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Rear-end collisions are the most frequent of all kinds of car accidents, totaling around 2.5 million per year in the United States, or 29.6 percent of all car crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Tailgating, or following the car in front too closely, is often to blame, especially when combined with driver distractions, such as rubbernecking or texting, or with adverse weather or road conditions.
WHO IS TO BLAME?
In a rear-end collision, the driver of the car in the back is usually presumed to be at fault. It is every driver’s responsibility to maintain a safe distance behind the car in front. A rule of thumb is that this should be one car length for every ten miles per hour of speed. If the pavement is slippery, even more distance is prudent.
REAR-END ACCIDENT INJURIES
The good news is that rear-enders cause the lowest number of fatalities of any accident type. Nevertheless, serious injuries can and do result from rear-end accidents. For example, a rear-end impact will often cause a herniated disc in the cervical or lumbar spine, a very painful injury that usually requires spinal surgery and often causes major limitations on a victim’s activities.
GETTING THE COMPENSATION YOU NEED AND DESERVE
Insurance adjusters often dismiss the severity of rear-end collision injuries, and they rarely offer more than a minimal amount of settlement money. That’s why if you’ve been badly injured in this kind of accident, it is to your benefit to have an experienced Washington car accident attorney represent you in your claim for compensation. You need a lawyer with the expertise and resources to prove that your injuries are not only severe, but potentially permanent, and to make certain that you receive a recovery sufficient to cover future medical treatment, to compensate you for loss of income or earning potential, and to pay for the physical and emotional pain and suffering you have experienced and may continue to experience. And it is important to make these negligent and careless drivers face up to what they’ve done and to hold them accountable for the damage they’ve caused.
If you’ve been injured in a rear-end accident in Washington and want to learn more about pursuing a claim for damages, the law firm of Wattel and York has the experience, the resources, and the commitment to justice for the injured that you need to help you pursue the best available outcome for your accident injury case.
Call Seattle, Washington car accident attorneys Wattel and York today to schedule a professional case evaluation. There is never a fee or obligation for the consultation, and you pay us nothing unless we win money for you.