Rear End Collision Car Accident Lawyers
Picture this: You are in your vehicle at a stoplight when, all of a sudden, you hear a loud bang, only to realize a passenger car or truck has rammed into you from behind. Many motorists encounter these familiar scenarios while driving their vehicles in Kansas. If you are in such a situation, you may have legal recourse to recover compensation for your injuries and losses.
At Bretz Injury Law, our rear-end collision car accident lawyers can help you throughout the claims process while protecting your rights and interests. You can count on our experienced legal team for sound legal advice and representation. Our attorneys will proactively investigate all aspects of your personal injury case and leave no stone unturned.
Contact Bretz Injury Law today if you or your loved one have suffered injuries in a rear-end crash. Our team will help you understand your legal options as we gather evidence to prove fault. But first, let’s discuss how our attorneys can help you with your rear-end accident case.
What Is a Rear-End Collision?
A rear-end collision results when one car crashes into the rear of another. Such occurrences are widespread in Kansas, with 10,834 rear-end collisions recorded in 2021. In most cases, the driver wrecking into the back of another vehicle is blamed for the accident.
While driving a vehicle, maintaining a safe distance and paying attention to the road could prevent a rear-end accident. Driving with care and awareness is essential to avoid catastrophic accidents from behind the wheel that may result in catastrophic injuries or even wrongful death incidents.
What Are the Causes of Rear-End Collisions?
Rear-end collisions can happen at any time when you are driving in Kansas. These types of car wrecks are unplanned but usually preventable. In fact, according to the General Services Administration, roughly 6.5 million auto accidents happen annually, with human error to blame for 98% of them. But what causes drivers to rear-end other cars? Here are some of the common causes of rear-end auto accidents in Kansas:
Distracted Driving
One of the primary reasons for rear-end collisions is distracted driving, be it visual, cognitive, or manual. This may involve actions such as texting, talking on the phone, or any movement that takes a driver’s focus away from the road. When a driver is preoccupied with their smartphone, changing the stereo, or engaging in dialogue, they may fail to notice traffic slowing down or stopping, resulting in a rear-end collision.
Distracted driving results in most rear-end collision car accidents. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,522 people lost their lives in 2021 due to distracted driving incidents, with approximately 362,415 individuals sustaining injuries. Regrettably, 644 vehicle nonoccupants — pedestrians, cyclists, and others — were killed in distracted driving accidents.
Tailgating
When driving on Kansas roads, following another car too closely puts you at risk of causing a rear-end crash. Tailgating, even with normal reaction times, puts you at risk for a collision when the vehicle in front suddenly decelerates or stops. That’s why four out of every 10 accidents are rear-end collisions, with tailgating being the primary cause.
Speeding
The faster you drive on the road, the more likely you are to cause a rear-end accident. Speeding increases your braking distance and impact force, and reduces visibility. All of these factors make it more challenging, even for experienced drivers, to drive safely and avoid causing rear-end collisions.
Impaired Driving
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol poses a serious risk to everyone on the road. Drugs or alcohol impair a driver’s assessment and reaction times, rendering them incapable of responding rapidly to urgent stops or traffic changes. Impaired individuals will likely collide with vehicles in front of them as they lack the required attentiveness and reflexes to drive safely on Kansas roads.
Rear-end collisions often arise when drivers are distracted, tailgate, or ignore speed limits. Other reasons that may be to blame for rear-end accidents include:
- Poor weather conditions
- Mechanical failures
- Drowsy driving
- Aggressive driving
- Trying to “beat” a yellow or red light at an intersection
Reasons Why a Person May Not Be at Fault in a Rear-End Collision
Although rear-end collisions usually mean the rear driver typically bears the blame, there can be scenarios where the fault may lie elsewhere. Understanding these scenarios is crucial when proving liability. While the rear driver may not always be responsible, several possibilities could explain why liability may not rest entirely with the rear motorist in such a situation:
Sudden Lane Changes
Abrupt and unsafe maneuvers by the lead vehicle could place the trailing motorist in a precarious position, requiring prompt action to avoid a collision. Improper lane changes, the absence of proper signaling, and blind spots could render trailing motorists unable to react in time, risking crashes. While a sudden lane change or swerving in the middle of the road to avoid a hazard may have caused the accident, determining fault requires examining whether all parties could have reasonably avoided the collision.
Mechanical Failures
The front vehicle may sometimes experience sudden mechanical failures, such as brake failure or other critical issues. Unfortunately, an inevitable crash may happen when a driver loses vehicle control due to unexpected difficulties. While mechanical failures and defective car parts may cause accidents, the rear driver’s lack of attention often proves the true culprit, where negligence outweighs mechanical error.
Reckless Behavior
Specific scenarios could arise where the individual operating the front vehicle might purposely engage in negligent conduct, such as deliberately and abruptly applying the brakes to instigate a crash. This dangerous conduct is known as “brake checking” and is illegal in Kansas. If evidence shows that the front driver purposely initiated the accident through such dangerously careless behavior, they may be held accountable for the crash.
Rear-end collisions often present a complex situation when determining liability. This calls for diligent scrutiny by the authorities, insurance adjusters, and personal injury lawyers to unravel the precise circumstances that led to the collision. Witness statements, police reports, vehicle damage assessments, and even traffic camera footage can be essential in establishing fault accurately. To navigate these legal complexities and protect your interests, you should seek guidance from an experienced car accident attorney who specializes in cases involving rear-end collisions.
How Do You Determine Who Is At Fault in a Rear-End Collision?
Determining fault in a rear-end collision is critical to resolving the legal and financial consequences that follow these potentially catastrophic accidents. It involves a thorough examination of several key factors vital to proving negligence, including:
Witness Statements
Accounts from eyewitnesses can hold valuable information regarding how the crash happened. Cross-referencing their statements with those directly involved in the crash can give an unbiased picture of how things went down before the impact, which can either support or reject the different accounts of the involved parties.
Police Reports
Law enforcement officers who respond to the accident scene will create official incident reports regarding the accident. These reports contain accounts of what happened, opinions from the police that can help with fault determination, the location of the crash, and insurance information. Your lawyer can use these reports to build a strong personal injury case, ensuring you get the best possible compensation.
Vehicle Damage
By investigating the degree of damage and positioning of the vehicles, an experienced rear-end car accident lawyer can help you understand what happened leading up to the accident. Vehicle damage can help establish the point of impact and how the vehicles were positioned during the crash, which helps with fault determination.
Traffic Camera Footage
Occasionally, the footage from dash cams and surveillance cameras stationed at crossroads or along highways can record the incident. This visual evidence can be instrumental in clarifying how the accident unfolded and who may be at fault.
Gathering and preserving evidence promptly is essential to building a strong case and protecting your rights. That’s why consulting with experienced car accident lawyers is advisable. At Bretz Injury Law, we will guide you through the legal process, ensure that crucial evidence is obtained, and help establish liability accurately.
Contact Our Experienced Rear-End Collision Car Accident Lawyers for Legal Representation
If you or your loved one have been injured in an auto accident, seek medical attention immediately and contact our trusted Kansas law firm. At Bretz Injury Law, our rear-end collision car accident lawyers have a proven track record of helping clients establish fault, protecting their rights, and securing the compensation they deserve.
Our legal team is ready to address all your concerns as we help you understand Kansas’ no-fault auto insurance laws. We promise to handle your situation carefully as we steer you toward the best resolution for your case. We will defend your rights and lead you through the legal steps, ensuring you attain the most suitable result. It’s also important to note that our legal team has won over 98% of cases pursued since 1997, recovering over $300 million.
Do not accept anything less than what you deserve to cover your medical bills, vehicle damage, lost income, and pain and suffering. Trust our legal team to be your dedicated advocates who will leave no stone unturned to ensure you get what you deserve.
Fill out our online contact form today, or call 620.RESULTS for a free case review regarding your accident, injuries, and potential options. We are here to give you and your loved ones the sound legal advice you need to get through this difficult time.
