Most states say a safe following distance is four seconds between the time a front vehicle and a rear vehicle pass the same object. This would mean if the driver of the lead vehicle was even 1% to blame for causing a rear-end crash, they would be entitled to no compensation at all—even if the driver of the rear vehicle was 99% at fault. But an injury lawyer can help you get compensation as a rear-end collision victim. In most states, a driver who is responsible for causing a rear-end car accident is responsible for covering damages that victims experience as a result of the crash. Another helpful step is identifying and exchanging contact information with witnesses at the crash site. Interestingly, one symptom of whiplash that many people are not aware of is stomach pain. If another driver's actions caused the crash, we can also help you build your case and pursue an award for your injuries and losses. The Attorneys at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Are Here to Help. Some of the symptoms of traumatic brain injuries include: - Vertigo. Facial Disfigurement. Rear-end collisions that cause facial disfigurement and scarring pose a greater threat than just cosmetic problems. Excessive scarring and/or disfigurement. The impact causes the muscles and ligaments of the neck and shoulder to stretch beyond their normal range in a fraction of a second, straining or tearing soft tissue.
Burns, depending on how significant or widespread they are, could require several surgeries to repair. Of these nearly 2 million accidents, about 1, 700 people die and another 500, 000 are injured in the crashes. This impact could damage the spinal cord, disrupting the message-sending capabilities of the spinal cord. The next thing you know, a vehicle rams into you out of nowhere, with no notice and no opportunity to avoid it. If you are found to be at fault, it will impact the amount of compensation you receive. Is the driver of the car that rear-ends another car always at fault in a rear-end collision? Because almost every type of movement involves the back, both upper and lower back injuries can be debilitating. Prescriptions and prescribed over-the-counter medications. A hernia (aka "slipped disk") is what happens when the outer fiber surrounding a spinal disk is torn or ruptured. Also, if your car suffers a flat tire and doesn't pull off the road or use hazard flashers, then a car that rear-ends you may not be at fault. Treating injuries from a high-speed rear-end car collision is expensive, and healing and recovery can take a prolonged amount of time. The back consists of many easily injured parts, including muscles, joints, and soft tissue.
Speed, body position, use of safety belts, and other factors dictate the severity and type of injuries you could sustain in a rear-end accident. The sudden and violent backward and forward movement of the neck and head caused by the collision results in pain and soreness in the neck and back. Anyone who has been in a rear end collision should be monitored for at least 24 hours after an accident for signs of a concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury. At The Miley Legal Group, we are dedicated to the needs of our clients—regardless of the severity of their accident injuries. The attorneys at The Roth Firm, LLC have the resources and knowledge to represent and help you recover what you deserve after a rear-end car wreck. Even if you can work part-time, or your injuries force you to take a full-time job that pays less than your previous job, you could recover the loss of partial earning capacity. Since the word "whiplash" continues to have a negative connotation, personal injury attorneys usually refer to whiplash injuries as neck injuries. The spine has three regions: cervical (neck region), thoracic (chest region), and lumbar (lower back).
But this is not always the case. Treatment for these injuries can be pretty extensive and expensive. Updates to your home, including but not limited to wheelchair ramps, handrails, grab bars, and widened doorways. You were rear-ended by a drunk driver. Getting hit in a rear-end collision can be a traumatic experience. The Most Common Injuries from Rear-End Collisions. You could suffer thermal burns from the flames or chemical burns from fuel and other fluids leaking from the vehicles or a tanker. In this scenario, you may be able to use the sudden-emergency doctrine to prove that you were not actually negligent. Soft tissue injuries often go undiagnosed and are, therefore, untreated, which could lead to complications.
The most common injuries the driver suffers are a broken or sprained wrist and a dislocated shoulder. Establishing Fault for Rear-End Accidents. The most common symptom is severe pain when moving the back muscles. Negligence is defined as a failure to use the same degree of care that a reasonable person would use under the same circumstances. Researchers recorded that these accidents typically occurred when the "lead" vehicle: - Was driving at a slower speed than the approaching vehicle. So, even if the lead driver brakes suddenly, the rear driver may be partially at fault if they weren't following at a safe distance, which contributed to the collision. 5 mph can produce symptoms of neck injury. In the event of no witnesses, personal injury lawyer Steve Caya works closely with experts able to reconstruct your car accident to help prove the other driver was at fault and increase your compensation. In certain circumstances, though, motorists may be unable to avoid a rear-end collision. Each of our clients is important to us.
Video and photographs of the accident scene. Abnormal Changes in Behavior. Head injuries are usually the most serious. The following are only some examples of injuries that can plague you after a rear-end crash: The injury perhaps most commonly associated with rear-end accidents is whiplash. 7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury each year, and of that amount, 52, 000 die. The injuries suffered in rear-end collisions can vary from relatively mild to catastrophic. The swelling of the brain from a TBI can cause a stroke, seizure and even permanent brain damage.
Still, even victims of low speed rear-end collisions may report severe injuries in the following days or weeks, according to Canadian Family Physician. Recommended textbook solutions. Injuries range from a strain (stretching of the ligaments, tendons or muscles) or a sprain (damage to the ligaments in the spine) to a herniated disc or even permanent damage to the spinal cord and nerves.
The word conjures images of greedy plaintiffs who make false claims of neck injuries to line their pockets by cheating insurance companies. Luckily some broken bones heal with only a few medical appointments and the passage of time. What Is the Sudden-Emergency Doctrine? If you are found to be more than 50% at fault, even if the other car rear-ended you, you will not receive any compensation.