Rear end accidents are the most common type of multi-vehicle car crash. Rear end collisions also are a leading cause of whiplash, a serious and painful strain of soft tissue in the neck. If you have suffered whiplash or another injury in a car that was hit in the rear, the driver who caused the accident may owe you compensation for your medical bills, damage to your car, and more.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a rear end accident, seek legal guidance from a trusted rear end accident lawyer at Sam & Ash Injury Law. We help people who have been rear ended in car accidents in Las Vegas and across Nevada seek the full compensation they deserve for injuries caused by negligent drivers.
An attorney at Sam & Ash can review the circumstances of the car accident during a free consultation and discuss your options. If we handle your case, we will investigate and pursue a claim without any upfront cost to you. You’ll only pay us if we recover money for you through an insurance settlement or court award. Call or contact us online today for a no-obligation initial legal consultation. We respond 24/7 — because you deserve What’s Right.
What Is a Rear End Collision?
A typical rear end collision occurs when one vehicle fails to slow or stop to avoid running into the back of a vehicle that is traveling in the same direction. In most cases, the front of the trailing vehicle collides with the rear of the lead vehicle.
Rear end crashes are the most frequently occurring type of collision, accounting for nearly one-third of all crashes and resulting in a substantial number of injuries and fatalities each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The NHTSA says rear end accidents caused one of every 14 traffic deaths in 2019.
Rear end accidents, in which the trailing car hits the car ahead, are common in stop-and-go traffic, such as on the Las Vegas Strip, Tropicana Avenue, or in other areas of congestion. Many collisions are minor fender-benders. But rear end collisions can cause serious injuries when they occur at higher speeds, such as when involving:
Common Injuries in Rear End Collisions
The most common injury suffered in a rear end collision is caused by hyperextension and/or hyperflexion of the neck, or “whiplash”. The common name describes the abrupt over-extension of the neck that occurs when someone is forcefully struck from behind. When the car and a person’s body in a car seat are pushed forward, the soft tissue of the neck bends and stretches beyond its normal range of motion as the individual’s head falls backward and it then almost instantly snaps forward. The speed and back-and-forth motion are like cracking a whip.
Whiplash can cause:
- Muscle strain
- Ligament strain or rupture
- Disk damage
- Nerve damage
- Fractures of the cervical vertebrae
The abrupt back-and-forth movement suffered by vehicle occupants hit in a rear end accident can also cause hyperextension and hyperflexion injuries to the back and spinal cord, with potential paralysis from spinal cord damage.
A traumatic brain injury, which is normally caused by a blow to the head that shakes the brain within the skull, can result from the sudden jolt to the head suffered in a high-speed rear end accident.
Rear end accidents also consist of secondary blunt-force trauma— the car occupant being slammed against the vehicle’s interior structure or being ejected from the vehicle and thrown against the pavement, ground, or roadside structures. This can cause:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Fractures (broken bones)
- Internal organ damage
- Amputations (traumatic or surgical)
- Cuts and bruises
Severe blows to the head or internal organs, significant blood loss from cuts leading to shock, and/or other injuries suffered in rear end accidents can also be fatal.
Who is to Blame for Rear End Crashes in Las Vegas?
In most cases, the driver of the trailing vehicle in a rear end crash is found to be at fault for the accident. Drivers should always allow enough space to stop safely if the car ahead stops. A Nevada statute makes “following too closely” illegal, stating that, “The driver of a vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.”
However, almost anything can happen in the traffic, including the driver at the front of a rear end collision causing a crash. It happens because of:
- Rear brake lights not working
- Backing into the rear car, such as after pulling too far into a stoplight intersection or because of not looking before backing from a driveway, or parking space
- Changing lanes in front of a faster vehicle without signaling, after drifting, or after losing control in a curve
- Braking suddenly and sharply, or brake checking, to ward off a supposed tailgater
- Stopping in the roadway, such as with a flat tire, and not engaging hazard lights or another warning to other drivers
If you have been injured in a rear end collision that was not your fault, you should speak to a car accident attorney as soon as possible. At Sam & Ash Injury Law, we can begin to gather evidence right away and protect your rights. We’ll work to make sure the party responsible for your injuries is held accountable.
How are Injured Victims Compensated?
Under Nevada law, an individual who has been injured due to someone else’s negligence has the right to demand full and fair compensation from the party at fault. The experienced rear end accident lawyers at Sam & Ash Injury Law can help you pursue all the compensation available to you for an accident someone else has caused.
In general, we help victims of rear end accidents pursue compensation, or damages, to pay for:
- Medical bills from the treatment of injuries suffered or made worse by the crash
- Projected costs of delayed or anticipated treatment or for ongoing medical needs due to disabling injuries
- Lost wages, including projected income losses due to diminished earning capacity your injuries, have caused
- Property damage, i.e., car repair or replacement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
The amount of compensation you may recover in a rear end accident case will depend on the extent of your injuries and the impact they have on your life today and in the future. As your legal advocates, we will calculate the full economic and noneconomic cost of your injuries and other losses in addition to gathering evidence of who was at fault for the accident. We will develop a strong case to present to insurers along with your demands for payment of damages.
If the insurance company refuses to agree to provide a proper settlement, your attorneys at Sam & Ash Injury Law will proceed with a formal lawsuit on your behalf and present a persuasive case in court.
How a Rear End Accident Attorney in Las Vegas Can Help You
If you have been injured in a rear end accident someone else caused, Sam & Ash Injury Law can seek compensation for you so that you may focus on your medical care. We are here to:
- Manage paperwork, legal forms, and communication necessary to file your car accident claim
- Gather evidence that demonstrates how the accident happened, who caused it, and the injuries you have suffered
- Calculate the full extent of what the accident has cost you and submit an evidence-based demand for compensation to the responsible insurance company
- Negotiate with insurers for maximum compensation for you
- File a lawsuit if the insurance company representing the at-fault driver does not extend a proper settlement offer
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a rear end accident in Nevada, contact Sam & Ash to discuss your case. You never have out-of-pocket expenses when our attorneys at Sam & Ash pursue your claim. You only pay after we recover money for you.
Speak with The Injury Attorneys at Sam & Ash Injury Law
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a rear end accident in Las Vegas, call our experienced auto accident lawyers in Las Vegas as soon as you are able. The attorneys at Sam & Ash Injury Law, have worked with thousands of car accident victims just like you. We understand how to rear end accidents occur and the damage they cause.
You’ll need experienced and tough-minded lawyers on your side to obtain the compensation you deserve. We are friendly, down-to-earth attorneys who will listen to you and want you to get the care you need. Meet with Sam & Ash and get to know us. We are ready to fight for What’s Right for you. Contact us today.
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