Our focus is in proving fault, demonstrating that injuries were directly caused by the collision, and challenging dishonest insurance companies looking for any reason not to pay.
Rear-end automobile accidents are already the most common type of auto accident, but their numbers are still on the rise as cell phones and other diversions increasingly distract drivers on busy roads. While they rarely result in serious injury or death, they can still be devastating to your vehicle, and often cause whiplash or minor head and neck injuries, at the least.
Another common scenario is a motorist approaching an intersection with a yellow light and then suddenly slowing. The motorist behind who thought the car was going to proceed through the light collides with the slowing vehicle because he was speeding or following too closely, or both.
Other factors in rear-end accidents may include:
All motorists have a duty to exercise ordinary care while driving. This includes obeying the speed limits, traveling as fast or slow as conditions allow for safety, using caution and focusing on the roadway for hazards. It also means not following too closely, not speeding up when the traffic light turns yellow, and being aware of other cars and pedestrians.
Liability is all but implied in a rear-end accident unless other credible evidence exists to show otherwise. Even if a car slows suddenly, it is the duty of the motorist traveling behind to not be so close or traveling so fast that he or she cannot slow and stop in time to avoid hitting the car in front of him.
From the mechanics of this type of collision, many motorists who are hit from behind suffer whiplash or acceleration/deceleration-type injuries, often to their neck and back. At the moment of impact, the driver or occupant’s head may suddenly move forward and then whip backward in a whip-like fashion. Symptoms may manifest within minutes or be delayed for up to 24 hours. These symptoms include:
Symptoms can last for a few days to several months. Some victims suffer for years, especially when it triggers a spinal condition such as disc herniation or even paralysis in cases where the accident damages or fractures a bone in the neck.
Treatments vary for whiplash injury victims, with many seeking chiropractic adjustments and other care while others opt for acupuncture as well as traditional methods such as physical therapy.
Of course, other serious accidents can occur in a high-speed rear-end accident or one involving a motorcycle or a tractor-trailer, including spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, broken bones and others.
Whiplash injuries can be difficult to prove by x-ray or other diagnostic tests since many injuries involve damage to the soft tissues such as ligaments and muscles. Even a damaged or herniated disc may be difficult to demonstrate as caused by the accident. Skeptical insurance adjusters and insurance defense lawyers typically offer no or little compensation for these injuries.
It is highly beneficial to have an attorney and law firm advocating for you, so you can demonstrate that your injuries are serious and causing you the distress and other damages you claim. That attorney can help you determine what documentation and medical evidence are needed to substantiate your claims.
