Rear-end collisions are an extremely common type of car accident. Sometimes, a rear-end collision is nothing more than a simple fender bender. And while it’s still an inconvenience to get your vehicle fixed, it’s not an enormous ordeal. However, some rear-end collisions are much more serious and require a Virginia car accident attorney to ensure you are properly compensated for your pain and suffering.
The driver who rear-ended you might claim that you are somehow at fault for the accident due to sudden braking or other circumstances. It’s extremely important that you do not admit fault for the accident at any time and allow your attorney to sort through the evidence for who is at fault.
Likewise, if you rear-end someone, it is not automatically your fault. There are a variety of circumstances in which the car that you rear-end could be the one who was in the wrong. These circumstances include:
- Broken or otherwise malfunctioning brake lights: brake lights tell the drivers behind the vehicle when the car is slowing or stopping. Without that signal, it can be difficult to judge the car’s speed, putting other drivers at risk.
- Sudden direction change: if the other car suddenly goes into reverse, they could be the at-fault driver in a rear-end collision.
- Abruptly stopping without reason: if the other car abruptly stops without cause or warning, that driver could be at-fault for the accident.
What to do if you’re involved in a Virginia rear-end collision
You can be feel very nervous and emotional after a car accident. Do your best to keep a level head and follow these instructions.
- Evaluate your wellbeing and call 9-1-1 if you believe you have any injuries. If you’re able to, check on the other passengers as well to see if they need medical attention.
- Try to get the police to file a report for the accident. Documenting the scene through a police report can help your case immensely. In some cases during busier times of the day or an influx of calls to the local police, they might not show up if there are no severe injuries.
- Document the scene. Take photos of everything, including the damage to all vehicles involved, the intersection or place where the accident happened, and any injuries you sustained. If you do not own a smartphone, consider keeping a digital camera or disposable camera in your car at all times to protect your legal rights.
- Gather information, including the insurance information for all drivers involved as well as contact information and witness accounts. If there are any witnesses, gather both their statement and their contact information.
- Contact your Virginia car accident attorney. Review the information about the accident with your attorney and gather their feedback. If you currently have no injuries, your attorney might advise that you wait a few days to interact with anyone from the accident. Your attorney will certainly advise you not to tell anyone that you feel fine or that you didn’t sustain any injuries. Such a claim could come back to haunt you later if you have late-onset injuries.
Most common injuries sustained from rear-end collisions
Because of the way the impact throws your body during a rear-end collision, the most common injuries are back and neck injuries. During a rear-end collision, your body is forced forward and then back very quickly. That sudden and violent movement can create muscle strains, misalignment and damage to your body’s frame.
The tough part about injuries to the neck and back and is that you might not feel them right away. Several hours or even a couple of days later, you might start to have discomfort in your neck and back. The severity of such injuries can span a wide spectrum from whiplash to spinal injuries.
It’s important that you have your doctor review your health if you experience discomfort after a car accident. Do not assume that your pain will simply go away with time. Injuries like these can build and become more of a problem if not properly treated. Plus, there is a statute of limitations for how long after a car accident you can make a claim for health reimbursement and pain and suffering compensation.
Virginia car accident attorney
Gore & Kuperman law firm is an experienced team of car accident attorneys in Virginia. We know how to handle rear-end collisions and how to help victims receive proper compensation for their pain and suffering. Contact us to start a discussion about your car accident legal needs.