After being involved in an accident, many people tend to contact their insurance company first before their lawyer. This is a mistake. Insurance company representatives often take advantage of unsuspicious victims to hurt their compensation claims. Instead, call your lawyer first to seek legal help.
If you're making a car accident injury claim as the leading driver (the one who was hit from behind) after a rear-end accident, the first thing to know is that car insurance coverage will largely dictate how your claim proceeds (and often, how much you'll receive).
Whatever the cause and resulting injuries, when it comes to fault for a car accident, it usually doesn't get more straightforward than a rear-end crash. Except in a limited number of situations, the driver who rear-ends another vehicle is almost always going to be found negligent, and therefore at fault for the car accident.
Even the most careful drivers get into accidents. Do not drive away from the scene, no matter how scared you may be. If you rear-end someone, you should take pictures of the accident site to document damage to your car and the other vehicle. It’s important to note that even if it seems like there’s no damage, it’s necessary to still take pictures.
In a rear-end traffic accident, the point of impact is where the front end of the tailing driver's vehicle meets the rear end of the leading vehicle.
It's standard practice. But you're usually under no obligation to talk to the other insurance company, and it's almost never a good idea to go into any details about the crash, or the extent of anyone's car accident injuries or property damage.
Call 911 yourself if you can and give them your exact location, but if you can't do this yourself, ask someone else in the car to do it for you, or ask a bystander to call 911 for you. While you wait for emergency services to arrive, don't move from your vehicle unless you have to for safety reasons.
within 24 hoursAfter being involved in a car accident, you should report it to your car insurance provider as soon as you can. Many insurers specify that you need to inform them about an accident within 24 hours of the incident.
Apologise or admit fault - Never apologise for an accident immediately after the incident. You should also not admit fault while in conversation with an insurance company. It is best to be honest about the accident and narrate the actual happenings.
Explanation: The first step in the accident study is accident data collection. This data collection is generally done by the police. Motorists accident reports are considered secondary data.
As a first aider, the very first thing you should do upon arriving at an incident scene is to check for any hazards to yourself or bystanders. A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm.
lie the person down if their injuries allow you to and, if possible, raise and support their legs. use a coat or blanket to keep them warm. do not give them anything to eat or drink. give them lots of comfort and reassurance.
Our NewsApproach with caution. As you approach the scene make sure you park a safe distance away from the damaged vehicle or vehicles to give you the opportunity to properly access the situation and whether it is safe to approach. ... Signal the accident and call triple zero. ... Help the victims.
Are you suspecting you have collision injuries from being rear end after a car accident? Let's examine the 5 most common rear-end collision injuries to expect and choose the right next steps. Visit our site www.www.stephenbabcock.com or call us today ☎(225) 500-5000!
I have a Florida Traffic Crash Driver Exchange Form. My back and neck are starting to get sore. I am not sure if that should be of any concern right now.
If the other driver’s insurance is disputing fault, they likely won’t be willing to pay for your repairs. Your own insurance company can step in, pay for the repairs, and set you up with a rental vehicle.
This information will also be valuable for your car accident lawyer who will need to reach out to the other driver’s insurance company, other witnesses, and the police for the accident report.
According to Georgia’s statute of limitations, you have two years from the day you were injured to file your personal injury claim with the state civil courts.
No one should ever give a recorded statement to an insurance company, even their own insurance company, without consulting an attorney first.
Insurance companies are known for manipulating you into somehow admitting the accident was your fault. Even saying a simple “I’m sorry,” can be all they need to prove you were at fault. It’s best to let your lawyer do all the talking when it comes to dealing with other parties’ insurance companies.
When negligence causes a rear-end accident, one has a right to compensation for damages. It is up to the injured party to provide evidence of the other driver’s negligence, and proof of their injuries. The injured party will need to prove the collision led to injury and the extent of their losses from these injuries.
After an auto accident, one expects compensation for property damage and personal injuries. Most of the time, the police and the involved insurance companies assign fault to the rear-end accident. Individuals who have suffered an auto accident will file a liability claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
Insurance companies are highly suspicious of whiplash cases because whiplash injuries are diagnosed mainly by the injured party’s complaints.
Negligence happens when a driver fails to act responsibly or does something no reasonable driver would do, like tailgating. Damages for rear-end accidents can include property damages to your car, and personal injury damages like medical and therapy costs, out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Following is some important information to know in order to get fair compensation from the insurance company. Rear-end collisions injure more than 556,000 people annually. It is important to know what to do after a rear-end collision, and how to avoid mistakes that will inhibit making a successful insurance claim.
If you have experienced any damages, including personal injury or property damage, it is in your best interest to seek legal counsel after a rear-end accident. A lawyer can help you get the maximum compensation available in the quickest, most economical manner possible.
Furthermore, there is no cost to find out what a skilled attorney can achieve. For more information, call Dennis and King today at 423-892-5533 or contact us online now.
A rear end collision is defined as when one or more vehicles crash into the back of another vehicle. Rear end collisions are among the most common types of accidents on the road, along with side impacts (between two cars) and frontal/ head on collisions (into the front of a car).
Rear end collisions are one of the most common on American roads. It is estimated that 1/3 of all highway accidents are rear end collisions. A rear end accident occurs when the lead driver in an auto accident strikes another car in front of it, often as a result of speeding or distracted driving.
A list of what to do after a rear end collision can be broken into 3 stages: The immediate aftertermath, the “fixing” stage, and the “ car accident settlement ” phase. We’ll discuss all 3 in depth below.
If you’ve been injured in a rear end collision, even just a little soft tissue damage, it’s important to seek medical care as soon as possible after the accident. This will be important for your injuries, of course, but it can also help you to gather documentation of your injury.
It’s always a good idea to speak to a personal injury attorney about your claim. After an auto accident, it is important to speak to an experienced car accident lawyer before speaking to any insurance company or taking any legal action.
Make sure all your lights are working properly, don’t drive on bad road surfaces likely to give you a flat tire or otherwise damage your car.
Getting rear ended is scary. However if you keep calm and follow the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to manage the medical treatment, hiring legal counsel, and negotiating your rear ended car accident settlement with relative ease.
The tailing driver is almost always at fault for a rear-end crash.
This is due to the fact that one of the most common injuries from a rear end collision is so-called "whiplash. ".
Instead, when referring to whiplash-type injuries, attorneys will call them cervical strains and sprains or myofascial injuries instead. Learn more about making an injury claim for whiplash after a car accident and preserving your right to compensation after a car accident. Talk to a Lawyer.
By Curtis Lee. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident, making up around 30 percent of all traffic accidents every year.
Perhaps the incidence of rear-end crashes comes as little surprise, given the prevalence of smart phones, GPS units, and other devices that are within arm's reach of most drivers. There can be little doubt that distracted driving is behind many of these accidents.
Getting compensation for vehicle damage after a rear-end car accident is usually uneventful. Since everyone will typically agree on liability, and damage to the vehicle is a fairly objective determination, most insurance companies will quickly pay a rear-end accident victim's vehicle damage claim. Learn more about car accident repair options ...
Except in a limited number of situations, the driver who rear-ends another vehicle is almost always going to be found negligent, and therefore at fault for the car accident. There are a few rare instances where the lead vehicle bears some level of liability for a rear-end collision, such as:
It is important to remember if a driver admits this or something similar, it supports fault and intent. Rear-ending someone “by accident” or without intent means the rear driver did not expect the vehicle in front of you to stop.
This type of rear-end crash is most common in bumper to bumper traffic, intersections and parking lots.
No-Fault Insurance - In these States motorists are required to purchase Personal Injury Protection (PIP) from their insurance provider. PIP covers the driver for medical bills and lost wages, up to a certain amount, no matter who is at fault. Each driver involved in a collision looks to their own insurance company to cover their losses. This does not mean an at-fault driver cannot be sued for damages above and beyond what the PIP provides. Generally, accident victims who suffer permanent injury can seek greater compensation from at-fault drivers in a no-fault State.
Tailgating, often cited as following too close, results in a failure to stop in time and is a primary cause of rear-end accidents nationwide. The driver who is cited for following too close or a failure to stop will be the person assumed at fault in the accident until evidence supports otherwise.
Multi-vehicle rear-end collision: Multiple vehicle pile-ups and accident events and multi-car collisions are among the deadliest form of accident and can complicate who's at fault.
Tort law, State laws, traffic codes, jurisdiction can play a critical factor when evaluating whether you have a valid injury claim supported by the law beyond just harm suffered. Head-on collisions, high-speed collisions, hitting a parked car, a pedestrian crash, hydroplaning and rear-end collisions are all a risk when you share the roads.
Share the details of what happened to have your claim reviewed. Get the answers you need after an accident, so you can move forward with confidence in the best direction for you and your family's needs.
Here are the immediate steps you should take in the event you rear-end another vehicle: 1 Do not leave the scene of the accident 2 Check for injuries 3 Call the police and report the accident 4 Take pictures of the scene to document the damage 5 Contact your car insurance company
Whether you were rear-ended or you did the rear-ending, your first step should be to assess yourself and your passengers for injuries and call for help if you need it. Then, you should contact the police to report the accident. Next, rely on these tips to get through ...
Rear-end collisions are the most common car accident in the United States. In fact, a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that roughly 29% of all car accidents are rear-end collisions .
Call the police and report the accident. Take pictures of the scene to document the damage. Contact your car insurance company. Even the most careful drivers get into accidents. Do not drive away from the scene, no matter how scared you may be. If you rear-end someone, you should take pictures of the accident site to document damage to your car ...
If you were driving slowly at the time of the accident, it might appear the other driver did not suffer any damage. While that might seem like a case where you should not report the accident, sometimes you can’t see the damage. So, you should still exchange information with the other driver- even if there’s no damage.
Throughout all this, do not ever admit to fault in the accident, either to the police or the driver of the other car. While in most cases, the driver of the rear vehicle is at fault, you don’t know all the circumstances yet. So, do not admit it is your fault while the investigation of the accident is ongoing.
In those situations, it’s clear that the other driver was at fault. Insurance companies want to settle those types of claims quickly because they know that a jury verdict may be higher than the settlement and that it will take considerable time, effort, and money to get the case fully ready for trial.
No one should ever give a recorded statement to an insurance company, even their own insurance company, without consulting an attorney first.
Regardless, even if the accident was partially your fault, you can often still recover damages to help with medical expenses , lost wages, and more.
Instead, Georgia does allow both parties to share fault in some cases, and the front driver may be considered partially at fault . For example, imagine that you were texting and driving and looked up and saw a child run out into the road. You slam on your brakes to avoid the accident, but the car behind you doesn’t stop in time and hits you. In that situation, you could be partially at fault because you were texting and driving.
Insurance claims essentially work the same for a rear-end accident as they do for any other accident. However, depending on the law of the state where the accident occurs, an insurance adjuster might handle your claim differently. In most states, whether a no-fault state or not, you can file a claim with the insurance carrier for the at-fault driver which allows you compensation for your damages. However, you may be limited to your carrier’s personal injury protection coverage for medical payments in no-fault states. This can be another tricky issue to navigate that often requires the advice of a qualified lawyer, and you should never hesitate to speak with an attorney who is able to answer your questions.
Often times, people assume that the driver that hits the car in front of them is automatically at fault for the accident. However, not every rear-ends collision is that straightforward. Insurance companies will often try to shift the blame to the front car, claiming that the driver stopped short or slammed on the breaks, which was the cause of the accident. Other factors can complicate a rear-end collision, including the number of cars involved in the accident, road conditions, and the driving patterns of the drivers involved.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s rear-end-collision estimates about 22 percent of all car accidents which occurred in 2017 were rear-ended car collisions. Convincing the opposing insurance company that their insured is at fault is not always an easy task, however.
Injuries most commonly associated with rear-end collisions are whiplash injuries. These neck injuries can often occur in a rear-end crash situation as the impact can cause a driver’s neck to jolt backward and forward. The stress of this can cause hyperextension and other damage to the neck. However, neck injuries are not the only injuries commonly resulting from a rear-end collision. In the event of a rear-end collision, it is important to know what kind of injuries might have occurred in the accident. Not only is it essential to evaluate your own physical state following an accident, but it is also beneficial to be able to share that information with emergency responders.
When you are rear-ended, your car is often unexpectedly jolted forward with significant force. Since you are sitting inside your vehicle, your body can be aggressively jolted forward as well. Unfortunately, our bodies are not designed to withstand such violent sudden forces and movements. This can cause strains to vulnerable body parts, such as your neck, back and shoulders.
With upwards of twenty thousand collisions happening from year-to-year, all drivers must exercise caution behind the wheel. Causing a rear-end collision could mean trouble for you since, statistically, a driver who hits the car ahead of him is found to be the at-fault driver.
A lot of what happens to your body in a rear-end collision depends on the speed of the accident. Most rear-end crashes happen when you stop suddenly and the car behind crashes into yours. The momentum of the other vehicle shifts quickly to your car – and your body is thrust forward as an extension. Almost immediately the seat belt stops your forward motion and snaps your body backward. The sudden forward motion can have severe ramifications that don’t always manifest into “injuries” until hours or days later after your head, neck and back smash back into your seat and headrest. When your head violently snaps forward and back like this, its referred to as whiplash. Whiplash is responsible for headaches, neck and back injuries and more. Not only does your head snap forward and back, but your internal organs do the same thing, and can be bruised or even rupture. In some rear-end collisions your airbag may deploy, and this can cause a broken nose, broken glasses, or worse.
Even low-impact rear-end collisions can result in hidden damage to your car and serious injuries to you or your passengers.
Significant rear-end injuries are often caused by relatively low-impact collisions, but the symptoms may take a day or two to develop. If you are the driver or passenger in a vehicle that was rear-ended, you owe it to yourself to seek prompt medical attention.
If you are rear-ended in a parking lot or in slow-moving traffic, there may be little or no apparent damage to your vehicle. The other vehicle may also show little damage, or may have a crumpled hood and smashed front end, depending on the size and weight of your cars.
Your hard costs for medical treatment and lost wages are the basis for calculating fair injury compensation after a traffic accident.
When you’re hit from behind, check for injuries and call 911. Watch what you say and cooperate with emergency responders. Don’t just shake hands and walk away – you’ll risk jeopardizing your claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance.
Insurance adjusters will fight injury claims arising from low-impact or no-damage rear-end collisions. You may need a personal injury attorney to get fair compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Most injury attorneys offer a free consultation to auto accident victims.
In most states, you’ll file a bodily injury claim and a property damage claim. Even in a no-fault state, the at-fault driver’s insurer should pay for your vehicle damage.