According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 6 million car accidents occur in the United States each and every year. Of those car accidents - a whopping 40% are rear-end collisions. This means that rear-end accidents are the most common type of car accident. In face, every 8 seconds, someone is getting rear-ended on an American road. Even more shocking is that this number is on the rise, thanks in large part to the many multi-tasking devices we now use while driving.
Rear End Accidents Can Cause Serious Injury
Although most rear-end car accidents occur at a lower rate of speed, they can still cause serious injury and damage. Rear end accidents notoriously lead to:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash
- Back and neck contusions
- Shoulder injuries
- Fractures
Unfortunately, many car insurance companies are hesitant to believe that serious injuries have occurred in a rear end accident. They often attempt to low-ball accident victims, often claiming that their injuries are not as severe as they seem. Many unscrupulous insurance adjusters often use a “take it or leave it approach” when offering injured accident victims a settlement. Unfortunately, this settlement is often only a fraction of what the injured accident victim needs to fully recover.
Further Reading: What to Expect When You’re Injured in an Accident
Who Is to Blame After a Rear-End Accident?
Colorado laws mandate that drivers are responsible for keeping enough distance between themselves and the cars in front of them. This is to avoid rear-end accidents. Regardless of the road conditions, weather conditions, or how abruptly the person in front of you stopped, if your car hits the car in front of you - you will be held responsible.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, however. If a driver who rear-ended you pushed your car into another car, you may not be liable. If the car you hit was stopped with no warning lights, then you may not be held liable.
While the police officers that arrive at the scene of the accident will initially determine who is at fault, their decision could be overturned in court if contrary evidence is provided. As such, it is important to have an experienced Colorado personal injury lawyer on your side throughout the legal process. Your attorney will be able to protect your rights to compensation and ultimately determine who is to blame for your accident and your injuries. In some cases, there may even be multiple parties to blame.
Your Colorado personal injury lawyer will also be able to determine how much compensation you truly need to recover from your injuries, pay for lost wages, and deal with any long-term complications.
For example:
Jill was rear-ended by an elderly man on her way home from work one Friday night. She was treated in the emergency room and released that same day with a strained lower back and neck. As the weeks progressed, her neck and back began to feel increasingly worse, causing her to miss days from work. She needed to take pain medications and muscle relaxers just to keep up with the housework. After a month, her doctor performed an MRI, which showed a slightly herniated disc in her neck. He prescribed rest and physical therapy. Jill began to miss even more work as she struggled to put the injury behind her. During this time, the elderly man’s insurance company offered her a settlement, which sounded like an awful lot of money to Jill. She just had a sore back and neck, so she eagerly signed the agreement. Unfortunately, Jill’s back and neck injury began to turn into a chronic condition. She spent months in physical therapy, missing countless days of work. She finally began to feel like herself 9 months after the accident - and only after she had spent nearly 2x her settlement.
Contact Our Denver Car Accident Lawyers
If you or someone you love has been the victim of a rear end car accident, it is important to know all of your legal options. An experienced Denver car accident attorney can help you during this difficult time. Never accept a settlement without first speaking to one of our lawyers.
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