What to Do If You've Been Rear-Ended in Nebraska
Rear-end collisions are a common occurrence, particularly in heavy traffic. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), rear-end crashes account for nearly one-half of all two-vehicle accidents. The Insurance Information Institute (III) reports that 1,806 people in the U.S. were killed and 503,000 were injured in rear-impact accidents in a recent year.
This type of accident happens often at intersections when inattentive drivers collide with the vehicle ahead. It can also happen at high speeds on interstates and highways when drivers are following too closely, when the driver in front brakes suddenly, or when traffic comes to a sudden stop because of heavy congestion or an accident ahead.
Causes of Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end crashes occur when traffic is stopped, moving slowly, or traveling at high speeds. Many of these accidents result from carelessness or inattention and could have been easily avoided. Common contributing factors to rear-end collisions include:
- Distracted driving: Texting or manipulating electronic devices requires the driver’s visual, manual, and cognitive attention.
- Tailgating: Following too closely leaves no margin for safety in case the driver ahead has to slow down or stop suddenly.
- Speeding: The faster a vehicle is traveling, the more time and distance it requires to stop. Excessive speed can easily result in rear-end collisions.
- Weather conditions: Snow, ice, and water on the roads can interfere with traction and the ability to stop a vehicle, causing one vehicle to collide into another from behind.
- Impaired driving: Alcohol or drug-impaired drivers cause all types of accidents, including rear-end collisions.
Common Injuries in Rear-End Crashes
Although many rear-end collisions are considered to be minor "fender benders," even at low speeds, this type of accident can cause serious injuries. Whiplash is an injury commonly sustained in rear-end accidents, so named because of the whip-like motion of the head and neck when a vehicle is hit in the rear. Soft-tissue damage suffered in whiplash injuries can be very painful, requiring extensive medical treatment and therapy.
Rear-impact accidents can cause serious and catastrophic injuries, particularly at high speeds, including:
- Head and brain injuries
- Facial disfigurement
- Fractured Bones
- Neck, shoulder, and back injuries
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
If you have been injured in a rear-end collision, it is important to seek medical attention right away. Symptoms of whiplash may not appear immediately after an accident, although they usually appear within 24 hours, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Get Legal Help from a Nebraska Rear-End Car Accident Lawyer
It is also important to speak with a highly-skilled attorney as soon as possible after an accident. Our Omaha car accident lawyers at Cullan & Cullan LLC are also physicians. We have the skills, knowledge, and professional background to accurately access the full extent of your losses and aggressively pursue the compensation you deserve.
We have a successful track record of recovering compensation for our clients, for which our attorneys have been awarded membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Our record-setting verdicts have earned us a reputation among insurance companies, to the benefit of our clients in negotiating settlements on their behalf.
When we represent you in a car accident case, you pay us nothing until we recover compensation for you. Contact our Nebraska accident attorneys at (402) 882-7080 for a free consultation with no obligation. We are here to help you pursue the compensation you deserve for injuries caused by someone else’s negligence.