Did you suddenly have to apply your brakes when the person behind you was not paying attention, causing you to get rear-ended? Rear-end collisions are one of the most avoidable accidents there are, but they still occur, and often. If your vehicle has been struck from behind, it is very likely the other driver’s fault. If you have been injured from a rear-end collision you deserve to be compensated. Contact a Baltimore Personal Injury Attorney to discuss your case.
Establishing Liability
Establishing liability is a key component to winning any personal injury case. In order to determine who is at fault, the law looks to see who violates their duty of care. Violating the duty of care is called negligence and can include driving recklessly, violating motor vehicle rules or driving a faulty vehicle. In rear-end collisions, the person in the rear is almost always the person at fault. In Maryland, in order to prevail in your case, you cannot be found to be negligent causing the accident, no matter how small the percentage. For example, if you were rear-ended but your brake light was out, that may be negligence enough to bar recovery. If you were rear-ended and suffered injury, contact a Baltimore personal injury attorney immediately.
Common Causes of Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions can occur at any moment, but there are common reasons for such accidents.
Distracted Driving
One of the common reasons of distracted driving is texting and driving. Though, there are many other reasons that a driver may have been distracted; eating, playing with the radio, even putting on makeup. If you were rear-ended due to another driver not paying attention, it is not your fault. If you were rear-ended due to a distracted driver, you may have a personal injury case.
Aggressive Driving – Tailgating
When in driving school we are taught to keep a following distance of at least three seconds. Aggressive driving, such as tailgating, is dangerous and increases chances of getting into a car accident. If someone is tailgating behind you and you have to stop quickly they may not be able to react in time. If you have been in a rear-end collision due to tailgating and have been injured, a Baltimore personal injury attorney can help you.
Driver Under the Influence
When a person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol their response times become much slower. Driving under the influence or driving while impaired is crimes within themselves. But, if you have been involved in a rear-end collision due to a driver under the influence and you were injured, you need to contact a personal injury lawyer.
Poor Road Conditions
Poor road conditions can make it difficult for drivers to stop, causing rear-end collisions. Whether it is raining or snowing outside stop times may be increased, increasing the chance of accidents. Accidents caused by poor road conditions may not be the striking drivers fault per se, but liability still falls on them. So, if you were driving in poor road conditions that caused a rear-end collision that resulted in injuries, a Baltimore personal injury attorney can help.
Sudden Stops
Sometimes traffic stops without notice. There are all kinds of causes for sudden stops such as a stopped vehicle in the right-hand lane, police radar, or even animals in the road. These inconveniences cannot be predicted, but happen more than we would like. When traffic stops without notice, some people may not react in time causing rear-end collisions. If you have been injured in one of these accidents, someone must be held accountable for your injuries.
Lights Not Working
Depending on the type of car that you drive, you may not know if your brake lights are burnt out. If you are driving without brake lights it can be impossible for other drivers to know that you are stopped until it is too late. Even though some of the fault may be placed on you for faulty brake lights, you can still recover some monetary damages from the other driver as well if you are injured in a rear-end collision.
Common Injuries in Rear-End Accidents
When you are rear-ended you may suffer injuries from the sudden jolt. Oftentimes, this may cause common injuries such as:
Whiplash
When involved in a rear-end collision the driver being struck is jolted forward, oftentimes causing whiplash. Whiplash is an injury to the neck and is characterized by a number of symptoms such as neck pain, headaches, and shoulder pain. the symptoms of whiplash can last a year or longer depending on the severity of the injury. If you were in an accident and suffered whiplash you may suffer far into the future. Call a personal injury lawyer to discuss what options you have open to you.
Face Injuries
Facial and head injuries are common due to the impact with the airbags. Airbags can deploy if you are moving at a speed of greater than 25 miles per hour or higher. If you are moving at a slow enough speed for the airbags not to deploy, but are still rear-ended, your face may contact the steering wheel. In either of these scenarios, you may suffer scratches, bruises, or other lacerations.
Back Injuries
When involved in a rear-end collision the jolting back and forth can not only cause whiplash but other back injuries. Herniated disc compression fractures are just a couple injuries that could occur when you are rear-ended. The pain from these injuries can follow you the rest of your live, so don’t you at least deserve to be compensated for your pain and suffering.
Chest Injuries
Chest injuries often occur due to seatbelts holding your torso to the seat. Even though it is doing its job, you can suffer injuries such as a bruised chest or broken ribs. If you suffered chest injuries, let a Baltimore rear-end collision attorney get you the compensation you deserve.
Contact Our Maryland Rear-End Accident Lawyers Today
When you are involved in a car accident your world can be flipped upside down when you are dealing with insurance claims and medical bills. If you have been injured in a rear-end collision, a Baltimore car accident attorney will stand by your side to ensure you get every amount owed to you. Come in for a free consultation today.