Rear-end collisions are the most common type of auto accident. A large auto body repair chain found that as many as 1.7 million rear-end accidents happen each year. A startling 87 percent of these rear-end collisions are the result of a distracted driver. Although there is less likelihood of fatalities in a rear-end collision than in other types of collisions, as many as 1,700 people die each year from injuries sustained in a rear-end crash. In most cases, the rear driver in a rear-end collision is at fault for the accident.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a rear-end collision that was caused by the negligence of another driver, you are entitled to damages for your injuries. You may feel overwhelmed when you are injured, facing medical expenses, and unable to work and pay your normal monthly expenses. Once you have an experienced St. Louis rear-end collision lawyer from Finney Injury Law on your side, you can focus on healing from your injuries while we handle all the legal issues associated with your accident.
Why Choose a St. Louis Rear-End Collision Lawyer from Finney Injury Law?
Finney Injury Law is a St. Louis-based law firm that takes pride in our exemplary customer service. We are fully dedicated to obtaining a positive outcome for every client who walks through our doors needing a strong legal advocate. Our highly respected trial lawyers serve clients in Missouri and Illinois who have been injured in an accident and are unsure of what they need to do to protect their futures. Insurance companies often present themselves as your “friend” during your time of need. The reality is quite different. Insurance companies are interested in one thing—their financial bottom line.
An insurance company approaches many accident victims before they have time to speak to an attorney. The insurer may offer a quick—but very low—settlement and many accident victims accept the settlement before they are fully aware of the extent of their injuries. When you contact Finney Injury Law, we will immediately be on your case, gathering information and compiling evidence to prove liability. We will then accurately calculate your damages, including your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, lost future wages, and property damages. Our knowledgeable attorneys will ensure you are not taken advantage of by the insurance company while helping you get the medical attention you need.
Choosing a St. Louis rear-end collision lawyer is of utmost importance, second only to obtaining medical treatment for your injuries. Attorneys Chris Finney and Alex Ledbetter are highly skilled negotiators and experienced, aggressive litigators. Once our attorneys are in your corner, we will do everything in our power to protect you from a greedy insurance company. We will determine the full extent of your injuries, how long you will require medical treatment and whether you will need rehabilitative therapy for your injuries. Our attorneys will also calculate your current and future lost wages as part of determining your settlement’s value. We will do this all on your behalf so you can focus on getting the medical treatment you need.
Where Do Rear-End Accidents Typically Occur?
Rear-end accidents often occur at stop signs, red lights, or in congested or stop-and-go traffic on busy streets and freeways. While most rear-end accidents occur at lower speeds, rear-end collisions can also occur at high speeds, usually when traffic has come to a halt on a freeway and a driver fails to take note of the brake lights and slow down. The following include instances of how rear-end collisions typically occur:
- Traffic is moving slowly, or is stopped at a stop light, and the rear driver rolls forward slowly, hitting the front driver’s vehicle.
- The rear driver is driving at a high rate of speed, then crashes into another driver who is stopped.
- The driver in the rear is traveling faster than the driver in front, and the two vehicles collide while they are both in motion.
The force of a rear-end collision can cause one or both vehicles to slide into another vehicle or to run off the road, causing further damage. When the rear vehicle is much larger than the front vehicle, the force will be more significant, regardless of speed. When a commercial truck rear-ends a much smaller passenger vehicle, those in the passenger vehicle can suffer severe injuries or even death.
A rear-end collision causes a sudden jolt to the occupants in both vehicles. The driver and passengers in the front vehicle can be thrust forward violently and then pushed backward against the seat. This movement can result in whiplash injuries as well as other neck and back injuries.
Distracted driving, aggressive driving, hazardous weather conditions, impaired driving, and overly fatigued drivers are the primary causes of rear-end collisions. Aggressive driving behaviors that can result in a rear-end collision include tailgating, speeding, changing lanes unexpectedly, or stopping suddenly.
What Injuries Are Common in a Rear-End Accident?
Even when a rear-end collision occurs at low speeds, severe or even catastrophic injuries can result. Whiplash, as well as head, neck, shoulder, and spinal cord injuries, can occur from the sudden forward motion when the two vehicles collide. The degree of injury can be related to the speed of both vehicles, body position, whether safety belts are used, and any prior medical conditions. While cuts and bruises are normal injuries sustained from rear-end accidents, more severe injuries include:
- Whiplash injuries occur when the head snaps forward suddenly, then backward suddenly. Most people tend to discount whiplash injuries, but they can cause chronic, sometimes severe medical issues. Whiplash injuries can cause pain and stiffness in the neck—sometimes for months or years—chronic headaches, loss of range of motion in the neck, numbness and tingling in the arms, shoulder and upper back pain, and pain in the arms. In some cases, herniated discs and neck fractures may require surgical intervention. Neck, back, spinal cord, and shoulder injuries are also common occurrences following a rear-end accident.
- Traumatic brain injury can occur in a rear-end collision when the force of the collision is sufficient to “bounce” the brain from one side of the hard skull to the other. The head can also collide with the steering wheel, the side window, or an airbag. Depending on whether the traumatic brain injury is mild, moderate, or severe, the results can include chronic headaches, vertigo, extreme fatigue, loss of memory, mood swings, vision and speech issues, and impaired cognitive function.
- Facial lacerations and disfigurement can occur when you are hit from behind, particularly if the collision pushes you into moving traffic, a stationary object, or a car in front of you. Fragments of broken glass can cause serious facial lacerations that may not be easily repaired. An airbag can also cause cuts and burns.
- Soft tissue damage is very common among those involved in a rear-end collision. Ligaments, nerves, tendons, and muscles can suffer strains, tears, sprains, bruising, and soreness. When soft tissue damage is not diagnosed and treated, complications can arise.
While relatively rare, rear-end crashes can cause fatalities, particularly when the vehicle from behind is large and/or is traveling at a high rate of speed.
Is Liability Clear in a Rear-End Collision?
While the driver who rear-ends a car in front is usually liable for damages, there are exceptions to the rule. In some instances, the driver in front is the negligent party and the person responsible for the accident. This could be true if the front driver suddenly slams on their brakes for no apparent reason, causing the driver in the back to rear-end them.
In states with contributory and comparative negligence laws, the rear driver’s liability may be reduced or even eliminated. While rare, the front driver could also put their vehicle in reverse and ram the car behind them in a fit of road rage, or the driver in front could begin to accelerate at an intersection and then suddenly stop. Dash cameras often catch these issues and can be used to show that the rear driver was not at fault or not fully at fault.
Do You Need a St. Louis Rear-End Collision Lawyer if You Have Been Rear-Ended in an Accident?
If liability is unclear, having a skilled St. Louis rear-end collision lawyer can significantly help your case. Personal injury attorneys know how to gather evidence to support a finding of liability, as well as how to accurately calculate your damages—present and future—then negotiate a full settlement with the insurance company. This is not a time to be on your own. You deserve time to seek medical treatment and begin to heal without worrying about convincing an insurance company to pay you what your damages are worth.
Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer from Finney Injury Law
Finney Injury Law is here when you need us most. This is more than a slogan, we deeply believe in our clients, their injuries, and their futures. We are a St. Louis-based personal injury law trial practice. If you or a loved one has suffered serious injury following a rear-end collision, we provide a free consultation where we will answer all your questions. Contact Finney Injury Law today.