Any personal injury attorney can attest that rear-end car accidents are quite common. The key reasons why these types of collisions have become prevalent on the roads today include:
If you’ve been involved in a rear-end car accident in Athens, you should talk to one of our attorneys as soon as possible. Our car crash lawyers can help you get compensation for any damages you may have incurred because of the accident.
There are basically two types of rear-end car accidents:
The simple rear-end crash is when one driver gets hit by another car from behind. It may occur during a lane change or if the other driver is following too closely and fails to stop in time. In some cases, the front driver may suddenly slow down for whatever reason and may get hit from behind.
In the majority of these simple rear-end car accidents, the police will look for the presence of physical evidence like skid marks and the site of impact. The police will also determine if the driver at the back of the pile-up was speeding. Information will also be obtained from witnesses. In most simple rear-end car accidents, the rear driver is at fault, unless proven otherwise. Talk to a rear-end car accident attorney in Athens if you have been in such an accident.
These days, complex rear-end accidents that involve multiple cars are not uncommon, mainly because of the vast number of motor vehicles on the highways and an increasing tendency of drivers to resort to speeding.
The majority of these multicar rear-end car accidents tend to occur when:
When a chain collision occurs, there is mass confusion, and it is hard to decipher who exactly is at fault. The police will evaluate the scene and attempt to come to this conclusion. Attorneys can also subpeona information from drivers, such as cell phone records to help determine determine fault.
In such scenarios, the cause of the accident may be the front driver who may have slammed on the brakes, suddenly changed lanes or slowed down for no apparent reason. It is also possible that the drivers behind the vehicle may have been following too closely at high speed.
Determining who is responsible for initiating the accident can be a daunting task. Lawyers can help in this regard, as they know the signs and factors that can be considered to determine who was at fault.
There are also other elements of multicar rear-end car accidents that need to be considered. For example, what happens if you get hit from behind, and your car is pushed into another car? Are you also at fault if this happens, or is the driver who caused you to slide the one who is responsible? Talk to a rear-end car accident attorney about these things.
Most multicar rear-end car accidents are thoroughly reviewed by insurance companies before they release any payouts, and that is why it is important for your attorney to do the same. Sometimes the blame is equally shared, but this entire process of identifying the root cause of the accident and the primary driver who caused the accident can be challenging. Talk to us today if this is your situation.
It is important to contact the authorities as soon as you are in an accident, no matter the type or severity. This is the law, and you must abide by it. If you are severely injured and need help, you need to call 911 and seek medical attention. Once you can, call a rear-end accident lawyer in Athens.
The police can play an important role at this point as they can examine the scene of the accident and figure out what happened. Without a police report, the case can be difficult to resolve as both parties may blame each other. The police will assess the scene of the accident, obtain statements from witnesses, and even examine the driver for drug or alcohol use. The police can also act as witnesses and may help determine who is at fault. Once you have been cleared by the police to leave, call your insurance company and tell them what happened. Then call your lawyer.
When a rear-end car accident occurs in Athens, you have to provide information to the other driver. As lawyers will tell you, you should only provide information that is relevant to your insurance company: phone, name and car registration. Do not say too much or talk too much to the other driver. Take photos of the accident area and get names of any witnesses. This information will be useful to your attorney.
In the majority of cases where you are involved in a rear end accident and hit from behind, the other driver’s insurance company will make an attempt to speak to you, especially if they deem that their driver is at fault. The name of the game is to settle the case without going to trial. The insurance adjuster may record your statement, and their aim is to get you to say something which they can use against you if the case goes to trial. They will ask you questions that may seem benign, but be careful. These questions are designed to make you say something that you will regret later.
You should always let your lawyer deal with insurance companies. There is no law that says that you are obligated to speak to them. You should talk to your own insurance company and your lawyer, but you don’t have to talk to the other driver’s insurance company. They might only be interested in a settlement, and their goal is to offer you an amount that is typically much less than what you deserve. Let your attorney sort these matters out for you. Once you settle, you can never go back to have the offer rescinded. Therefore, it is best that your attorney takes the lead in this.
Whenever you are involved in a rear-end collision in Athens, always see a healthcare worker, preferably on the day of the accident. This is the first thing your accident attorney will advise you to do when you call them. No matter how trivial the injury may sound, you should always get yourself checked out. Sometimes, nerve and muscle injuries don’t present with symptoms right after the accident. If you miss going to the doctor on the day of the injury, no matter how severe your injuries turn out later on, the other party will claim that they are not related to the accident.
It is important to get yourself checked out by a healthcare provider on the same day and get a medical report. If you develop symptoms later, continue to follow up with the doctor if you want to be reimbursed for all your medical injuries. Waiting to seek treatment is not only bad for your own health, but it can also affect your settlement amount. Discuss this with your lawyer.
Provide all this information to your Athens rear-end car accident lawyer. Our attorneys can use this information to build your case and to get you the compensation you need.
If you have been hit from behind, then in the vast majority of cases, the accident is the other driver’s fault. In the eyes of the law, if the driver hits you from behind, they were either following you too closely or not driving safely. However, there are situations when a rear end collision in Athens occurs because the driver in front abruptly stopped, suddenly changed lanes or slowed down. This may be due to deliberate brake checking, distraction, confusion or some type of automobile malfunction. Whatever the situation, don’t admit to any fault or blame anyone when you are at the scene. Let the police officers do their work and whatever information you have, give it to your attorney.
Many types of injuries can occur following a rear-end collision in Athens, and it all depends on the severity of the accident. The most common injuries include:
If you have been injured, it is of utmost importance to talk to an attorney soon, particularly those who have dealt with rear-end car accidents. All of the above-mentioned injuries are serious and require some type of medical or surgical treatment. In some cases, the injury may not become evident after a few days or even weeks after the accident. When the injury involves the extremities and nerves, extensive rehabilitation is required to regain function and strength. Discuss all these aspects of your injuries with your attorney.
If you have been involved in a rear-end car accident in Athens, whether you are the front or the rear driver, it is important to speak to a rear-end car accident attorney. In many multicar rear-end collisions, everyone blames each other. It is vital to speak to an attorney if you’ve been involved in such an accident.
The reason is that the lawyer can look at the evidence collected by the police and speak to witnesses to determine who is at fault. In some cases, you may not be at fault and may have erroneously said something to the police or the insurance agent that led to your blame. A lawyer can help you sort this out and get the compensation you deserve. Call us today!