You’re sitting at a red light after a long day at work, eager to get home to your loved ones. It’s beautiful weather outside and you have you have the windows rolled down. This is going to be a great weekend.
Suddenly, you hear screeching wheels. You glance in your rearview mirror and all you see is an SUV roaring towards you. There’s little you can do before your body and neck are launched forward. The pain has only begun…
One of the most common types of automobile accidents is a rear-end collision. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 40% of the automobile accidents that occur each year are rear-end collisions. The NHTSA goes on to report that approximately 87% of those rear-end collisions are the result of the driver not paying attention to the road.
- Read more about rear-end collisions.
The car accident lawyers at the Cardone Law Firm are familiar with these statistics and want to protect those of you who are dealing with the aftermath of a serious rear-end collision. If you or a loved one has been injured in a rear-end collision, don’t hesitate to contact the Louisiana personal injury lawyers of the Cardone Law Firm at (504) 522-3333.
It is best to understand how you can protect yourself from rear-end collisions with the following frequently asked questions.
Who is at fault in a rear-end collision?
State laws vary with regards to which party is at fault in rear-end collisions, so it is important to talk to an experienced attorney in your state. In Louisiana, for example, the rear-ending driver is the presumed party at fault. The presumption behind the law is that drivers should always maintain a distance that gives them enough time to brake and avoid hitting the vehicle in front of them.
Certain considerations arise, however, if the car in front had no brake lights or if there was no reason for the front car to brake suddenly.
Why do rear-end collisions happen?
Rear-end collisions are especially common in areas of congested traffic. Stop-and-go traffic creates frustration among drivers, which leads to more aggressive driving, such as tailing closely behind another car. Stop-and-go traffic also interrupts the regular flow of traffic, which is easier to predict than the kind that stops and starts unexpectedly or repeatedly.
What can I do to avoid a rear-end collision?
We live in a time when more and more drivers are distracted. Our fast-paced society pressures us to make the most of our time, and unfortunately, that can often mean checking smartphones while driving. Texting while driving is becoming a widespread problem that many local governments are trying to fight.
But it isn’t the only cause of rear-end collisions. Other distractions that cause these types of car accidents include:
- Grooming, such as applying makeup and doing hair
- Eating and drinking
- Being too involved with passengers (i.e. looking at another passenger while driving)
- Fiddling with radio stations
- Scrolling through social media on a smartphone
Avoiding such distractions while driving is an excellent way to avoiding causing a rear-end collision.
Equally important is defensive driving. Keeping plenty of distance between you and the car in front of you provides you with a cushion of extra time to react to any sudden stops.
What should I do if I’m involved in a rear-end collision?
If you find yourself in a rear-end collision, be careful about what you say to the other driver and to any insurance agent that contacts you. Anything you say may be twisted into a confession of guilt and used against you. The sooner you can enlist the help of an experienced car accident lawyer to represent you, the better chance you will have of being compensated for your loss and injury.
At the Cardone Law Firm, we are dedicated to providing the best legal advocacy and guidance to every client we serve.
For over 40 years, we have been looking out for our clients’ best interests and achieving successful outcomes for their cases. If you or a loved one has been involved in a rear-end collision, contact the Louisiana personal injury lawyers – Cliff Cardone – of the Cardone Law Firm at 504-522-3333 for your free legal consultation.