Rear-end accidents often catch you off guard. You may be sitting completely still at a Powder Springs stop light when all of a sudden, your entire body is thrown forward, and you hear a crunching sound. Most rear-end accidents are minor, but even accidents at low speeds can result in serious injuries and damage. When you’ve been hit, you have real legal options. A Powder Springs rear-end accident attorney can significantly increase your chances of recovering the money you deserve.
If you want attorneys with compassion and experience, look no further than John Foy & Associates. We have been helping victims of car accidents for over 25 years. We know the ins and outs of the laws affecting rear-end collisions, and we have a history of winning cases for those who were hurt. Let us give you a free consultation.
Give us a call at (404) 400-4000 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
What Are Some Common Causes of Rear-end Accidents?
Rear-end collisions happen every day across the United States. They are often caused by inattention. In fact, distraction is the number one reason that rear-end crashes occur. When someone isn’t paying attention, they may not even realize a collision could happen until it actually does. Typical examples of distracted driving include:
- Texting, checking social media, or reading emails on a smartphone
- Adjusting settings for your vehicle, such as your music or air conditioning
- Eating or drinking while driving
- Reaching for an item
- Talking to passengers
- Getting items or making adjustments for children
Anything that takes your mind or eyes off the road is considered a distraction. Even falling asleep at the wheel can be viewed as a form of distraction, particularly if you drift off for any period of time. Taking your eyes off the road for even just a few seconds can easily result in a rear-end collision.
Sometimes distraction is paired with other bad driving habits or circumstances to cause an accident. Common examples include:
- Speeding
- Road rage
- Heavy traffic
- Mechanical failure
- Impaired driving (drugs and alcohol)
- Following too closely
Regardless of the reason the accident occurred, the person who rear-ended you will almost always be at fault for the crash.
Do I Still Have a Legal Claim If I Stopped Suddenly Just Before the Accident?
Usually, yes—you have a claim even if you slammed on the brakes. The person behind you has an obligation to follow you far enough away that they can stop suddenly if necessary. If they cannot stop safely, then they are following too close, which will usually put most of the blame for the accident on the other driver.
In many situations, if you stop suddenly, the driver behind you was not paying attention to stop fast enough, even if they weren’t following too closely. Being distracted puts the fault on them.
In some cases, whether you have a claim will also depend on the reason why you stopped suddenly. For example, if you slammed on your brakes because a child ran into the street, that is an emergency situation that you did not create—you were right to stop. If, on the other hand, you stop suddenly to avoid hitting the car in front of you because you weren’t paying attention, that could lead to a different result.
Whether you stopped suddenly or not does not prevent you from bringing a claim in court against the driver that hit you. You can be partially at fault and still collect damages. The amount of damages that you receive will likely change, but you’ll often still be able to get a majority of the funds you need to deal with things like medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
What Are the Most Common Injuries Caused by Rear-end Accidents?
Even low-speed rear-end accidents can result in injuries. You may think that it is just soreness at first. But, over the course of a few days or even a couple of weeks, that soreness may get gradually worse, particularly around your neck and upper back. That type of pain can indicate that something much more severe than a simple sprain or strain has occurred. Be sure to see a medical professional if you experience any discomfort after a rear-end accident.
Other common injuries in rear-end accidents include:
- Neck injuries
- Shoulder damage
- Back injuries or spinal cord injuries
- Fracture or broken bones
- Kneed injuries
- Head injuries
- Internal bleeding and/or damage to internal organs
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries from a rear-end collision, even in the City of Powder Springs. In this type of accident, the ligaments and tendons in your neck (and sometimes the upper back area) are stretched to their limits very quickly and then smashed back together rapidly.
This type of action often results in that soreness you may experience in your neck. While most whiplash injuries will go away within a week or two, some can result in longer-term pain and inconvenience. In fact, some car accident victims will experience problems related to whiplash for years after the accident. Some individuals will also experience depression and anxiety because they have to deal with continued issues related to their whiplash pain.
Symptoms of whiplash include:
- Headache
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Arm weakness or pain
- Back pain
- Ringing in the ears
- Jaw pain
Chronic whiplash symptoms may cause “whiplash associated disorder.” The symptoms of this condition include:
- Anger
- Frustration
- Depression
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress syndrome
- Insomnia or other sleep disturbances
In some cases, victims may turn to drugs to deal with these issues. Drug dependence can also be a side effect of whiplash associated disorder as well.
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Talk to a Powder Springs Rear-End Collision Lawyer for Free
You likely have a good legal case if you have been involved in a rear-end collision. Getting the right attorneys on your side can help you make a stronger case and get the most out of your claim—and you may have a right to a much larger settlement than you think.
Let John Foy & Associates give you a free consultation. Call us at (404) 400-4000 or fill out the form to the right to schedule your free consultation today.
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