Rear-end collisions are among the most common types of traffic accidents in the United States. Each year, over 2 million rear-end crashes are reported, out of which at least 170,000 people are killed. Over 500,000 others suffer serious harm, which often changes their lives forever. According to data from the National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA), 80% of rear-end collisions are preventable. But even with stringent traffic rules in place, these types of crashes continue to occur.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a severe crash, you should take immediate action by contacting a qualified Galveston rear-end collision lawyer. State and federal laws allow victims of accidents caused by negligence to recover monetary compensation for harm suffered. But to do so, victims must prove that more likely than not, the defendant was negligent in one way or another. Anyone who fails to maintain their duty of care towards other Galveston residents and road users is liable for the damages they cause. Allow a seasoned car accident lawyer from our firm to help you take legal action.
Imagine sitting peacefully in your car while in traffic or a parking lot, when all of a sudden you hear and feel a loud crash from behind. Your car is pushed forward, knocking your head against the steering wheel, whiplashing your neck, or being ejected out of the vehicle through the windshield. You are injured and in shock, only for you to slowly realize that you’ve been in a car accident. When a vehicle approaching you from behind slams into your car from the back, it is considered a rear-end crash.
While many rear-end collisions are not serious, there are instances where they can be catastrophic. If the vehicle approaching you from behind is traveling at high speed, the chances of having a fatal crash increase drastically. Additionally, if the vehicle at the back is a commercial truck, its sheer size and weight are enough to cause permanent damage to the car in front. Severe injuries associated with rear-end collisions include:
In the worst-case scenario, the occupants of the smaller vehicle may bear the brunt of the crash, causing permanent disability or death.
More minor harm caused by rear-end crashes include:
Some of these soft tissue injuries are treatable at home, requiring no medical treatment. However, rear-end collision survivors should always seek further medical evaluation, especially when they are not sure of the extent of their injury. Some injuries may not be noticeable immediately after the accident and may require an intensive evaluation from well-trained medical personnel. If you don’t seek immediate medical attention, and your injuries worsen thereafter, it may be difficult for your lawyer to prove that the injuries and damages suffered resulted from the rear-end accident.
When deciding whether to file a personal injury claim for compensation in a rear-end collision, you must understand how the accident occurred. This not only allows you to determine liability but also guarantees you maximum compensation, since you get to sue the party with higher prospects of paying top dollar settlement. For example, a commercial truck driver may have been directly at fault for operating a poorly maintained vehicle. But since most drivers themselves have small personal insurance policies, you may fail to secure substantive compensation from them personally. Instead, your rear-end crash attorney can also pursue the insurance policy of the trucking company for maximum monetary compensation for your tangible and intangible losses such as:
Although modern vehicles have been equipped with automated safety systems to prevent such collisions, they still happen all the time. According to the National Highway Transport Safety Administration, some of the most common causes of rear-end collisions in the U.S include:
Although most rear-end collisions occur when vehicles are moving at relatively low speeds, they can still result in extensive damages. Both vehicles may lose control, endangering passengers and other road users such as motorcyclists and pedestrians. They can also result in multiple crashes, causing further property damages and injuries to several people. Even so, a skilled Galveston rear-end collision lawyer can help you get the compensation you are entitled to for the physical and emotional harm suffered. If you need legal counsel to help you understand more about compensation for rear-end accidents, please call us today to learn more in a free consultation.
