Rear-End Truck Accident Lawyers

Any truck accident can be a deadly situation, especially for people riding in a passenger vehicle at the time. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were nearly 5,000 fatalities in 2020 due to accidents involving large trucks, and 71 percent of those deaths were occupants of other vehicles.

Rear-end collisions represent a major category of all truck accidents, and large trucks tend to get hit from behind quite often. In fact, NHTSA data shows that for all accidents, large trucks were hit from behind three times more often than other vehicles were hit from behind by large trucks.

What Is a Truck Rear-End Accident?

Rear-end accidents are among the most common kinds of accidents. They occur when one motor vehicle crashes into the rear of another vehicle. When these incidents are called “fender-benders,” — it makes them seem harmless, but unfortunately, they’re often not.

Your car bumper is designed to endure a small to moderate impact, but the human body is much more fragile. Research has demonstrated that even low-impact rear-end collisions can cause whiplash, possibly causing devastating injuries to the head, neck, spine, and vertebrae.

Insurance companies attempt to disregard this truth when a claimant doesn’t have serious apparent injuries. The damage that a rear-end accident can cause goes far beyond injuries and even property damage. Many victims of these accidents lose their ability to work and their source of transportation, putting their financial security at risk. This is why you should speak with a rear-end truck accident lawyer after suffering this kind of accident.

Rear-Ended by a Truck vs. Rear-Ending a Truck

Whether a truck was rear-ended by a car or the other way around, the story is often the same: One vehicle was following another vehicle too closely or the rear driver was distracted, and the vehicle in front stopped suddenly. The damage usually tells the story, with the vehicle that caused the accident being damaged in the front and the other vehicle being damaged in the back. This scenario plays out often, and insurance adjusters often start with the assumption that the rear driver is responsible for the accident.

Rear-end semi-truck accidents are more serious than rear-end collisions involving only passenger vehicles because the forces involved are much greater due to the truck’s weight and size. When a semi-truck is involved in a rear-end collision with a passenger car, the truck can crush the other vehicle to easily push it into another vehicle or oncoming traffic, causing even more damage and injury.

Also, the design of a semi-truck increases the risk of severe injury and death. The frame of a semi-truck is higher than the profiles of most passenger vehicles. During a rear-end crash, the higher bumper and frame of a tractor-trailer easily smash through the top of the passenger vehicle, raising the chance of devastating injuries and death.

What Causes Most Rear-End Truck Collisions?

Most rear-end accidents involving two vehicles are pretty straightforward. But rear-end accidents involving semi-trucks have a few more factors involved. This can mean far more work needs to be done to establish fault. The following are some common causes of rear-end truck accidents.

Malfunctioning Brakes

Poor maintenance and defective brakes are big issues that vehicle drivers and trucking businesses must take seriously. Federal regulations make it compulsory for drivers and companies to regularly maintain and inspect truck brakes. Sadly, it’s not unheard of for trucking businesses to encourage truckers to skip mandatory inspections and maintenance. Even more unfortunate, trucking businesses will sometimes modify the brakes to reduce wear, compromising safety in the name of profit.

Low Visibility

Rear-end truck accidents are common on poorly lit roads, and nighttime accidents can be among the deadliest. Rear-end accidents in the evening often take place when a semi-truck is pulled over to the side of the road and a fast-moving driver comes upon it suddenly.

Impaired Driver

When someone is driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, their reaction times, focus, and reasoning abilities are all seriously decreased. Impaired drivers are less able to anticipate what will happen in front of them, and they are less able to react when something unexpected happens.

Drowsy Driver

Truck drivers can be illegally allowed to drive for long hours without a rest. While there are regulations for mandatory rest breaks, it’s not uncommon for truck drivers to be tired while on the road. These workers are under pressure to deliver shipments as quickly as possible. This means significant pressure to violate hours-of-service regulations and stay on the road for longer than they should. Trucking companies are often complicit in this dangerous practice.

Distracted Driving

With electronic devices and touch screens in many modern vehicles, it’s more tempting than ever to be distracted while you drive, and many of us are guilty of distracted driving from time to time. It’s important to remember that distracted driving is very dangerous, and it is a common cause of rear-end truck accidents.

Speeding

Statistics continue to show that speeding is a primary cause of all kinds of accidents, including rear-end accidents. When you are driving too fast for a particular stretch of road or the current driving conditions, you are giving yourself less time to react to the unexpected, such as a driver suddenly slamming on their brakes. You are also giving yourself less braking distance, which can be further reduced in slippery road conditions.

Speeding is also an issue when it comes to crossing through an intersection. Drivers trying to “beat the light” run an increased risk of T-bone accidents and rear-end collisions because their foot is firmly on the accelerator, not the brake.

Defective Brake Lights

We rely on brake lights to keep us safe on the road. Experienced drivers react to brake lights intuitively by immediately extending their foot towards their own brake pedal. When the brake lights on the vehicle aren’t working, it’s hard for drivers behind it to know when it’s slowing down, and this significantly increases the risk of a rear-end collision.

It’s important to note that these common causes of a rear-end collision can also have secondary impacts when the collision causes a chain reaction accident. If a rear-end accident suddenly happens and the cars behind it can’t react quickly enough, it can lead to a multiple-car pile-up. A chain reaction accident can also happen if cars are waiting for the traffic light to change and a speeding car or truck crashes into the back of the line. Because trucks are so much larger and heavier, it significantly increases the chance of a chain reaction accident.

From a legal standpoint, chain reaction accidents are much more complicated because there are many victims involved, and there could be multiple parties that are liable. While those involved in a chain reaction accident will likely blame the party that seems responsible for the initial accident, other drivers could be held liable if they were acting in a negligent manner.

What Kinds of Injuries Are Common in Rear-End Collisions?

Rear-end collisions can cause serious injuries. These injuries may include:

• Cuts and lacerations
• Bruises
• Internal bleeding
• Whiplash
• Traumatic brain injury
• Slipped or herniated discs
• Spinal fracture
• Dismemberment

Liability in Rear-End Truck Accidents

Establishing liability during any type of accident can be complicated. Rear-end truck accident lawyers have experience dealing with those types of accidents and can help sort through the details.

When it comes to getting compensation for any injuries or damage suffered during a rear-end collision in Kansas, victims must first turn to their insurance policies, regardless of which driver was at fault. According to state mandates, all drivers must carry at least $4,500 in personal injury protection, which is coverage meant to reimburse the medical costs of accident victims. But in rear-end truck accidents, this coverage often isn’t enough due to the serious injuries and property damage that typically takes place.

On top of that, insurance adjusters work on behalf of their employer to minimize payouts. While they might be friendly in their interactions, insurance adjusters prioritize the interest of the insurance company ahead of your own. They do this by:

• Taking statements from you so the insurance company can possibly use words like “I feel fine” to reduce your compensation
• Telling you that your injuries don’t warrant a claim
• Prolonging the claim process
• Insisting you are evaluated by company-approved physicians

If you aren’t fully compensated by the insurance companies, you may need to take legal action and prove liability. It is often presumed that the driver of the rear vehicle is responsible for a rear-end collision, and if you hit a semi-truck from behind, you will have to produce compelling evidence that another party was at fault. This requires collecting and analyzing evidence.

Rear-end truck accident lawyers are experienced when it comes to preserving crucial evidence for analysis. Their job is to work against the clock and insurance companies’ efforts to avoid liability. These attorneys can also take a case to trial and represent accident victims.

Let Our Team of Rear-End Truck Accident Lawyers Fight for Your Rights

At Bretz Injury Law, our attorneys are very experienced when it comes to dealing with truck accidents. They have seen many different types of accidents and understand best practices for driving and maintaining semi-trucks.

The rear-end truck accident lawyers at our firm also take pride in fighting for accident victims. Unlike other firms that rush to get a mediocre settlement, our attorneys are willing to take cases to trial and investigate trucking companies for liability. In fact, many settlement-focused firms refer truck accident cases to us when they need to go to trial. If you are looking for a law firm that’s willing to go the extra mile for your case, contact us online or call 620-RESULTS today.