NYC Rear-End Collision Lawyers
Every year, about 1.7 million rear-end collisions occur on the nation’s roadways. In fact, they are among the most common types of crashes. In many cases, they are minor fender benders that do not result in injuries and cause minimal property damage. However, those that occur at high speeds can result in significant harm to drivers and passengers. If this has happened to you, you need skilled legal assistance to secure fair and just compensation for your losses.
A New York City personal injury lawyer at Douglas & London can help you navigate the chaotic aftermath of a crash, protecting your legal rights and pursuing maximum compensation on your behalf.
When to contact a New York City rear-end collision lawyer
If it was a minor fender bender that did not result in injuries, you could likely receive fair compensation from your insurance carrier. In these straightforward cases, vigorous legal representation is not typically necessary. However, if the collision caused a serious injury, it’s always best to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
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Of course, you’ll need to call the police first, and then you’ll need to see a doctor. After you’ve received the care you need, and before speaking with an insurance adjustor, it’s best to contact a lawyer to help you avoid making mistakes with the insurance company that may jeopardize your legal rights.
Types of injuries in rear-end accidents
At Douglas & London, we work with clients who have sustained a wide range of injuries in rear-end collisions. One of the most common is whiplash. It is an umbrella term for a set of symptoms that arise from an injury to the soft tissues in the neck.
In a rear-end collision, the head jerks violently in one direction and back again. This forces the soft tissues to stretch beyond their capacity. The resultant injury can cause lingering pain, stiffness, and loss of range of motion, as well as neurological symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and tinnitus.
Furthermore, it’s important to note that whiplash symptoms usually do not manifest right after the crash. This is why we advise victims to keep careful records about their injuries in the days and weeks to come.
Other injuries that can occur in rear-end collisions include the following:
- Back injuries
- Head trauma
- Facial lacerations
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Bone fractures
- Paralysis
Who is at fault in a rear-end collision?
In many cases, fault does not play a role in securing compensation for this type of collision in New York City. That’s because New York is a no-fault state regarding insurance claims for auto accidents. However, if you have a serious injury, it’s possible to sidestep the process of seeking an insurance payment and instead to file a lawsuit.
To do this, it becomes necessary to establish fault. A personal injury attorney at Douglas & London will carefully review your case to uncover the evidence that establishes fault. This will typically include the police report, photographs from the scene, traffic camera footage, and eyewitness statements. In most of these collisions, it’s usually the rear driver was at fault– following too closely, driving while distracted, or driving while intoxicated.
However, it’s possible that the forward driver was at fault for any of the following reasons:
- Pulling out in front of the rear driver under unsafe conditions
- Putting the car into reverse without looking behind the car
- Suddenly stopping without warning and for no apparent reason
In either scenario, a skilled lawyer can determine liability and ensure your rights are protected.
What is the Average Payout for a Rear-End Collision?
It is difficult to determine the average payout for a rear-end collision. Confidentiality agreements cover most financial settlements in these cases. As a result, the injured party typically agrees not to disclose the amount. This level of confidentiality makes it difficult to get a clear picture of what the average case is worth. Moreover, the publicly available information is scattered across many court cases—it is not collected in a single location.
It is worth noting that every case is different. For example, if you were hurt in a rear-end collision, the chances are good that your damages could be significantly different from the average. Therefore, while we cannot guarantee the outcome of your case, we could evaluate it and advise you on what it is worth.
At Douglas & London, our car accident lawyers in New York City have helped many injury victims. You can review some of our successful outcomes on our verdicts and settlements page. They include motor vehicle accidents, including a rear-end collision that ultimately settled for almost $900,000. It is important to remember that our past success does not guarantee a favorable outcome in your case. However, our firm can promise that we will work tirelessly to help you get the compensation you need to rebuild your life.
Contact a New York City rear-end collision lawyer today
If you’ve been the victim of a negligent or reckless driver, contact the New York City car accident lawyers at Douglas & London today. We’ve secured more than $18 billion for our injured clients. We may be able to help you obtain just compensation for your medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and other losses.
We offer free, no-obligation consultations to car accident victims throughout the five boroughs. Get in touch today to discuss your legal rights and options for recourse.
