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If another driver hits your car from behind in a rear-end accident, you probably never saw it coming. The driver who crashed into your vehicle likely didn’t either, because he or she was looking at a phone or somewhere other than the road, or was driving too fast and too close to you. When that unexpected impact violently jolts your unprepared body, the injuries that result can be painful, debilitating, and long-lasting.
If you suffered injuries in a rear-end collision, you might think that the driver who hit you will automatically be found liable for your losses. After all, there is little dispute about who ran into whom. But rear-end cases aren’t always so simple, and car insurance companies are rarely willing to just roll over and pay claims. They will try to muddy the waters and shift blame to you or another party. They may assert that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim or that they were caused by an event other than the accident.
At Sandoval James, PLLC, our Austin rear-end accident attorneys, use our experience, skill, and tenacity to ensure that rear-end accident victims receive the compensation they deserve. With a passion for helping the injured and a personal commitment to the well-being of every client we have the privilege to represent, we are relentless in the pursuit of the money and resources that can help accident victims heal.
CAUSES OF REAR-END CRASHES
Rear-end crashes are the most common type of car accident in the U.S., according to the National Safety Council. It estimates that Americans are involved in more than 2.5 million rear-end collisions every year. Trailing drivers are usually – but not always – at fault for these crashes because of their negligent or reckless driving behaviors, such as:
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Drunk or impaired driving
Of the preceding, tailgating is the most significant contributor to rear-end accidents. That’s why Texas law requires that drivers “maintain an assured clear distance between the two vehicles so that, considering the speed of the vehicles, traffic, and the conditions of the highway, the operator can safely stop without colliding with the preceding vehicle or veering into another vehicle, object, or person on or near the highway.” (Texas Vehicle Code Sec. 545.062). Quite simply, if a driver doesn’t leave enough room between his or her car and the next car in front, a rear-end accident is more likely to happen, no matter how hard the rear driver may slap on the brakes.
While, as noted, trailing drivers are most often at fault in rear-end accidents, the leading car can cause or contribute to a crash due to:
- Broken or non-functioning tail and brake lights.
- Suddenly backing up.
- Pulling or drifting into the next lane, or merging unsafely
INJURIES FROM REAR-END CAR ACCIDENTS
Even a low-speed impact in a rear-end accident can lead to serious injuries. That is because the energy from the trailing car is transferred to the vehicle it hits. Not expecting to be hit, the occupants of the front car will be thrown forward from the force of the impact while their heads are thrown back only to be whipped forward again when the vehicle stops. This is what causes the condition called “whiplash,” the most common injury that results from rear-end collisions. In addition to whiplash, rear-end accidents can cause even more severe injuries, including:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head injuries and facial contusions from airbag deployment
- Foot and ankle injuries
CONTACT SANDOVAL JAMES TODAY FOR YOUR FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
At Sandoval James, we help car vehicle accident victims like you get your life back after a negligent driver turns it upside-down. To arrange for your free initial consultation with one of our Austin rear-end accident lawyers, call us today at 512-382-7707 or contact us online.