With all the dense traffic in the Decatur area, rear-end collisions are a constant danger. This type of car accident occurs most frequently in areas of heavy traffic where cars are bunched closely together, and drivers grow either impatient or inattentive.
Because rear-end collisions are so common and the vehicle damage is not as dramatic as the damage that occurs in other types of car and truck accidents, many people do not realize how often rear-end collisions result in serious injuries.
Often accident victims themselves do not realize the extent of their injuries until some time passes. The symptoms are not always immediately apparent, even when the damage is serious.
If you’ve been in a rear-end collision, it is important to get a thorough medical exam and to return to the doctor if new symptoms develop. It is also a good idea to consult a Decatur car accident lawyer. Even though you won’t know the full extent of your injuries for a while, it is important to collect evidence from the accident as quickly as possible, and your attorney can help with the process. In addition, your attorney can prevent you from inadvertently saying or doing something that could jeopardize your ability to receive compensation for your injuries and other losses.
At Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC, we work from day one to ensure that victims of Decatur rear-end collisions receive the right medical care to treat their injuries and the right compensation to offset the pain, suffering, and other harm they’ve suffered.
Understanding Rear-End Collisions
In basic terms, a rear-end collision occurs when the front of a car, truck, or other vehicle hits the rear-end of the vehicle in front. The vehicle that is impacted may be moving but is often stopped, which results in more severe vehicle damage and more serious injuries to those inside the vehicle. After studying these collisions closely, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that nearly 30% of traffic accidents are rear-end collisions and that in most of these accidents, the vehicle that is hit is either stationary or moving very slowly.
Common Causes of Decatur Rear-End Collisions
Police reports and traffic studies have revealed numerous causes of rear-end collisions. These accidents occur more often when:
- A driver cuts off the front vehicle, causing the driver to brake suddenly
- The driver of the rear vehicle is distracted and does not notice the front vehicle slowing down
- The driver of the rear vehicle is driving too closely to (tailgating) the vehicle in front
- The driver of the front vehicle is distracted and has to stop suddenly to avoid another vehicle or obstacle
- Mechanical problems cause the car in front to slow or stop unexpectedly
- The driver of the front vehicle is sleepy or impaired by drugs or alcohol and driving at erratic speeds
- The driver of the rear vehicle is speeding and doesn’t have enough time to react to changes in road conditions
The driver of the rear vehicle is sleepy or impaired by drugs or alcohol and driving at erratic speeds
In most of these situations, a driver’s negligence is the primary cause of the collision. All drivers owe a duty to others on the road to pay attention to the conditions around them and follow the rules of the road. This includes a duty to avoid driving while impaired by anything, including legal over-the-counter medicines. Driving while fatigued can be as dangerous as driving while impaired by a substance, and it is frequently the cause of rear-end collisions.
In addition to distracted and impaired driving, aggressive driving is also frequently a cause of rear-end collisions. Drivers who tailgate and speed often trigger these types of accidents.
When a driver fails to act responsibly and that failure leads to an accident, a car accident lawyer in Decatur can work to hold the driver accountable for the wreck and resulting injuries.
Impact of Rear-End Collisions
Although we tend to think of rear-end collisions occurring at low speeds during traffic jams, they frequently occur in high-speed situations as well. The dynamics of the collision vary according to speed, vehicle type, and other factors, so it is important to work with a Decatur car accident lawyer who understands rear-end collisions, how the evidence demonstrates their causation and the serious injuries that can result. The force of a rear-end collision can easily knock the impacted vehicle off the road or into other vehicles, setting off a chain reaction that can turn deadly. When a car is hit by a truck or other large heavy vehicle, the force from the impact frequently results in catastrophic injuries.
During impact, occupants of both the vehicle in front and the vehicle behind can suffer traumatic force. The driver and passengers in the front are often thrust backward, while those in the rear vehicle often lurch forward. Then there are rebound movements.
Injuries Caused by Rear-End Collisions
Although people tend to associate rear-end collisions with soft tissue injuries such as whiplash, Decatur rear-end collisions frequently result in a variety of other injuries as well. Some of these injuries can have life-altering or life-threatening consequences. What is most frightening is that the most serious injuries often take time to develop, and victims may avoid seeking medical attention until it is too late.
A rear-end collision can lead to:
- Whiplash caused by violent back-and-forth movements of the head. Stretched tendons and muscle damage can prevent accident victims from working for a considerable period of time and lead to chronic pain.
- Traumatic brain injuries caused by the force of the brain colliding repeatedly with the skull. Symptoms can take hours, days, or even weeks to appear. Injuries to the brain can impair the victim’s ability to concentrate, see properly, and move parts of the body. The damage can be long-term and can prevent a victim from working.
- Eye injuries caused by fragments of broken glass or impact against the dashboard
- Spinal cord and back injuries caused by the violent motion of the crash, which affects the curve of the spine. Back injuries can lead to permanent pain and loss of mobility. Spinal cord injuries disrupt the ability of nerves to transmit information to the brain leading to loss of sensation and paralysis.
- Fractures resulting from the impact commonly affect bones in the wrists, hands, arms, legs, ribs, and hips. In some cases, bones can be crushed and require extensive surgery.
- Neck and shoulder injuries beyond whiplash, such as herniated discs and fractures.
- Burns caused by fire resulting from the collision or from friction due to violent movement triggered by the collision. Besides being incredibly painful, burns are often permanently debilitating both physically and emotionally.
- Other soft tissue injuries such as sprains, tears, and torn muscles
When the injuries are severe or combined, they can lead to death. A Decatur car accident lawyer at Michael M. Day Law Firm can help the family recover for losses through a wrongful death claim.
Finding the Right Attorney to Handle Your Rear-End Collision Accident Claim in Decatur
Rear-end collisions are a common type of car accident in Decatur, and there are many attorneys in the region who handle car accident cases. So how do you choose the right car accident lawyer to help you recover after a rear-end collision? First, you need an attorney who cares about you as an individual rather than a case file. You want a legal advisor who can help you find the right medical care so that you can reach your maximum level of recovery. At Michael M. Day Law Firm, our clients will tell you that they know they are our priority. We put people first.
You also want a Decatur car accident lawyer with experience and a proven track record of success in cases similar to yours. When you take a look at our results and our 5-star reviews on Google, you can see that Michael M. Day leads a team that knows how to get the recovery clients deserve. We know how to gather and preserve persuasive evidence to demonstrate liability in rear-end collision cases, and we present that evidence in a way the courts and insurance companies cannot deny.
Contact Michael M. Day Law Firm, LLC to Start Working Toward the Recovery You Deserve
Big law firms get results by pushing as many cases through the system as possible, almost like an assembly line. At Michael M. Day Law Firm, we take a different approach. We focus on each client individually, working to help each client put their life back together after an accident and injury. We fight to get maximum compensation for pain, suffering, and all the other impacts on your life.
If you suffered injuries in a rear-end collision, contact our team online or call 404-480-4284 today for a free consultation and case evaluation to find out how much your claim may be worth and what to do next to move forward.