Rear-End Collision

It is rush hour. You opt to take the expressway, knowing that traffic may be heavy. At first, cars are moving at a fair pace, but then, for some inexplicable reason, everything grinds to a halt – except the car in back of you, that is. And you are trapped, watching helplessly as the driver races up without braking, then slams into you full-force.
How Common Are Rear-End Collisions?
The scenario is frightening, indeed, and played out all too frequently on our streets and highways. Fully 29-32% of all vehicle accidents are rear-end collisions. 1.8 million times per year a car or truck slams into the back of another vehicle, often causing serious injury. Common maladies resulting from such accidents include injuries to the spinal cord, broken bones, and whiplash.
Common Injuries in Rear-End Collisions
Many of the most common injuries New York rear-end collision attorneys see involve “soft tissue,” which means injuries to muscles, tendons, or ligaments. These are not detectable with X-rays, and often are disputed by insurers for this reason. The common belief of insurance companies is that it is easy to fake a back injury. However, if you suffer soft tissue or serious injuries, there may be some argument about the extent to which you are hurt – or even whether you are injured at all. A New York rear-end collision lawyer will be useful in such instances for recovery of expenses.
Who Is at Fault?
It is often assumed that the vehicle that rear-ends the forward car must be at fault. This is not always the case, however. New York is a prima facie state, which is relevant to rear-end collisions in that the driver in the rear has the burden of proof to show the other driver’s actions caused the accident. One must show that the front driver did something which made it impossible for the rear driver to avoid hitting him.
Ultimately, then, it will be in your best interests to hire a New York rear-end collision attorney to help investigate your accident and help you gain compensation. Given the complexities of dealing with insurers over soft-tissue injuries, in particular, you may find yourself otherwise ill-equipped to wage the battle to win your case.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a New York accident, the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Please contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.