A rear-end collision is one of the most common types of car accidents in
the United States. They make up roughly 40% of the nearly 6 million car
accidents that occur every year. In other words, there is a rear end crash
approximately every 8 seconds. While the vast majority of rear-end crashes
occur at low speeds, they can still cause serious injuries. In most situations,
the driver who hits the rear-end of the other vehicle is at fault, but
fault is not determined automatically. There are situations where the
fault may lie with the other driver.
Negligence and Rear-End Crashes
In order to establish liability, one party must show that another was at
fault by proving negligence. It means that one driver failed to exercise
the minimal level of care on the road. All drivers owe one another a duty
to be attentive and careful when they are on the road. If a driver fails
to do this, they have breached their duty of care. When that breach (such
as speeding or failing to follow the rules of the road) causes damage
or an injury, then that driver is considered legally liable.
Rear-end car accidents are commonly caused when a driver is not paying
attention. One of the reasons that this type of rear-end accident occurs
so frequently is because drivers often fail to keep enough distance between
their car and the cars in front of them. This distance is important to
allow the driver enough time to react to a sudden stop.
Common Causes of Rear-End Car Accidents
Although inattention is the most common cause of a rear-end car accident,
these crashes can occur for a variety of other reasons as well, including
situations where the fault may be shared with the driver who got hit.
Examples include:
- A driver stops suddenly while turning
- A driver’s brake lights do not work
- A driver suddenly reverses without looking behind them
-
A driver has a problem with their vehicle but does not use their hazard
s lights or pull off to the side of the road
Slowing suddenly is generally not a good enough reason to avoid liability
because the driver following the stopping vehicle should be paying attention
and have enough room between their car and the car in front of them to
react safely.
Finding an Experienced Car Accident Attorney
You can do everything in your power on the road to be a safe driver, but
unfortunately, you cannot control the actions of other drivers. If you
or a loved one is involved in a rear-end accident, please contact our
New Orleans personal injury attorneys at the Womac Law Firm today!
Call (504) 470-3935 for a
free case evaluation.