Coming to a stop in California traffic can feel like you’re getting a quick breather from dealing with careless and reckless drivers. Unfortunately, that moment of safety can be shattered if the drivers behind you aren’t paying attention. They can miss spotting a redlight or your brake lights until it’s too late to stop in time to avoid a rear-end collision.
This lack of attention from drivers creates many dangerous situations every day on California roads. It endangers the wellbeing of everyone in the vehicle that gets rear-ended.
It’s important to understand how badly people are hurt in rear-end accidents and why it’s so critical that victims receive the proper level of compensation to pay every cost of medical care.
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Rear-End Accident Dangers in California
Drivers are supposed to be watching for the first sign of a traffic slowdown in front of them. A light turning red, or traffic halting for road construction are all things a distracted driver may miss until it’s too late to brake to reduce the force of a collision.
The majority of drivers in California deal with plenty of gridlock and this is another situation where a rear-end collision is an elevated risk. Traffic may be rolling along free and clear on the freeway, until, for whatever reason, a traffic jam has formed ahead. You may be paying attention and be able to come to a quick, full stop, but the driver behind could be looking at a cellphone and never tap the brakes.
Suddenly, a rear-end accident turns into a frightening California multiple-vehicle pile-up that endangers a dozen people or more in different cars.
Take Advantage of a Free Car Accident Consultation
When someone rear-ends your vehicle, the fault is usually very clear-cut. The driver hitting a car from behind is found liable in most situations.
However, even if the fault isn’t in dispute, that doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be handed the compensation you’ll need to pay your hospital bills. Unfortunately, insurance adjusters get paid to keep the settlement checks they send out as low as possible.
That check you receive may not cover anything beyond the first night in an emergency room. This is while you face physical therapy bills for weeks or more, and perhaps the possibility of a follow-up surgery in the years ahead.
When you feel like you are facing too many bills that the at-fault driver’s insurance should be on the hook for, it’s time to contact a California rear-end accident lawyer. Maison Law offers you the chance to talk with a real attorney in a free consultation session. Contact Maison Law now to schedule a case evaluation and find out what your injury is worth.
Neck Whiplash Injuries in Rear-End Accidents
Enduring a strike from behind often causes more than just minor bumps and bruises for victims. Hands and wrist bones are often fractured. Spinal cord damage is possible. People also suffer traumatic brain injuries after hitting their heads on a car interior. Victims can suffer memory loss, a loss of control of limbs, and even endure seizures.
Because drivers and passengers don’t always see rear-end collisions coming, they aren’t given a chance to brace themselves. A rear-end impact will take unprepared bodies and force them backward and then forwards in a devastating “whipping” motion.
A neck strain or whiplash is a common outcome for anyone subjected to such extreme force. Whiplash can make it hard to move the head and the entire upper body without extreme pain. Coughing or sneezing may prove excruciating. Whiplash might also leave someone with difficulties moving their arms and legs.
Some people see a reduction of symptoms in a few weeks, but other cases can last much longer.
Backseat Passenger Injury Dangers in Rear-End Accidents
When a collision comes from a strike from behind, it’s the people in the backseat of cars that are closest to the force of impact. One of the biggest dangers comes when a vehicle traveling at full speed collides into the back of a stopped car.
The front-end of the car can travel into the stopped vehicle and come dangerously close to striking the back seat directly. A devastating crash like this may cause “crush” injuries and leave victims facing devastating and life-threatening harm.
Backseat occupants also don’t enjoy the same protections as front-seat passengers. Airbags usually aren’t in place for them and their seatbelts aren’t generally the most advanced design to prevent injuries. Passengers are often jerked back and forth and at risk of a powerful impact with the front seat, a passenger door, or the ceiling.
What to Do After a California Rear-End Accident
After a devastating rear-end collision, victims and their families can quickly be asked to pay for thousands of dollars in medical care. Victims may also be unable to return to work until they heal. This will leave them missing paychecks at a time when they need financial support the most.
These costs should all be the responsibility of the at-fault driver’s car insurance, but even in a rear-end collision, hard evidence is key to holding them liable.
In the moments after an accident, it’s absolutely vital to secure the proof needed to demonstrate that you didn’t cause your accident. Presenting a strong case to an insurance company makes it less likely they’ll be able to ignore or reject your claim.
On the scene of your California rear-end traffic accident, try to gather this important evidence if you are physically able:
- Alert 911. Get injuries checked out by paramedics. Tell the police everything you remember so they can write up an accurate collision report. You may not have been able to see much before you were hit from behind, but every detail helps.
- Find out how your personal injury lawyer can contact witnesses later. Witnesses may have seen things that you were unable to view behind you.
- Snap photos. Show vehicle damage and any visible injuries.
- Exchange driver’s license and insurance information with the other drivers involved.
- Look for surveillance cameras at nearby businesses or homes that might have captured what happened. Ask drivers on the scene if they have dashcams.
- Get checked out by your personal doctor. The more documentation you have on your pain, the harder it will be for an insurance adjuster to downplay the severity of your injuries.
- Keep any damaged or stained clothing and damaged personal items.
Contact a California Rear-End Accident Driver Lawyer
If you or a loved one were the victims of a careless driver, don’t allow an insurance agent or adjuster to determine how much support you should receive. They work for their insurance companies and want to save money for their employers. Your recovery and your family’s recovery are much more important than their profits.
To make sure your family is protected from an insurance company’s harmful practices, contact an experienced California Rear-End Accident Attorney such as Martin Gasparian for a free case consultation. Mr. Gasparian works closely with victims and families to earn the compensation they’ll need to rebuild their lives.
