Sometimes rear-end car accidents are minor fender benders that don’t result in any injuries. However, many rear-end collisions – even those that cause minor damage to the vehicles – leave victims with serious and life-threatening injuries that disrupt the rest of their lives. These crashes kill around 17,000 people each year and injure more than 500,000 others, according to news reports.
If you were seriously injured in a rear-end car crash, contact Demas Law Group right away. With over 25 years of experience serving clients in Sacramento and surrounding areas, we have what it takes to stand up for your rights and seek the full compensation you deserve for your injuries. As demonstrated by our top dollar results from previous cases, we are dedicated to helping you pursue the best possible results for your case.
Don’t wait to go after the justice and compensation you’re owed for a rear-end car accident. Contact Demas Law Group right away, and let our respected car collision attorneys work for you.
Call us today or chat with us online to set up your free consultation.
Common Causes of Rear-End Car Accidents in Sacramento
Any motor vehicle accident is painful and frustrating, but rear-end car collisions are particularly infuriating because they often result from circumstances that are entirely preventable.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drivers who are distracted because they are texting, talking with passengers, changing the radio, eating, and engaging in other activities cause nearly 90 percent of these collisions.
Some of the other common causes of rear-end car accidents in Sacramento include:
- Tailgating or following too closely
- Speeding
- Failing to use turn signals
- Road rage
- Hazardous road conditions, such as loose gravel
- Reckless drivers who cut off another vehicle or suddenly swerve into someone’s lane
- Manufacturer defects
- Disobeying traffic signs and other laws
- Vehicles that illegally stop in the roadway
- Drowsy driving
- Broken brakes, taillights, turn signals, or other equipment failures
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Poorly maintained vehicles
- Running stop signs or stop lights
Common Injuries Suffered in Rear-End Car Accidents
Depending on the severity of a rear-end car accident, these crashes can cause a range of personal injuries. In the most serious circumstances, rear-end collisions can leave victims with chronic conditions or fatal injuries.
Some of the most common types of injuries from rear-enders include:
- Herniated discs
- Spinal cord damage
- Concussions
- Neck injuries
- Pelvis fractures and other broken bones
- Whiplash
- Back injuries
- Cuts or lacerations
- Paralysis
- Disfigurement
- Bruising
- Burns
- Airbag or seat belt injuries
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
Who Is Liable for a Rear-End Crash?
Rear-end crashes are often the fault of the driver of the car in the back who hits a vehicle ahead, but this isn’t always the case. Under California law, several different parties might be liable for the crash. For example, instances, where the lead driver might hold responsibility in a rear-end collision, include:
- The driver breaks down or stops illegally on the road and doesn’t use their hazard lights
- They stop abruptly
- The car backs up and runs into someone behind them
- Their brake lights aren’t working correctly
- The driver suddenly changes lanes or turns, especially without using their turn signal
- Not yielding the right of way
- They fail to maintain control of their vehicle
- A driver doesn’t slow down in a construction zone or go the appropriate speed for current weather conditions
A vital factor in proving that someone else was responsible for your rear-end accident is your ability to prove that they were negligent. This involves demonstrating:
- The other party had a duty to keep you and others on the road safe.
- They failed to meet this duty of care by doing something negligent or wrongful, such as driving drunk or texting while driving.
- The negligent party caused the accident because of their actions or failure to act.
- You suffered economic or non-economic damages because of the collision.
How to Prevent Rear-End Accidents
Rear-end car accidents are often preventable when drivers follow some basic strategies and safety tips, such as:
- Avoid tailgating and leave plenty of space between you and traffic ahead of you.
- Allow yourself enough distance from other cars so that you can move to avoid a collision if another vehicle stops suddenly or makes another unexpected move.
- Use your turn signals and check your mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes or turning.
- Get plenty of sleep before you drive.
- Arrange for a safe ride home before you go out to a restaurant, party, or other event if you think you might drink alcohol.
- Apply the brakes as soon as you notice cars ahead of you are slowing or stopping or whenever you think you might be getting too close to another vehicle.
- Store your phone while you’re driving and avoid other distractions while you’re on the road.
How to Recover Compensation Following a Rear-End Crash
The amount of compensation a victim can recover depends on the severity of their injuries and the circumstances of the crash, plus it might depend on the limits of the at-fault party’s insurance policy.
Types of compensation that innocent victims can recover for the losses they suffer in a rear-end car accident may include:
- Wages lost during recovery
- Pain and suffering or mental anguish
- Current medical costs, such as hospitalization, diagnostic tests, ambulance transportation, lab work, medications, surgeries, and other treatments
- Lost ability to participate in activities you used to enjoy, such as hobbies or sports
- Future medical expenses, such as follow-up visits, rehabilitation, long-term care, therapies, medical devices or equipment, specialist visits, or prescriptions
- Disability accommodations
- Lost ability to do your previous job or another type of work that earns comparable income
- Services to replace household tasks you are no longer able to do because of your injuries, such as childcare, yard work, or cleaning
- Loss of companionship or consortium
Even if you were partially responsible for the crash, you might still be able to recover some compensation. California follows rules of comparative negligence, which means that anyone who is less than 50 percent at fault for an accident could be eligible for compensation, although the courts would reduce the award that this person can receive according to their share of fault.
For example, if the damages you suffer from an accident are worth $100,000 but you were 20 percent at fault, then the maximum compensation you could receive would typically be $80,000.
What Can a Sacramento Rear-End Collision Lawyer Do for Me?
Seeking damages after a rear-end car accident can be a stressful and overwhelming process for victims who try to handle a claim on their own. You don’t have to go through this difficult process all alone. At Demas Law Group, we’re prepared to stand by your side and handle all aspects of your case, so you can focus on healing.
Our trusted Sacramento car accident lawyers will evaluate your case for free, listen to your personal story, and help you understand your legal options. As soon as you hire us, we’ll launch a full investigation into your case and help determine how much your case might be worth.
This involves helping you get a copy of the official accident report, gathering evidence to support your case, collecting accounts from eyewitnesses, and determining all of the parties who might hold responsibility for your accident. We’ll also be here to patiently answer any questions you have about your case and to help you get the services you need, such as medical care.
Additionally, we’re also prepared to stand up for your interests in any discussions with the negligent party, their insurance company, or their other representatives. Insurers often show up at accident scenes or contact victims soon after a collision to try to talk them into low settlements or to try to trick them into saying something they can use against them.
Demas Law Group can help protect you from aggressive insurance companies by speaking with them on your behalf, so you don’t have to risk mistakenly saying something you’ll regret. We can file any paperwork necessary for your claim and negotiate with insurance to help you seek the best possible outcome in your case. If the insurer won’t agree to a fair settlement, then our skilled rear-end collision attorneys can also fight for you in court to pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.
No matter the circumstances of your car wreck, Demas Law Group is here to fight for your rights and seek the full compensation you deserve. To get started on the road to recovery, call our skilled rear-end car collision lawyers right away to set up a free consultation.
Contact us today by phone or chat with us online.
