People involved in rear-end collisions don’t often walk away unscathed; sometimes, injuries as a result of the crash can be severe and treating them can be expensive. However, depending on the details of the accident, you may be able to seek compensation for your medical expenses. That’s why you should always contact a rear-end collision car accident attorney following any rear-end crash.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a rear-end collision in Las Vegas, get help from a rear-end collision attorney. Henness & Haight has experience filing claims across Southern Nevada. We will be happy to give you a free case evaluation.
Hit From Behind? Here’s Why It Happens
Getting struck from behind while driving or stopped at an intersection is a shocking and often traumatic event. Rear-end collisions usually occur when the driver of the rear vehicle is speeding, distracted, or both, often when changing lanes.
Distraction can come in many forms, and Las Vegas serves up more than most other places. Many distracted drivers are texting or on their cell phones. Many others are intoxicated. Intoxication can cause drivers to drive recklessly, lose focus, and react slowly to changing traffic conditions. Las Vegas’s tourism puts above-average numbers of intoxicated drivers on the road. In fact, a recent study showed Las Vegas was the city that ranked #1 in the country for DUI arrests.
Traveling faster reduces the time drivers have to react to the cars in front of them. The faster a driver travels, the more likely they will cause a rear-end collision. So, a driver could pay perfect attention to the road, but if they’re speeding, they still may not be able to stop in time if the car in front of them has to slam on the brakes for some reason.
In moments of bad weather — whether it’s icy roads or torrential rain storms — it’s important to stay more alert than usual. Often, these types of rear-end accidents occur during bad weather, when drivers’ control of their vehicles is inhibited.
Yet, no matter if the accident is caused by distractions, speeding, or inclement weather, rear-end collisions are highly dangerous and can cause severe injuries.
Whiplash: The Painful Effect of a Rear-End Collision
Perhaps the most common type of injury caused by a rear-end collision is whiplash. Whiplash occurs when a person’s head violently snaps from the force created by a sudden change of direction.
In a rear-end collision, people in the front car could experience whiplash from the initial crash that would cause their heads to thrust back. But they could also get whiplash from their heads thrusting forward when the momentum stops. This is why whiplash happens so often when someone gets rear-ended.
If you’ve been in a rear-end collision, watch for the following symptoms of whiplash:
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headaches, especially those at the base of the skull
- Irritability
- Painful or stiff neck
- Tingling numbness or pain in arms or shoulders
- Tinnitus
- Vision problems
Whiplash victims typically recover after a painful three months. However, some severe cases of whiplash can lead to ongoing chronic pain. Treatments from a physical therapist, massage therapist, or physician can significantly reduce your recovery time and improve your long-term prognosis. Unfortunately, treatment can be expensive.
At Henness & Haight, we believe that if the accident wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t be the one paying for the treatment. That’s why we fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Do you have whiplash from a rear-end collision? Don’t fight the other driver’s insurance company alone. Don’t get stuck paying expensive medical bills for injuries you didn’t cause. Get help from a car accident attorney.
Your Rights Following a Rear-End Car Accident
Any time you get rear-ended, you may have a case you can win. In almost all cases, the driver in the rear is considered responsible for a rear-end collision, and they are usually found negligent.
If someone else causes a rear-end collision that affects you, you’re entitled to compensation. In the legal world, the compensation is called “damages.” You may be entitled to several types of compensation, including vehicle repairs or replacement, medical expenses, lost wages, and even compensation for your pain and suffering and any ongoing pain and suffering. You can even seek punitive damages designed to punish the other party.
The state of Nevada gives you two years from the accident to file a personal injury claim. But, don’t hesitate. Immediately filing your claim sends a strong message, while filing months after the incident can be taken as a sign that your case isn’t that serious or important to you.
Get help filing your claim from an experienced personal injury lawyer with a track record of successful car accident claims.
For Your Benefit, Hire a Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer Right Away
Getting help from an attorney isn’t just about going to court. They can help you in various ways before you get close to a courtroom.
Talk to a Las Vegas car accident attorney before you file your claim. They can help you craft your claim to set you up for a successful settlement and get you the total compensation you deserve.
Las Vegas car accident attorneys like Henness & Haight help you build your case in several ways:
- Gathering evidence that shows the fault of the negligent party
- Helping calculate the value of less tangible damages
- Leveraging experience and relationships from other Las Vegas rear-end accident cases
- Holding insurance companies accountable
Working with a good law firm can be the difference in winning or losing your case. That can mean thousands of dollars in the long run. But most accident attorneys will give you a free case evaluation at no upfront cost. It’s like you have a lot to lose by not hiring an attorney, but no risk if you do.
Choose Henness & Haight, The Experienced Car Accident Lawyers in Las Vegas
Get the compensation you deserve with help from Las Vegas’s car accident legal experts, Henness & Haight. Get a free case evaluation or call us 24/7 at (702) 805-HELP to discuss your case.
FAQs about Rear-End Accidents
The responsible party in this scenario may vary case by case. In most cases, we would deal with the company’s insurance company.
Only give your insurance company the information they need to identify you and the incident so they can communicate about the accident with other drivers’ insurance companies.
Don’t say what you think happened. Don’t give any information about the condition of your health, your vehicle, or other people involved. Don’t make any official statements or make any agreements. And don’t admit blame.
Yes. Some non-medical expenses, like vehicle repairs, can be included as part of a claim as long as you can prove they were rooted in the accident in question.
Many factors can go into determining who is at fault in a rear-end collision, especially if there was a vehicle failure or other extenuating circumstance. In most cases, however, it comes down to driver negligence, and the driver of the rear vehicle is almost always at fault. Even if the driver in front suddenly hits their brakes, Nevada law expects the driver in the rear to follow at a distance that gives them enough time to react and stop without hitting the car in front of them.
When multiple drivers are involved in an accident, different amounts of liability may be assigned to them depending on their role in the collision. However, the person whose negligence led directly to the start of the incident usually has to take the lion’s share of the liability.
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