I Was Rear Ended – Now What?
Even the best drivers find themselves involved in an accident. No matter how defensively you might drive, there is little you can do to prevent a rear-end collision.
Often attributed to distracted driving, inattentiveness and excessive speed, rear-end accidents make up about one-third of all collisions. This type of car accident happens when the car in front is stopped and the car behind is often travelling at high speeds, or not keeping a safe distance from the stopped car in front.
Thankfully, at least, while rear-end collisions are the most common, they are also among the easiest to handle from a liability perspective. Drivers who are hit from behind are rarely held liable for the damage done in the accident. That said, there are some steps to take to help ensure you are not stuck footing the bill for damages and medical expenses.
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- How Much Is My Car Accident Settlement Worth?
The Immediate Aftermath
Like with any auto accident, it’s important to move your vehicles out of the way of traffic to avoid further collisions. Call for an ambulance if anyone is injured. Help those hurt in the crash, if you can.
Regardless of how serious the accident is, it’s always a good idea to call the police and report the accident. While you’re waiting for police office to arrive, be sure to exchange information with the other driver involved. Collect their full name, phone number and insurance details.
Document the scene of the accident. If you have your cell phone handy, snap photos and video of the damage. Take shots of different angles, the street where the incident occurred and of any unusual traffic patterns that might have contributed to the crash.
Speak to any passersby who may have witnessed the collision and ask if they’d be willing to go on record about what they saw. If they’re willing to be filmed, take a short video of what they witnessed. Make sure to collect their contact information, too, before they leave the scene.
Work with police to get the accident documented. You’ll want the accident report as evidence of the incident. It’s also smart to have yourself and any passengers examined by a doctor as soon as possible, even if you aren’t feeling injured in the immediate wake of the accident.
Some serious injuries can take days, if not weeks, to make themselves evident. By then, you may have lost your window of time to file a claim for your injuries.
What’s the Settlement Process if I Was Rear Ended?
After handling the scene of the accident, seek medical attention, take a deep breath, and then contact your insurance company to file a claim for your rear end car accident settlement. The first step would be to write a demand letter for your rear end car accident settlement.
Be ready to share any documents, photos, videos and medical records associated with the wreck. You may be able to claim compensation and get a car accident settlement for the injuries you sustained in the accident, but only if it resulted from the other driver’s negligence.
How is that negligence proven? Most of the time, it’s obvious. If you were stopped at a traffic light, stop sign or in traffic and were struck from behind, it’s easy to see that the driver who rear-ended you is at fault. So long as there is nothing you could have done to avoid being hit, liability is unlikely to be disputed.
There are a few scenarios in which a rear-end crash could be considered the fault of the vehicle in front. Should a driver back up unexpectedly, make a sudden stop to turn and fail to actually follow through with their turn, the rear-ended driver could be held liable for damages. The legal significance of the driver’s negligence depends largely upon how much their actions contributed to the wreck.
When to Seek Legal Help if You Were Rear Ended
In many cases, the negligent driver’s insurance company will want to settle quickly and offer you compensation for your rear end car accident. The figure they offer will be determined by the cost of the damage done in the wreck, the severity of the injuries sustained, and the long-term impact of the accident.
The insurance company may offer a sum in exchange for an agreement that you will not seek more compensation. Sign that agreement and you waive the right to ask for any additional damages, even if the ultimate cost of medical treatment balloons beyond the settlement amount.
Read our article on how to calculate a rear end car accident settlement.
A personal injury attorney can be a valuable ally. Anyone unsure of whether or not to accept a settlement offer should consider speaking with an accident lawyer. In many cases, an attorney can negotiate a higher settlement amount.
If a fair settlement for the rear end collision cannot be agreed upon, your lawyer can escalate the talks to a lawsuit against the negligent driver. While most cases settle without ever going to court, having a personal injury lawyer represent your best interests is always a good idea.
Katherine (Kat) Sterret is an experienced content writer and strategist with a wide range of interests and skills. A dedicated mom of two, lover of books and horses and general wearer of many hats, Kat’s skills have added a lot to the lawsuitinfocenter.com team.