One of the most common types of personal injury car accidents in Durham, North Carolina are rear-end collisions. Rear-end collisions can result from a variety of factors, and often result in injuries. Rear-end collisions differ from other types of motor vehicle accidents in terms of determining liability.
In other types of accidents, liability is an issue that can oftentimes be difficult to determine, which can affect the value of your claim and how much you will be able to recovery. Generally in rear-end cases, the driver of the rear vehicle is placed at-fault for the collision. It is understood that a driver should maintain a safe distance between his own vehicle and the vehicle in front of him (a good rule of thumb is approximately two car lengths distance) Durham Personal Injury Lawyer.
Rear-end accidents are so common because there are so many potential causes. Distracted driving can be a large contributing factor to Durham car accidents. Drivers may be texting, talking on the phone, adjusting the radio or temperature controls, eating, paying attention to other passengers in the car, etc. Once the driver has time to return his or her attention to the road, he or she may find that their vehicle has approached the vehicle in front of them at a much closer range than he or she anticipated, with little to no time to avoid crashing into another vehicle.
Tailgating is another popular cause of rear-end collisions. This aggressive driving tactic is often associated with road rage and may leave someone scrambling for the breaks when they realize they won’t be able to stop in time. In addition, moving in stop-and-go traffic during rush hours or areas of high volume traffic often can result in rear-end collisions.
Rear-end collisions are especially unfortunate for the car being struck from behind. Typically, the driver is either unaware of the impending accident or is unable to move to avoid being hit by the oncoming vehicle. Most injuries resulting from rear-end accidents are head, neck, and back injuries. Whiplash is common due to the impact jolting the body forward and/or backward. If you are driving in a smaller car than the size of the car that hit you from behind, your injuries may be more serious due to an increased level of impact.
If you have been injured in a rear-end collision due to the fault of another driver, legal aid will be extremely beneficial to the outcome of your claim. Contact your Durham Personal Injury Lawyer at Wallace Pierce Law today for a free consultation.