Rear-end accidents are some of the most common types of motor vehicle accidents. You could be in bumper-to-bumper traffic and have the car behind you brake too late. Or you could be waiting for the light to change and the vehicle behind you slams into the back of your car. Usually, people who are involved in rear-end accidents aren’t seriously injured. However, there are times when people suffer serious injuries in what appears to be a minor car wreck. Our Atlanta car wreck lawyers have handled dozens of rear-end car accident cases over the years.
Many of the victims in these accidents have endured painful and devastating injuries. We understand why you would wonder how much your own rear-end accident claim is worth. Here, we’ll discuss some of the more common injuries associated with rear-end accidents. We’ll also explain how much your case may be worth.
If you still have questions about how much your car accident claim is worth, give us a call. We can always schedule your free, initial consultation so you can meet with one of our skilled Atlanta car wreck lawyers.
What Injuries Are Commonly Caused by Rear-End Accidents?
The value of your case depends on the seriousness of your injuries. Not only will your medical bills be higher if you’re seriously hurt, but so will your damages for pain and suffering. This is because our Atlanta car wreck lawyers determine your pain and suffering by multiplying your medical bills by three.
To determine these values, it’s important to understand what kind of injuries people in rear-end accidents typically suffer. They include the following:
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Neck Injuries
Many rear-end accident victims suffer neck injuries. One of the most common injuries we see in these cases is whiplash. Whiplash is caused when your head is stretched too far in either direction. When the back of your car is hit, your neck will probably get thrown forward and then backwards again. This will likely result in a serious case of whiplash.
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Back Injuries
Depending on how fast the rear driver is going when they crash into you, there’s a chance you could hurt your back. This could include anything from a muscle strain to a disc herniation. If the impact is serious enough, you could even suffer a spinal cord injury.
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Traumatic Brain Injury
If you’re hit from behind, your head could smash into the windshield. This could result in a traumatic brain injury. These injuries are caused when you suffer a serious blow to the head. Depending on how bad the blow was, you could require surgery. There’s even a chance you could suffer long-term brain damage.
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Broken Bones
Of course, all car accident victims are likely to suffer broken bones. If you’re involved in a rear-end accident, you could break an arm or a leg. You could even break your wrists if they’re on the steering wheel at the time of impact.
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Shoulder Injuries
One other serious injury people suffer in this type of rear-end accident is a shoulder injury. Between the impact and the protection of your seatbelt, you could end up with a severe shoulder injury.
Even if your injuries aren’t this serious, you’ll still be entitled to damages. The problem is that every case is different. It isn’t possible to tell someone over the phone exactly how much their rear-end accident claim is worth.
Your Rear-End Accident Case Could Be Worth Less if You Were Partially at Fault
One of the things that can drastically reduce your car accident settlement is if you were partially at fault. If the other driver can show that you were partly to blame, the court will reduce your damages by your percentage of fault.
In Georgia, there is something called the comparative negligence rule. This rule states that a plaintiff’s damages will be reduced if they were partially at fault. The good news is that you can still collect damages if you were partially to blame. That isn’t the case in every state.
Imagine that you were involved in a rear-end accident. A driver smashed into the back of your car at a red light. However, they have evidence that your brake lights weren’t working at the time of the accident. If this is the case, your damages would be reduced by your percentage of fault. If the court finds that you were 25% to blame, your damages will be reduced by 25%. So, if you initially demanded $400,000 in damages, your case will only be worth about $300,000.
Your Atlanta car wreck lawyer is well aware of this rule. If they think the defendant has ample proof that you were partially at fault, they’ll go into settlement negotiations prepared. They’ll fully expect the defendant’s attorney to offer a low settlement based on your contribution to the rear-end accident. As long as you know ahead of time, you can be prepared to make a counteroffer.
Come in and See One of Our Atlanta Car Wreck Lawyers Today
If you were hurt in a rear-end accident and wonder if you have a claim for damages, we can help. Regardless of the type of accident you’ve been involved in, our Atlanta car wreck lawyers can review your case at no charge. During your free, initial consultation, you can ask any questions you may have. Your lawyer can also give you an idea of what your case may be worth.
The defendant is going to have an attorney working for them. Since the rear driver is almost always the responsible party in these cases, the defendant will work hard to make it look like you caused the rear-end accident. It’s in your best interest to have a legal professional by your side as well.
Since your initial consultation is free, you have nothing to lose. Let your personal injury lawyers in Atlanta, Georgia handle the legal side of things while you focus on getting better.
