A rear-end car accident happens when one vehicle collides with the rear bumper of another. These accidents often happen at low speeds and sometimes are called “fender benders.” The term may imply that rear-end car accidents in Prescott are not serious, but that is not always the case. A rear-end crash can cause substantial damage and significant injuries, even at low speeds.
Reach out to an auto collision attorney at Phillips Law Group about pursuing compensation for your physical, emotional, and financial harm. Our team has been representing people like you in accident claims for decades and will work to ensure you receive appropriate compensation for your losses.
Common Injuries in Rear-End Crashes
Rear-end crashes often happen at relatively low speeds, but they can still cause painful injuries. At higher speeds, injuries can be as catastrophic as those in any high-speed crash.
When a vehicle is hit from behind the heads of the occupants of the front vehicle snap back and forth. This can result in hyperextension of the neck, called whiplash. Whiplash can cause severe pain in the shoulders, neck, and jaw, as well as headaches, dizziness, numbness in the shoulders, and other disagreeable symptoms.
Additionally, airbags sometimes deploy in rear-end accidents, which can cause eye and facial injuries. Fractures of the arm, wrist, hand, and ribs are common airbag injuries. Rear-end crashes in Prescott that happen at higher speeds can lead to more severe injuries, including damage to the spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries.
Determining Who Is to Blame for a Rear-End Crash
There is a common perception that the driver of the rear vehicle is always at fault when they collide with a car ahead. While this is often the case, it is not always true. For example, the driver in the forward vehicle might be liable if they backed into someone behind them.
Similarly, the forward driver might be to blame if their brake lights were not working or they were forced to stop short due to driving distracted. In some instances, an angry driver may slam their brakes suddenly to scare a driver behind them they think is following too closely, resulting in a fender bender.
A Prescott attorney can investigate the circumstances of a rear-end crash to determine which driver is responsible. The injured person can file a lawsuit seeking compensation when they find evidence that another driver is at least partially at fault. However, Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-542 requires the injured person to file a lawsuit within two years of the incident, or they lose their right to sue.
Securing Compensation After a Crash
When an injured person can prove another driver’s negligence caused their injuries, the at-fault driver is responsible for paying compensation or damages. The injured person, called the claimant, must prove the amount of their damages.
The injured person is entitled to reimbursement of their medical expenses and earnings lost while recovering. When the injuries prevent them from returning to their prior employment, an at-fault driver owes compensation for the claimant’s reduced earning power. Invoices, receipts, employment records, tax returns, and similar documentation can prove a claimant’s economic damages.
A claimant is also entitled to compensation for the subjective impacts of an injury, such as pain, emotional distress, and an inability to participate in activities they formerly enjoyed. A Prescott rear-end accident attorney can prove these non-economic damages with medical records, therapy notes, and statements from the claimant and their friends or family members.
Consult a Prescott Attorney About Claiming Damages After a Rear-End Crash
Whenever another person’s negligence causes you to get hurt, you could bring a lawsuit seeking damages. When you were injured in a rear-end car accident in Prescott, contact the legal team at Phillips Law Group for help.
Do not try to manage your claim alone or wait to seek assistance. Contact our office for more information today. Your initial consultation is free, and you are under no obligation to work with us after this visit. Let our team help you understand and protect your legal options. Call now to learn more!
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