North Carolina Rear-End Collision Lawyers
Rear-End Accident Attorneys in North Carolina
Have you been injured in a rear-end collision? Our North Carolina rear-end accident lawyers can help you get the justice you deserve.
For almost four decades, our experienced North Carolina car accident lawyers have represented victims hurt in all types of accidents, including rear-end collisions. We’ve recovered over $665 million in compensation for our deserving clients since 2000 alone (see disclaimer below), and we would love to help you if we can.
For a FREE, no-obligation consultation with an experienced rear-end accident lawyer, please call 1-800-525-7111. There are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration provides data on rear-end collisions as follows:
- 29% of all car crashes are rear-end collisions
- Rear-end collisions are the most frequent car crashes
- The majority of rear-end crashes occur on straight roads during daylight hours
- Tailgating is the most common cause of rear-end collisions.
“Riddle & Brantley found me all the available money from the insurance companies.”
-David H., Riddle & Brantley client
Call 1-800-525-7111 today and let’s review your rear-end accident claim. You may be entitled to significant financial compensation and a North Carolina personal injury attorney at Riddle & Brantley may be able to help.
What Are Rear-End Crashes?
Rear-end collisions occur when the front of one vehicle directly collides with the rear of the vehicle in front of it. These collisions can range from minor to deadly, but most frequently cause injuries that can take months or years to fully heal, including whiplash, back injuries, and muscle pain.
Rear end accidents often happen at stop lights and stop signs when one vehicle slows or stops, but the following driver fails to brake in time to avoid a car crash.
Rear-End Accident Statistics
According to a study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-end accidents account for roughly 29 percent of auto crashes resulting in serious injury.
This statistic is certainly reflective of our rear-end accident attorneys’ experience. Some of the rear-end accident cases we handle involve very serious injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, bone fractures, loss of limbs, and more. In some cases, a rear-end accident can even result in the victim being ejected from the vehicle.
Common causes of rear-end car accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Reckless driving
- Excessive speed
- Tailgating/following too closely
- Slippery conditions / bad weather
- Other forms of driver negligence
Distracted driving is the number one cause of rear-end collisions. Driver distraction such as texting while driving causes slower reaction times, which means that motorists may not notice cars ahead slowing or stopping until it’s too late.
Driver negligence at stop signs or stop lights can also cause a driver to remove pressure from the brake. This may allow the vehicle to roll forward into another car.
Even at low speeds, rear-end collisions can be especially frightening. Our clients often describe seeing or hearing the at-fault vehicle approaching them from behind without applying its brakes. In these cases, they may feel vulnerable and afraid because they have no way to stop the at-fault vehicle from hitting them even though they can “see it coming.”
The Experience You Need
At Riddle & Brantley, our team of rear-end accident attorneys in NC knows how scary and painful these wrecks can be. Our injury attorneys have extensive experience handling even the most complex cases. We proudly offer free consultations to determine if you have a claim and advise on your best legal options.
Call 1-800-525-7111 today to speak with a personal injury lawyer handling rear-end collision claims in NC. The consultation is free, and we don’t get paid unless you do — you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we are successful and get you the compensation you deserve.
How to Avoid Rear-End Crashes
Typically, a rear-end crash occurs because one vehicle is not able to stop in time to avoid smashing into the vehicle in front of them. To avoid this, drivers should follow defensive driving techniques and follow the cautionary “three-second rule” when driving behind another vehicle in order to allow enough distance to suddenly brake if needed.
The “3 Second” Rule
To follow the three-second rule, identify an upcoming stationary object ahead of the vehicle in front of you. Count the seconds between when the car in front of you passes the object and you pass the object. Ideally, this interval should be three to five seconds to ensure you are keeping a safe following distance from the vehicle in front of you.
Rear-End Accident Injuries
Rear-end collisions can cause a wide range of injuries, including:
- Neck injuries (including whiplash)
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Bruising and seat belt injuries
- Facial injuries, including disfigurement
- Head injuries, including concussions and traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Cuts and lacerations
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Crush injuries
- Emotional trauma and distress
- Permanent scarring
Rear-end collisions may also result in “delayed-onset” injuries. Frequently, our clients may feel ok in the hours immediately following an accident, only to wake up feeling terrible the next morning or even days later. This is because soft tissue injuries, like neck pain, whiplash, back pain, and bruising often take time to develop, and the pain may linger for months even with medical treatment.
Some traumatic brain injuries (including concussions) may also take time to develop and may not be immediately apparent. It’s important to seek medical attention after a rear-end accident and complete any diagnostic testing recommended by your physician, including CT scans, MRIs or X-rays.
Who is At-Fault in a Rear-End Accident in North Carolina?
Determining liability in most rear-end collisions is typically straightforward. In most cases, the driver of the car in the rear will be found to be at fault for causing a rear-end collision. However, while rare, it is not impossible for the driver of the leading vehicle in a rear-end collision to be found responsible for the accident, especially when the front driver makes a sudden lane change without due caution for the driver behind.
Shared Liability and Contributory Negligence
North Carolina is a “contributory negligence” state which can complicate liability in rear-end accident cases.
For example, the leading driver may be determined to share liability if he or she contributed to the accident in some manner. For example, a speeding driver may cause a rear-end collision at a stop sign. This driver will likely be mostly liable for the car crash. However, if the lead car’s taillights were inoperable, then that driver may be partially liable under a theory of contributory negligence. In this example, working taillights may have given the following driver enough notice to brake earlier and prevent an accident, despite his excessive speed.
Last Clear Chance in Rear-End Accidents
However, NC law also follows the “last clear chance” doctrine, which allows a partially negligent injured party to still recover damages if it can be proven that the defendant was reasonably able to prevent the accident from occurring but failed to do so. This means that even if you contribute to an accident, the other driver may still be held 100 percent liable if he or she had the “last clear chance” to avoid the accident but failed to exercise reasonable care to avoid it. For example, you did violate a rule of the road, you were speeding, but the other driver could have avoided the crash and just simply chose to hit you.
These complicated factors only make it more important that you contact an experienced rear-end accident lawyer if you’ve been hurt in a rear-end collision. Call 1-800-525-7111 today for a free, no-obligation consultation and let’s see how we can help.
Why Hire a Rear End Accident Attorney?
Even when the following driver is found at-fault for a rear-end collision, it can be difficult to get a fair settlement from that driver’s insurance company.
Taking on the Insurance Company
Remember, insurance companies want to settle claims quickly and for as little money as possible — they are looking out for their insured, not the car accident victim. Even when it is clear that the following driver was at fault, the at-fault insurance carrier may try to “lowball” your claim by denying payment for medical expenses, downgrading the worth of your vehicle, or dodging your calls.
If the adjuster can find a way to contest liability, he may even try to shift the blame to you, the leading driver. An experienced rear-end accident lawyer can help make sure this doesn’t happen. At Riddle & Brantley, we will defend your interests and fight on your behalf against the insurance company to ensure you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
For a FREE consultation with an experienced rear-end accident injury lawyer, please call 1-800-525-7111. There is no charge for the consultation, and we don’t get paid unless we recover compensation for you. It’s as simple as that.
Call 1-800-525-7111 today and let’s review your claim.
Our Results
Our firm has won many significant settlements and judgments for victims injured in rear-end collisions in North Carolina (see disclaimer below).
Recent results in rear-end accident cases in North Carolina include:
- $3,600,000 settlement for a client who eventually died of injuries suffered in a terrible rear-end accident. We filed multiple lawsuits and eventually settled both claims prior to trial for a combined $3.6 million recovery.
- $296,000 settlement for a client who was rear-ended at a stop light. Our client suffered serious injuries including a lumbar disc herniation, bulging disc, and nerve displacement eventually requiring surgery.
- $300,000 settlement for a client who was rear-ended while driving on the job. Our client suffered back injuries requiring a lumbar fusion and decompression surgery. Our attorneys settled her auto accident claim for $200,000 and settled her workers’ comp claim for an additional $100,000, for a total recovery of $300,000.
- $101,000 settlement for a client who was rear-ended by a dump truck. Our client suffered injuries to his head, neck, back, chest, and legs. Our attorneys filed suit and the case was settled prior to trial.
“I would not have won my case without the help from my team at Riddle & Brantley.”
–John S., Riddle & Brantley client
Talk with a North Carolina Rear-End Collision Attorney for Free Today
Rear-end collisions can be startling, frightening experiences, particularly when the accident was caused by the negligence of another driver. Although these types of accidents are common, they often leave victims with painful injuries like whiplash, back pain, and bruising.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious personal injuries due to a rear end collision, our NC rear-end accident lawyers are ready to help you seek a fair and just rear-end collision settlement or jury award. Together, Riddle & Brantley’s attorneys have over 220 years of combined legal experience and we are ready to help however we can.
For a FREE consultation with a rear-end accident lawyer, please call 1-800-525-7111. There is no obligation and you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your case.
Justice Counts for those injured due to others’ negligence, and we would love to help you and your loved ones if we can.
Call 1-800-525-7111 today and let’s review your claim.
*** Disclaimer: The results mentioned are intended to illustrate the type of cases handled by the firm. These results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and they should not be construed to constitute a promise or guarantee of a particular result in any particular case. Every case is different, and the outcome of any case depends upon a variety of factors unique to that case.