Rear-end collisions are a common type of motor vehicle accident. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), there were over 37,000 car accident fatalities in the United States in 2017, and over 2,400 of these fatalities involved rear-end crashes. Rear-end collisions are not usually as fatal as head-on or frontal accidents or wrecks caused by speeding, but they can lead to substantial care costs and long-term injuries.
If you were injured in a rear-end collision, a Johns Creek rear-end collisions lawyer with Bader Scott Injury Lawyers can help you gather evidence, quantify your damages, and file a claim for losses and injuries that you suffered as a result of being rear-ended. Contact our office today at (404) 888-8888 for a free consultation.
Factors that Can Contribute to a Driver Rear-Ending Another
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) annual report tables, there is an average of about six million vehicle accidents of all types in the United States every year. The estimated costs, losses, and damages that result from these accidents range between $150 and $250 billion in medical expenses, lost business productivity, fines and penalties, property damage, litigation, and insurance and administrative costs.
These are significant figures, and the NHTSA has labeled car accidents the most critical issue facing American transportation today. Too many people are hurt and killed in traffic accidents every year, and these accidents can be caused by many factors, including:
- Texting and driving
- Interacting with other passengers while driving
- Eating or drinking while driving
- Adjusting vehicle or device controls while driving
- Speeding
- Driving recklessly or aggressively
- Driver inexperience
- Damaged roads
- Unclear road signage
- Driving under the influence
- Poor lighting
- Inclement weather
- Slippery roads
- Vehicle malfunctions such as failed brakes or tire blowouts
A drowsy, distracted, or fatigued driver will likely take longer than normal to respond to dangers on the road ahead and can rear-end a vehicle. Tailgating and driving aggressively can lead to a collision with a vehicle that suddenly stops. Poor vehicle maintenance can lower vehicle performance and can lead to skidding or brake failures. Speeding can make it harder for a driver to avoid rear-ending a vehicle even if the driver sees the vehicle in front of them on time.
These factors can cause various types of accidents, including rear-end accidents. Driver distraction, in particular, is linked to rear-end accidents, as are vehicle malfunctions and poor road conditions. For example, slick or slippery surfaces and changes in traffic conditions like when traffic suddenly comes to a halt on the road ahead can lead to an accident.
The Dangers of Speeding and Distractions
The reasons speeding and distraction are so dangerous are simple. The faster a vehicle travels, and the longer a driver takes to respond to road hazards or changing traffic conditions, the farther his or her vehicle will travel until he or she responds to or takes appropriate actions in response to dangers on the road. At a speed of 55 mph, a vehicle travels the length of one football field every five seconds. Checking a text or taking your eyes off the road for this much time can lead to a catastrophic rear-end collision.
For a free legal consultation with a rear-end collisions lawyer serving Johns Creek, call (404) 888-8888
Common Injuries and Damages from Rear-End Crashes
Common injuries and damages that rear-end accidents can cause include:
- Head and brain injuries
- Spinal cord and back injuries
- Whiplash and concussions
- Neck and nerve damage
- Broken, fractured, or crushed bones
- Internal organ damage
- Internal bleeding
- Facial injuries such as scarring or disfigurement
- Cuts, lacerations, abrasions, and avulsions
- Loss of a body part or amputation of a limb
- Partial or total paralysis
- Death or physical incapacitation
Rear-end accidents between cars and larger vehicles such as trucks are especially dangerous. This is especially true for undercarriage accidents in which a car strikes a truck from behind and becomes lodged underneath the truck. Such accidents can lead to serious head and brain injuries and even death.
In addition to physical injury, accident victims will likely suffer vehicle damage, lost income from an inability to work, and medical treatment expenses. Diagnostic testing, hospitalization, ambulance fees, medications, assistive devices, doctor consultations, and other services can drive the cost of care up into the tens or even the hundreds of thousands of dollars per person per accident. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that care costs for car accident injuries are between $3,300 and $57,000 per case.
A Johns Creek read-end collisions lawyer from Bader Scott Injury Lawyers can help you with your case. Call our office today at (404) 888-8888.
Johns Creek Rear-End Collisions Lawyer Near Me (404) 888-8888
Determining Fault in a Rear-End Collision
In general, the driver who struck another vehicle from behind is at fault for the collision. However, for personal injury claims involving car accidents, you usually must:
- Prove that the at-fault driver owed you a duty of care. Anyone operating a vehicle owes other road users a duty of driving safely and responsibly.
- Prove that negligence or a lack of care on the part of the at-fault driver caused an accident.
- Show that the accident that occurred led to damages such as physical injuries, lost income, vehicle damage, medical expenses, mental anguish, or otherwise.
To do the above, you must gather evidence such as the police report of the accident, photo or video evidence captured of the accident, and statements of witnesses about how the accident occurred.
Additional forms of evidence that can be used to support your claim include medical treatment receipts, car repair invoices, phone usage records to prove distracted driving, blood alcohol tests to prove impaired driving, and vehicle service logs to prove vehicle malfunctions as factors contributing to your accident.
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Learn How a Rear-End Collisions Attorney in Johns Creek Can Help You
Bader Scott Injury Lawyers can assist you with your rear-end collision case. Our Johns Creek rear-end collisions lawyer will review the facts of your case to determine if you have grounds for a personal injury claim and outline the best course of action for you based on the specifics of your case. Do not hesitate to contact our team today for a free case evaluation at (404) 888-8888.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form