You're Safe with Drake - California's Premier Personal Injury Attorneys
Rear-end collisions are among the most frequent kinds of vehicle collisions and are on the rise in the Northridge area. These collisions happen when one vehicle is struck from behind (" rear-ended") by another car. These collisions can lead to major injuries. A rear-end collision attorney helps those injuries in a rear-end accident get compensation.
If you or a loved one has been injured, call Drake Law Firm at (844) 513-7253 for a free consultation with our rear-end car collision attorneys in Northridge.
Who Is at Fault?
If you have been rear-ended by a car behind you, it is very likely that the other driver is at fault. If you rear-ended a vehicle in front of you, you might be at fault, unless the person behind you hit you and caused you to rear-end another car.
Other Driver
The driver behind you might be deemed liable if they failed to stop in time as traffic slowed down or stopped. This is because the rules of the road require a car to be able to stop safely if traffic in front of it slows down or comes to a full stop. If a car is unable to stop without rear-ending another vehicle, it might be presumed that the driver of that vehicle was not acting as safely as he or she should have been.
Proving Fault
There are several ways to determine liability in a rear end collision. One way is relying on eyewitness testimony from individuals who were at the scene when the accident occurred. Another good way of supporting a claim is to look to the police report for a description of the collision. Lastly, physical evidence such as damage to the car and skid marks on the road can help establish fault.
What to Do After Being Rear-Ended by Another Car
In the moments following a vehicle accident, it is likely that you will be under much stress. You might be confused, lightheaded, or even physically hurt. It is therefore important that you understand what to do in advance to increase your chances at a quick recovery.
1. Seek Medical Care
After you have been rear-ended by another vehicle, it is important that you contact emergency services immediately. In many rear-end accident situations, the motorist of the front car does not experience pain right away after the collision happens. However, it is possible for pain and aching to set in hours or even days after the accident. Getting medical care after a rear-end accident is for that reason very important for preventing and maintaining your health and well-being. It will also be helpful when making a claim as your medical records will confirm the injuries you received.
2. Report the Collision
The next step is to report the collision to the authorities. Police officers will submit an accident report which will record all pertinent elements of the collision, including the parties involved, the location of the collision, and the time and date of the collision. Importantly, police officers may be able to gather statements from onlookers who managed to witness the rear end accident.
3. Document the Collision
A vital step that is frequently forgotten by people that were rear-ended is to document the collision and to maintain a detailed and organized record of all documents or materials associating with the collision. Ideally, take photos of the scene of the collision after it happened. Keep copies of police reports, medical records, and vehicle repair shop estimates in an organized file. Recording this evidence will make it much easier to establish your claim against the party that rear-ended you.
4. Get In Touch with a Car Collision Attorney
Finally, you need to call a car collision attorney. The recovery and negotiation process with the other driver or the other driver's insurance company is often time-consuming and aggravating. A car accident lawyer can alleviate the stress of this process by taking care of important tasks such as contacting witnesses and conducting investigations into the collision. A car accident attorney will also be able to assist you with the settlement or litigation process and will be there to give you legal guidance regarding complex legal issues such as negligence.
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