of recovering compensation and avoid any unnecessary lawsuits from the opposing party and any prolonged or delayed negotiating periods with the insurance company.
Who Is at Fault in a Rear End Collision?
In most rear end crashes, the driver who has crashed into the driver in front of them is at-fault for the accident. However, there are rare circumstances where the in-front driver can be found at-fault for a rear end collision, but it will be heavily dependent on whether they were negligent/reckless in their driving.
What Are Most Lawyer Fees for a Car Accident?
Most personal injury attorneys operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning that they only charge a flat legal fee only if they win their client’s case or achieve a settlement offer. The flat fee itself will vary from attorney to attorney and on a case-by-case basis, but generally speaking, a flat rate of 33% is the estimated average.
How Hard Is It to Win a Rear End Accident Lawsuit?
The difficulty of winning a rear end accident claim will be dependent on how much evidence you have to support your claim. If you have evidence that proves your claim like CCTV footage, photos and videos of the accident, and even medical bills for the accident, then you should be able to generally recover damages. However, if the at-fault party hires an attorney, it may lower your total compensation. In such an event, it is recommended to consult with a rear end collision lawyer.
When You Get Rear Ended, Whose Insurance Do You Call?
If you are involved in a rear end accident, you need to call the at-fault party’s insurance company to file a claim and get the recovery process started. However, it is recommended to inform your own insurance company about the accident so they can help guide you for any policy related questions.
