Have you been involved in a two-car accident? If so, there’s a high likelihood that you were rear-ended. In Carrollton, rear-end collisions range from simple fender benders on neighborhood streets to serious collisions on highways and interstates.
Even when vehicle damage seems minor, accidents can lead to five-figure and six-figure medical bills—and lasting pain due to whiplash or other more serious injuries. In most cases, it’s not your fault if you were rear-ended. You need to speak to a Carrollton rear-end collision accident lawyer.
John Foy & Associates has spent over two decades helping victims of rear-end accidents and many other types of collisions in and around Carrollton. Through the years we have built a track record second to none in Georgia.
Our legal team is dedicated victims, and we never take the side of an insurance company. We offer a free consultation in which our team reviews your case, answers any questions you have, and the helps you decide on next steps. Don’t face your accident alone.
Give us a call at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
What Should I Do After a Rear-End Accident?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSA) reports that more than 2.5 million rear-end accidents happen every year, making them the most common kind of accident in the United States.
If you’ve been rear-ended, it is likely not your fault. If the driver who hit you hadn’t been tailgating, distracted by an electronic device, or otherwise driving unsafely, chances are the accident never would have happened. In most cases that makes proving liability relatively easy.
However, these facts alone are no guarantee you’ll receive reasonable financial compensation without a good legal team in your corner. Far too often, victims of rear-end collisions are aware the other driver is at fault so they assume there is no action they need to take. Sadly, this often means they get underpaid on their claim, often without realizing it until it’s too late.
That could potentially mean you pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for medical expenses you shouldn’t have to worry about, or worse, even be left with chronic pain for years to come.
The single best thing you can do after a rear-end accident is to take the time to talk to a lawyer. In many cases, this is the only way to know if the money you are being offered is fair.
Get the strong arm
How do I Know If I Have Whiplash?
When you are involved in an accident, your body produces adrenaline and many other chemicals which can obscure symptoms. Such symptoms may show up in the days and weeks that follow the incident, so even if you feel fine, a medical professional is in the best position to diagnose and address developing symptoms and their causes.
Here are some possible whiplash symptoms that may not seem obvious at first:
- Stiffness in the neck
- Difficulty moving turning your head
- Pain that only occurs when you move your head or neck in certain ways
- Headaches
- Difficulty sleeping
- Difficulty concentrating because of neck and back discomfort
- Pain farther down the back, or pain when moving your arms or torso in certain ways
While it’s true that whiplash is a common injury in rear-end accidents, many other injuries tend to be less obvious. A concussion, for example, may not seem like a serious injury at all at first, but can come with severe long-term effects. The same is true for many joint injuries.
No matter what kind of symptoms you have—or even if you think you have no symptoms at all—you should seek medical attention. The sooner you get a documented medical opinion, the better it is for both your health and your legal claim.
The Other Driver Is Claiming I Stopped Too Suddenly. What do I Do?
This is one of the most common excuses careless drivers make when they rear-end another car. However, the law makes it clear that drivers are required to follow other cars at a safe distance, giving themselves enough time to stop in case of an emergency. It is very rare for the driver in front to be the one responsible for a rear-end accident.
Imagine: a driver hits the brakes to avoid striking a deer. Any cars following that driver should have no problem stopping as well. If they aren’t, this almost always means they were following too close or not paying attention.
From a legal standpoint, it doesn’t matter if you slowed down because there was a deer jumping across the road, or for any other reason; the safe following distance rule holds fast.
It is not your fault when someone else drives irresponsibly and causes a rear-end collision, despite what the other driver’s insurance may claim. A good lawyer can argue your case and built the evidence you need to win against an insurance company.
The Insurance Company Already Offered Me Money. Should I Take It?
Another typical tactic insurance companies will use is to offer a quick, relatively small cash settlement when they know their insured is at fault. Don’t fall for it. If they are that ready to settle right away, it often means they’re paying pennies on the dollar of what they know your claim is really worth.
This is why it’s so important to have a knowledgeable, experienced legal team in your corner. Many conditions that result from rear-end accidents become worse over time, and insurance companies know this.
If you accept a settlement before getting good medical treatment and reviewing your case with a good lawyer, your legal options become more limited, and the county courts often won’t let you recover anything additional—even if you need it. Always talk to a lawyer before you accept anything.
Talk to a Carrollton Rear-End Accident Lawyer for Free
No one should have to live with pain or mounting medical bills due to the negligence of other drivers. John Foy & Associates is here to help. We care deeply about the rights of injury victims, and we have what it takes to win—with no fee unless we recover money for you. Let us give you a FREE consultation.
Call us at 404-400-4000 or fill out the form to the right to set up your free consultation right away.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
