You’ve heard the sound. You may even know the feeling. Screeching brakes and a foot desperately pressed down, trying to stop before plowing into the car ahead. Too often, last-minute efforts fail – or a driver makes no effort at all – before a rear-end accident occurs. The violent, sudden, and unexpected impact of a rear-end accident can cause significant injuries to the drivers and passengers in both vehicles, as well as those in other cars who may be caught in the chain-reaction arising from the collision.
On Dixie Highway and roads and interstates across the country, rear-end collisions are the most common types of car crashes. The National Safety Council estimates that there are over 2.5 million rear-end car accidents every year in the United States.
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a rear-end accident, it is likely that your losses were caused by the negligence or recklessness of another driver. At Dixie Law Group, our Louisville personal injury attorneys work tirelessly to obtain the compensation and resources that can help victims of rear-end accidents recover and move forward with their lives.
Causes of Rear-End Collisions
The reasons these accidents happen aren’t mysteries and are almost always the result of the trailing driver’s actions, including reckless and dangerous driving behaviors like:
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Inattention
- Distracted driving
- Drunk or impaired driving
Of this list, tailgating is perhaps responsible for more rear-accidents than any other. Not only does following a car too closely exponentially increase the likelihood of a crash, but it is also against the law in Kentucky.
While most rear-end collisions are indeed the trailing driver’s fault, the leading car can sometimes cause or contribute to a crash due when:
- It has broken or disabled brake lights.
- A driver reverses suddenly.
- A driver suddenly changes lanes and pulls in front of a car.
Injuries From Rear-End Car Crashes
Even low-speed rear-end accidents can cause severe injuries. That is because the occupants of the lead car are not expecting to be hit, so the shock and force of the impact cause their bodies to be thrust forward while their heads are thrown back only to be quickly sent forward again when the car stops moving. This is what causes “whiplash,” the most common injury resulting from rear-end collisions. While whiplash can be extremely painful and debilitating, rear-end crashes can lead to even more severe injuries, including:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Brain injuries
- Facial and head injuries and contusions from airbag deployment
- Foot and ankle injuries
Call Dixie Law Group Today for Your Free Rear-End Accident Injury Consultation
If you’ve been hurt or suffered other losses in a rear-end accident, please call Dixie Law Group today for your free initial assessment to discuss your situation and claims with a rear end accident lawyer. There are no fees unless we win your case, and if you are unable to meet us in our office, one of our attorneys will come to you.
To make an appointment with a rear end collision lawyer, call us at 502-290-2397 or schedule a consultation online. We look forward to the privilege of assisting you.
