Rear End Car Accident Lawyer

Rear-end accidents are one of the most common collision types. They can happen when a driver is not paying attention to the road, is following too closely, fails to stop in time, or is simply driving negligently. While most people imagine minor fender benders, rear-end collisions can be disastrous for victims.

Perceived severity doesn’t matter in these accidents, either. A low-speed accident could cause an injury such as whiplash. A higher-speed collision could cause catastrophic injuries, including injury to the brain, internal organs, and the spine. If you were the victim of a rear-end collision, you may be entitled to recoup compensation for your damages, but you will want to make sure you have an experienced personal injury lawyer by your side.

Why Choose Attorney Ken Gerber?

• He has been helping car accident victims since 2001. He and his team have the experience to handle any type of claim, including complicated liability disputes.
• He and his associates have recovered more than $100 million in results for past clients, including a $500,000 award for a teacher with a neck injury from a motor vehicle accident.
• He gets personal in his commitment to clients. Ken provides one-on-one care to each client who comes to him for assistance. Our lawyers adjust their strategies to suit each person’s needs.

Typical Injuries Suffered In Rear-End Collisions

After a rear-end collision, you may notice that you’ve sustained injuries to a greater or lesser degree. It is important to note here that those injuries may not manifest for days or even weeks, so it is really important to get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible after the accident. Go to the hospital, be seen by the emergency medical technicians at the scene, or visit your own doctor to ensure you receive the care you need in order to get better.

A rear-end collision often causes physical injuries, including injury to the back, neck, or spine. It may also result in a head injury, concussion, or even traumatic brain injury. If the victim’s head strikes an object inside the vehicle upon impact, such as the steering wheel, he or she could suffer a concussion or another traumatic brain injury. Head trauma can also include skull fractures.

Chronic pain is a possible result of a rear-end crash, as are soft tissue injuries such as whiplash and fractured or broken bones. Whiplash is a soft-tissue injury of the neck that occurs when a crash whips the victim’s head rapidly backward and forward. It can cause pain, stiffness, trouble moving, and headaches. Different bones could break if the crash propels the victim’s body into elements inside the vehicle. Common fractures in rear-end accidents are to the skull, clavicle, ribcage, arms, hands, knees, and lower extremities.

In more serious cases, such as in high-speed accidents, a rear-end collision may cause internal bleeding or injuries, partial or full paralysis, or even the wrongful death of a loved one.

Recoverable Damages from A Rear-End Collision in Arizona

After your Arizona rear-end collision, you may be facing significant monetary damages, and it is possible to recover compensation for your losses. Typically, in an Arizona car accident claim, you can recover the out-of-pocket expenses that resulted from the accident. These include the following:

• The costs of any hospital stay, doctor visits, and specialist visits
• The costs of your prescription medication
• Expenses related to medical testing, imaging, and care
• Post-accident expenses for therapy, rehabilitation, and nursing or home care
• Wages or income you’ve lost if you are unable to go to work after the accident
• The costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle

Additionally, you may be able to recover general damages as well. General damages include non-out-of-pocket losses that can be hard to quantify and will need to be valued with expertise in order to ensure that you receive a fair and reasonable settlement or verdict. The following are some examples:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish and psychological trauma
• The loss of future wages if you are unable to work at all
• Damages for scarring or disfigurement
• The loss of enjoyment of activities that you can no longer do as a result of the accident
• Loss of companionship or consortium for your spouse
• An overall decline in the quality of your life

How Do Rear-End Accidents Happen?

The rear driver is responsible for paying attention and maintaining a safe following distance. In most cases, a rear driver’s negligent failure to brake on time causes this type of accident. Common causes include distracted driving, texting and driving, eating or drinking while driving, speeding, aggressive driving, unsafe lane changes, and tailgating.

There are some cases, however, where the lead driver could be at fault for a rear-end collision. If you’ve crashed your car into the back of someone else’s vehicle, do not assume fault for the accident. The lead driver could be to blame if he or she had bad brake lights, brake-checked you intentionally, or cut you off when making a lane change, among other potential issues.

One of the key aspects of your rear-end accident claim will be proving fault. Arizona is a fault state, meaning you will need to establish the other driver’s fault before you can receive financial compensation from that person’s insurer. Most rear-end collisions come down to the fault of the rear driver. Talk to the Phoenix car accident attorneys at Gerber Injury Law about fault before assuming you are liable. Our lawyers can investigate your rear-end collision and search for evidence of fault.

Steps to Take: What to Do If You Are Injured In A Rear-End Collision in Arizona

After a rear-end collision, it is essential that you take certain steps in order to ensure you protect your legal rights, preserve important evidence in your case, and get the care you need to get better after your accident. First and foremost, have your personal injuries checked out as soon as possible, whether by going to the hospital or being seen by the emergency medical professionals at the scene. Some injuries from a rear-end collision can take some time to show up, and you will want to make sure you have a thorough understanding of your full injuries as soon as possible.

Be sure you document the accident in detail, as it’s important to preserve evidence for your claim. Take pictures of the accident scene, the damage to your vehicle or any other personal property, and your personal injuries. Ask witnesses to record or write down their account of what they observed, and record your own statement about what happened as soon as you can. Make sure you get contact information for the other party, their insurance company, any witnesses, and any authorities that are called. Also, make sure you ask for copies of any documentation, such as police reports that were taken after the collision.

Though your main goal should be to receive the medical care you need in order to get better, you should also think about protecting your legal rights and preserving your right to compensation. To that end, it is very helpful to meet with an experienced, knowledgeable personal injury attorney who can negotiate with the other party and their insurance company toward a fair and reasonable settlement. Don’t try to go up against a large insurer on your own — an experienced rear-end collision lawyer will fully investigate the facts, assess your damages, research the law, and file a claim in the appropriate venue. If a resolution is not possible outside of court, they will prepare a legal case on your behalf to present to a jury.

What Gerber Injury Law Will Do To Help You with Your Personal Injury Claim

At Gerber Injury Law, we have helped clients achieve justice and fair recoveries for their injuries for nearly 30 years. Clients throughout Arizona trust us with their most complex cases. In fact, we have recovered more than $100 million in settlements and verdicts since 2001. A rear-end car accident claim can quickly become complicated, particularly where insurance companies are involved, and you need an attorney on your side to handle even the toughest negotiations against large insurers, who often have large legal teams and significant resources on their side.

If a fair and reasonable settlement is not possible, our Arizona rear-end car accident attorneys are ready to represent you at trial. Some of our most recent victories showcase the recoveries we achieve through aggressive litigation. We are trial attorneys. Some personal injury cases in Arizona are not resolved through settlements. You need an attorney with experience going to trial and achieving positive verdicts.

We exclusively practice personal injury law to give us an edge over firms with broader scopes. We can meet with you one-on-one to discuss how we will use our tailored legal strategies to help you achieve your goals, and we will guide you through the claims process to make it as stress-free as possible. Call our Arizona personal injury attorneys for a free consultation 623-486-8300, or click here to reach us online.