Rear-End Car Accidents
Car Accident Attorneys in Lake Charles
While rear-end car accidents are extremely common, many are very minor in nature and cause only slight damage to one or both vehicles. However, serious rear-end crashes, often at higher speeds, can cause severe injuries and even impair accident victims for the rest of their lives.
Statistics show rear-end accidents to be one of the most common types of car accidents, occurring in almost one-third of all traffic accidents. It is also one of the most dangerous types of motor vehicle accidents, accounting for roughly 29% of traffic injuries and 19% of traffic fatalities in the United States each year. Unfortunately, personal injuries and wrongful deaths from rear-end collisions are usually preventable and avoidable.
If you suffered injuries in a rear-end car accident in Louisiana, the car crash lawyers at Lee Hoffoss Injury Lawyers can help you hold the at-fault driver accountable and recover the compensation you deserve for your damages. Call our office today at 337-433-2053 to schedule a time to meet with one of our skilled attorneys. We provide free case evaluations and handle all car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing until we recover a settlement for you.
How can I recover the compensation I need to pay my medical bills and other expenses?
When a driver acts negligently and causes a car accident, Louisiana law gives you the right to hold him financially liable for your damages. In most cases, we are able to recover the compensation due to our clients by filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s auto insurance carrier. The insurance company does not want to go to court any more than you do, so it is often willing to negotiate a settlement, although it will likely start with a very low offer.
We build a strong case to support the maximum payout for your claim and use this to negotiate a fair settlement to cover your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other losses. This is usually effective and results in a faster payout than a personal injury lawsuit would. Occasionally, however, an insurance company will refuse to negotiate, and we must take the claim to court.
Causes of Rear-End Collisions in Louisiana
There are many common causes of a rear-end collision, most of them are due to the negligence of another driver. The most common causes include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Drugged driving
- Brake failure
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Following too closely
- Improper lane changes or merges
- Driving too fast for bad weather like rain, snow, ice, fog, or other conditions
What if the rear driver blames the Louisiana rear-end car accident on me?
You have probably heard the myth that the rear driver is always at-fault in a rear-end car accident. While it is often the case, there are certainly exceptions. When the front driver causes the crash, it is usually because she cut off another driver or pulled out of a driveway, parking lot, or side street in front of oncoming traffic.
In some cases, you may be partially liable in an accident or partially at-fault for causing your injuries. However, it is important not to admit this to the other driver or the insurance company. Instead, you need to let us collect evidence to minimize this contribution. By mitigating any possible hand you had in the crash, we can obtain the maximum amount of compensation available to you.
How do I prove the rear driver caused my car crash?
Even if you believe the police report will show the rear driver was at-fault in your crash, it still pays to collect any evidence available on the scene of the crash. Take images of the area and both vehicles, and write down the name and contact information for any witnesses.
In addition to the police report describing how the crash occurred, witnesses often play a key role in proving fault after a rear-end collision. If necessary, we can also call in accident reconstruction experts to investigate the cause of your crash.
For example, imagine another driver failed to maintain a safe distance while driving and slammed into you when you had to brake suddenly. Eyewitnesses can describe how this accident occurred, and our accident reconstruction specialists can determine how close he was and how fast he had to have been going in order to hit you and cause the resulting damage.
Is it hard to prove my injuries and other damages after a rear-end collision?
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries after a rear-end crash, and it is notoriously difficult to prove. Other common rear-end car accident injuries, including spinal injuries and traumatic brain injuries, show up on imaging scans and are usually easier to prove.
Many insurance companies try to downplay the effects of whiplash, even while accident victims suffer chronic pain and even significant impairment. Soft tissue injuries like whiplash are not always evident on X-rays, imaging scans, or other diagnostic scans.
They rarely require costly treatments, but this is because there is no sure-fire treatment. Many doctors prescribe physical therapy and prescription painkillers, but this is not effective for all patients. Patients not helped by physical therapy continue to suffer in pain, but struggle to collect a full pain and suffering payout since they cannot prove the full impact of their injuries.
We fight for all available compensation for our clients, including collecting a wide variety of evidence to prove your damages. When possible, we utilize your medical records, expert witnesses, and any journals you keep about your injuries and impairments to help establish the severity of your injuries.
Common Damages in a Rear-End Car Accident
The term “damages” in a lawsuit is the measure of relief that a party may be entitled to in a lawsuit, such as a personal injury lawsuit. Although there are many different types of damages, the most common type in a personal injury case like a car accident is monetary compensation for physical or emotional injuries. Individuals with personal injuries in a rear-end car accident can obtain monetary compensation for many different types of harm, including the following:
- Past pain and suffering
- Future pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost future earnings
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive damages (in rare and exceptional cases)
Get help with your Lake Charles rear-end accident claim today.
At Lee Hoffoss Injury Lawyers, we take on the insurance company to recover the maximum compensation our clients deserve. If you suffered injuries in a rear-end car accident in Louisiana, call us today at 337-433-2053 to set up a free, no-obligation case analysis today.