Hundreds of thousands of rear-end collisions occur annually in the United States, and they regularly make up a disproportionately high number of total car accidents.
The fatal and incapacitating effects of these wrecks are shocking, but those who are fortunate enough to survive without suffering an incapacitating injury often do not remain unscathed. Many experience back injuries requiring surgery or almost a guarantee of lifelong pain.
If you have been injured in a rear-end collision, Ben Crump Law, PLLC, wants to help you explore your legal options. You do not have to handle this on your own. You can speak to an Indianapolis rear-end collisions lawyer who can review the details of your case. We can help you file a lawsuit against the parties responsible for your injury.
The goal of a lawsuit is to ensure that you seek the maximum financial awards you are eligible to receive. It can make your recovery easier by taking care of your financial losses and providing comfort and support.
If you are interested in pursuing legal action, call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today at (800) 598-7557 to schedule a free consultation. A team member can answer your questions and discuss possible ways you can pursue your case.
There is no need to worry about payment right now. We charge no upfront fees and do not collect a fee unless you win financial awards.
Causes of Rear-End Collisions
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-end collisions happen for many reasons, including:
- Motorists follow too closely. Many rear-end accidents occur when a lead vehicle decelerates quickly. The car behind, who follows too closely, does not have enough response time to avoid hitting the decelerating car.
- Driver distraction. Vehicles often hit cars in front of them when they experience visual distractions that delay their reaction times to cars slowing in front of them.
- Lane changes. Cars quickly weave in and out of lanes, sometimes carelessly cutting off other drivers, which can directly cause a driver to hit them from behind.
- Speeding. Motorists who are driving too fast can cause rear-end collisions. Even with quick reaction times, excessive speed prevents these drivers from being able to stop in time to not hit the car in front of them.
- Avoidance maneuvers. Drivers who quickly weave out of a lane to avoid a car can cause the driver behind them to crash directly into the car the weaving driver was trying to avoid. This is an indication of negligence. In these types of cases, the accidents are caused by a driver’s selfishness and lack of regard for the car behind them who could not see the stopped cars ahead until it was too late.
Accident liability in rear-end collisions does not always rest on the shoulders of the rear car, as described in the above scenarios. Each case is decided on its individual factors. An Indianapolis rear-end collisions lawyer can help you determine who is liable for your accident and explain other essential aspects of filing.
It might be better to take prompt legal action. All personal injury cases must be filed within a “statute of limitations,” which is two years from the date of the accident in Indiana, pursuant to Indiana Code (Ind Code) §34-11-2-4 (2017).
Hiring an attorney can help make your rear-end collision case easier to manage, as they will handle all communications on your behalf and file your case on time. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today to speak with a team member about your case.
For a free legal consultation with a rear-end collisions lawyer serving Indianapolis, call 800-959-1444
Common Rear-End Collision Injuries
Much of the time, injuries suffered in rear-end accidents are specific to the back. This happens because when a person is hit from behind, there is no support to prevent the head, neck, and sometimes the upper back, from being forcefully jolted forward.
While seatbelts are excellent safety preventative measures, they do not do much to protect the neck from the sudden jarring that occurs when someone is rear-ended. The type and severity of the injury will depend largely on the speed with which the rear driver was going upon impact. As expected, accidents that occur at higher speeds often have more severe outcomes than those at lower speeds.
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Whiplash
Whiplash is a common injury that people in rear-end accidents suffer. It happens when the tendons, muscles, and ligaments at the base of the skull, the neck, and the upper back are strained too much, too quickly. If hit hard enough, they can tear, causing extreme pain and decreasing the chances of healing fully. Even when muscles, tendons, and ligaments are not torn, the severe strain on them can lead to extreme, long-term pain that requires medical attention and physical therapy.
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Herniated Discs
When a person’s spine is jarred hard enough, it risks displacing “discs” that sit between each individual vertebrae in the spine. A disc is round and made up of softer inner tissue, surrounded by tougher exterior tissue. When a disc becomes herniated, the exterior shell of the disc tears, allowing part of the softer, inner tissue to leak out a bit into the nearby area, putting potential pressure on surrounding nerves. This may or may not be serious. The severity is usually determined by the location because that impacts the nerve or nerves, receiving the pressure and discomfort. Herniated discs can be extremely dangerous and cause debilitating pain and loss of function if not treated.
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Spinal Cord Injuries
The severest injuries suffered in rear-end accidents are those to the spinal cord, usually resulting from high-speed accidents. Although not all spinal cord injuries are debilitating, there are some that either partially or fully debilitate victims. How a victim will be affected by a spinal cord injury depends on where the injury occurred along the spine and how severe it was.
If you have suffered any kind of injury in a rear-end collision, it might be helpful to speak to an Indianapolis rear-end collisions lawyer who can help you decide how to start your case. If you want a team who will fight hard on your behalf and not settle for less than fair, call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today. We want to help you get the justice you deserve.
Call us today at (800) 598-7557 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. We work only on a contingency basis, so you never pay us anything unless you win a financial award.
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