Rear-end accidents are often considered minor crashes, but when you are struck from behind by a 3,000-pound vehicle, the results are often far from minor. A rear-end accident can cause severe injuries, including back, neck, and head injuries. Whiplash, which is common in this type of crash, can plague a victim for months, years, or life. If you or a loved one is a victim of a rear-end collision in Indiana, you may be entitled to recover compensation from the other driver.
When you’re injured in an accident, you are left to struggle not only with the pain of your injury, but also with extensive medical bills, lost wages if you’re unable to work, property damage, and more. An insurance company will always try to offer you the lowest settlement possible. At Custy Law Firm | Accident & Injury Lawyers, however, our Indiana car accident attorneys will build a solid case on your behalf for the full compensation you need to cover your expenses, losses, and pain and suffering.
We are a leading personal injury firm in Indiana for a reason. We work closely with our clients to understand their goals, and we tailor our legal strategy to meet those goals. Our compassionate attorneys will always provide you with the one-on-one attention you deserve, and we’ll fight assertively and effectively for the financial reward you need.
Contact us today at (219) 286-7361 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your injuries, your legal options, and your next steps.
Common Causes of Rear-End Collisions
There are many different circumstances that can lead to a rear-end collision, and many of them involve negligent driving. Common causes of rear-end accidents include:
- Texting and driving: Despite many states enacting laws against using cell phones while driving, unless they’re hands-free, drivers still continue to text while driving. This means they are looking down instead of keeping their eyes on the car in front of them.
- Driving under the influence: Anyone who operates their car under the influence of drugs or alcohol is doing so illegally. A DUI driver’s reflexes are impaired, and they will be unable to react quickly if you need to slow down or stop suddenly, causing them to crash into you.
- Distracted driving: Any time a driver takes their eyes and attention off the road, whether it’s to change the radio station or grab their coffee cup, they increase the chances of rear-ending the car in front of them.
- Fatigued driving: A sleepy driver could fall asleep at the wheel or zone out while driving, which means they may not notice that you slowed down or stopped.
- Reckless driving: Speeding, tailgating, and other forms of reckless driving will make it harder for a driver to stop when they see brake lights come on ahead of them.
- Inclement weather: Rain, ice, or snow can create hazardous road conditions even for a careful driver. If someone is driving recklessly on wet or icy roads, then they may end up rear-ending your car.
Injuries Suffered in a Rear-End Collision
If you are hit from behind in a rear-end collision, you could end up suffering from injuries that range from mild to severe. The severity of the injury usually depends on how fast the car that hit you was traveling at the point of impact. The following injuries are common in rear-end crashes:
- Back pain
- Spinal cord injury
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury
- Whiplash
- Broken limbs
- Lacerations
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
It is important to note that you may not start to notice the effects of your whiplash injury until 24 to 48 hours after the accident, so be mindful of any pain you might feel a day or two after the collision. Seek out medical attention right away so that the doctors can examine you and provide you with an official record of your injuries.
What to Do After a Rear-End Accident
After a rear-end accident, try to move your vehicle to safety if possible. You should also verify that the other driver is okay, and then call first responders to report the collision. Even if you think you are fine initially, adrenaline and the shock of the accident may initially mask the pain of your injuries, so it’s crucial that you seek medical attention either at the scene of the accident or shortly thereafter.
You will also need to exchange contact information with the other driver so that you know what insurance company to speak to about your claim. If you’re able to, take photos or videos of the accident scene and gather contact information and statements from nearby witnesses.
As soon as you can, place a call to an Indiana rear-end accident lawyer. A skilled lawyer will be able to investigate the accident and your injuries immediately to develop a solid case for full compensation. They’ll also take the legal burden off of your shoulders so you can focus on your recovery.
Reasons to Hire a Rear-End Accident Attorney
Many insurance companies will contact you immediately after your accident and try to get you to accept their first, lowball offer. It can be stressful to hear that an insurance company is only offering you an amount that won’t even cover the medical expenses you have after the wreck. A lawyer can step into this situation and work to get you the full compensation that you need.
Your attorney will first work meticulously to gather the evidence they need to support a claim for maximum compensation. This means they will collect accident scene photos, find witnesses, track down any available security footage, gather your medical records, obtain any toxicology test results, and more.
To validate your claim, the attorney will also need to prove negligence on the part of the other driver. Indiana uses a form of comparative negligence, which means that anyone involved in a wreck can claim damages as long as they are assigned less than 51 percent of the blame for what happened. Insurance companies may try to argue that you shared fault in the crash, but your lawyer will do everything in their power to prove that is not the case. Most of the time, rear-end accidents are the fault of the driver who hit someone from behind.
Foregoing the help of a skilled lawyer may mean that you don’t get the full financial award you deserve. Let the team at Custy Law Firm | Accident & Injury Lawyers negotiate assertively and skillfully on your behalf so that you can focus on healing and moving your life forward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rear-End Accidents
Our attorneys often receive questions about rear-end accidents and the legal process. We’ve provided answers to a few of our clients’ frequently asked questions.
Could I be considered at-fault for a rear-end accident if I’m the car in front?
While it is rare for the driver in front to be at-fault for a rear-end accident, it can happen. For example, if you were driving erratically and stopped very quickly, or if your brake lights were malfunctioning, the other driver could argue that they had no warning that you slowed down or stopped.
What types of compensation can I actually get?
In a rear-end accident, there are several types of compensation that you may be able to recover. Personal property damage, lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering are some of the forms of damages that you may obtain as a result of the accident. Your lawyer will advise you on the types of compensation you can claim and the potential value of your claim.
In Indiana, there is no cap on the amount of damages you can receive unless it is a case of medical malpractice or a case against the government. At Custy Law Firm | Accident & Injury Lawyers, we’ve successfully recovered millions of dollars in compensation for our clients throughout the years, and we’ll work hard to get you a positive outcome.
My back injury is considered minor, but it prevents me from doing certain things I used to enjoy. Can I still be compensated for it?
You can be compensated for any injury, so long as it is determined that you are less than 51 percent at fault for the accident. While your doctor and medical records may say that your injury is “minor,” we know that certain injuries affect people in different ways. We take a highly personalized approach to each case and will examine your circumstances to determine exactly how that injury impacts your life.
Were You Involved in a Rear-End Accident in Indiana? Contact Our Team Now
For several years, the team at Custy Law Firm | Accident & Injury Lawyers has represented personal injury clients across the state of Indiana, including rear-end accident victims. If you or your loved one was injured in a rear-end accident and have questions about what to do next and how to move forward, our legal team might be able to help you. We are happy to discuss your case in a free consultation. In addition, we will not charge you anything until you win your case.
Contact us now at (219) 286-7361 so we can schedule your consultation and help you get your life back on track after your rear-end collision in Indiana.
