Rear-End Collisions

One moment you are sitting at a traffic signal waiting for the light to change from red to green, when all of the sudden, you catch a glimpse of a rapidly-approaching car in your rear-view mirror. If you are lucky, you have time to quickly brace yourself for the inevitable impact. The next thing you know, you’re in the hospital, your car is totaled, and everything you knew about your life seems to have changed. Rear-end accidents are both deadly and preventable. At Power Trial Lawyers, our experienced Orange County personal injury lawyers are here to fight on behalf of accident victims. We have more than a decade of experience helping accident victims and their families recover the compensation they need and deserve following a rear-end collision.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), rear end collisions are the most common type of car accident. For example, in 2020, there were over 1.4 million rear end accidents in the United States. These collisions resulted in more than 417,000 serious injuries and 2,428 deaths.

Rear-end accidents typically involve a stopped or slow-moving vehicle getting struck by another vehicle that is traveling at a much higher speed. Not surprisingly, speeding and distracted driving are the two leading causes of rear end collisions. Drivers who are distracted are more likely not to notice a traffic signal change or an upcoming traffic jam. And, those who are driving too fast for the traffic conditions may not be able to stop, even if they notice a slow-down. The bottom line is that motorists who are paying attention to the road and driving at a reasonable speed can avoid causing a rear end accident.

Rear-end accidents are unique in that many of these collisions are not especially serious. For example, many minor traffic accidents involve rear-end accidents where one driver was not quite able to stop in time or lurched forward too quickly, striking the car in front of them. At five miles per hour, a rear-end accident isn’t likely to cause either driver serious injuries. However, at even moderate speeds, rear-end accidents are incredibly dangerous. Some of the most common injuries in Southern California rear-end collisions include:

• Whiplash and other neck injuries,
• Brain injuries,
• Facial injuries,
• Spinal cord damage, and
• Herniated discs.

If you’ve been injured in a rear end collision, pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver can connect you with meaningful compensation. Accident victims who successfully bring a claim can recover for their out-of-pocket expenses as well as the pain and suffering they experienced because of the accident.

No, while the rear driver is usually at fault for a rear-end collision, there are situations in which the lead driver is partly responsible for the accident. For example, if the lead driver slams on their brakes for no reason, initiates a turn without signaling, or is operating a vehicle without working brake lights, the rear driver may not be at fault. In these situations, it isn’t necessarily that the rear driver is free of fault but that the lead driver shares responsibility for the accident.

If you or someone you care about recently suffered injuries in a car accident, the dedicated Orange County personal injury lawyers at Power Trial Lawyers can help you pursue a claim against the responsible party. At Power Trial Lawyers, our team of litigators has more than a decade of experience handling a wide range of car accident claims, including those involving rear-end collisions. We can help you deal with the insurance company in hopes of securing a fair settlement and will not hesitate to take your case to trial if the insurance company is unwilling to see your case for what it is. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with an attorney today, call 844-844-POWER (7693). You can also connect with us through our online contact form. We proudly represent clients in Los Angeles County and Orange County and have conveniently located offices in Los Angeles and Newport Beach.