Indianapolis Rear-End Accident Lawyer

Causes of Rear-End Accidents

People often assume that the driver who is rear-ended cannot be held liable for the car accident. Surprisingly, this is not always true. Liability can be split in rear-end accidents, which is why it is so important to prove that you did nothing wrong. You can rely on our legal team to investigate your crash and find evidence that the other driver was entirely at fault.

Rear-end accidents are often caused by drivers who:

• Tailgate: When a driver follows another vehicle too closely, they are tailgating. If you have to hit the brakes suddenly or just come to a normal stop at an intersection, then the tailgating driver can crash right into you without any time to brace for impact.
• Drive while intoxicated: Drunk drivers are entirely unpredictable. They might weave through traffic or suddenly slam on the accelerator even though they are approaching a red light. In many rear-end accident cases, it is discovered that the liable driver was drunk.
• Text and drive: Using a smartphone behind the wheel can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. A motorist who checks a text message for 5 seconds while moving at highway speeds will travel the length of a football field while effectively blind to traffic, which can result in a rear-end crash.
• Speed: Another notorious cause of rear-end collisions is speeding, the most common form of reckless driving. Drivers who break the speed limit need more space to come to a complete stop, which might not be possible if they don’t notice that traffic is stopped ahead of them.

Injuries Caused by Rear-End Accidents

Rear-end accidents can cause life-changing injuries. Insurance companies like to argue otherwise, but medical records can prove it. Let us know if you were severely injured in a rear-end accident, so our experienced Indiana car injury lawyers at Christie Farrell Lee & Bell can start calculating how much compensation you might be owed by the driver who hit you.

People who are hurt in rear-end accidents often suffer:

• Whiplash: One of the most common types of injuries that people suffer in rear-end collisions is whiplash. This is a soft tissue injury affecting the nerves, ligaments, muscles, and tendons of the neck. It can start as a dull ache but soon worsen to debilitating pain.
• Back injury: When a car slams into the back bumper of another, the force of the impact will travel through the vehicle and slam into the driver and passengers. Oftentimes, due to the design of car seats, the worst damage will happen to the lower back.
• Head injury: If a rear-end collision happens at a high speed, then people in the front car can be violently rocked back and forth. This sudden, uncontrolled motion can cause them to hit their heads on the dashboard and steering wheel, causing a serious head injury.
• Broken bones: Motorists who brace for the imminent impact of a rear-end collision can actually brace incorrectly and put themselves at a higher risk of suffering multiple broken bones. It is sometimes recommended that “going loose” is the safer option for this reason.

Immediate Steps You Should Take After a Rear-End Collision 

• Check for Injuries
• Move to Safety
• Call the Police
• Exchange Information
• Document the Accident
• Look for Witnesses
• Seek Medical Attention if Needed
• Notify Your Insurance Company (provide them with basic facts, but be careful to not make any statements that can affect your claim)
• Consult with an experienced car wreck law firm
• Be Mindful of Deadlines (two years to file a claim in Indiana)

We Can Help – Contact Our Firm Today

If you need to get your rear-end accident claim rolling, then we invite you to come to our firm for help. Our Indianapolis rear-end accident attorneys are always ready to hear from new and returning clients. Whether your crash happened on the highway, suburban street, parking lot, or elsewhere, you can rely on us to investigate it, build your claim, and fight for maximized compensation.

Learn more. Fill out an online contact form now.