You're Safe with Drake - California's Premier Personal Injury Attorneys
Rear-end collisions are among the most common types of vehicle accidents and are on the rise in the Sherman Oaks area. These accidents happen when one vehicle is struck from behind ("rear-ended") by another vehicle. These collisions can result in severe injuries. A rear-end accident lawyer helps those injuries in a rear-end accident get compensation.
If you or a loved one has been hurt, call Drake Law Firm at (844) 513-7253 for a free consultation with our rear-end vehicle accident lawyers in Sherman Oaks.
Who Is at Fault?
If you have been rear-ended by a car behind you, it is most likely that the other motorist is at fault. If you rear-ended a vehicle in front of you, you might be at fault, unless the individual behind you hit you and caused you to rear-end another vehicle.
Other Driver
The motorist behind you might be considered responsible if they failed to stop in time as traffic slowed down or stopped. This is because the rules of the road require a vehicle 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 car, it might be presumed that the driver of that car was not acting as safely as he or she could have been.
Proving Fault
There are a number of ways to determine liability in a rear end collision. One way is turning to eyewitness testimony from people who were at the scene when the collision occurred. Another good way of supporting a claim is to look to the police report for a description of the accident. Finally, physical evidence such as damage to the vehicle and skid marks on the street can help establish fault.
What to Do After Being Rear-Ended by Another Vehicle
In the moments following a car accident, it is likely that you will be under much stress. You might be confused, lightheaded, or even physically injured. It is therefore important that you understand what to do ahead of time to increase your odds at a quick recovery.
1. Seek Medical Care
After you have been rear-ended by another car, it is important that you contact emergency services as soon as possible. In plenty of rear-end collision cases, the driver of the front vehicle does not experience pain immediately after the collision takes place. However, it is possible for pain and aching to set in hours or even days after the collision. Getting medical attention after a rear-end accident is therefore very important for preventing and maintaining your health and well-being. It will also be useful when making a claim as your medical reports will show the injuries you received.
2. Report the Accident
The next step is to report the collision to the police. Police officers will submit an accident report which will record all relevant elements of the collision, including the parties involved, the location of the accident, and the time and date of the accident. Importantly, police officers may be able to collect statements from onlookers who managed to witness the rear end accident.
3. Document the Accident
An essential step that is commonly overlooked by people who were rear-ended is to document the accident and to maintain a thorough and organized record of all documents or materials pertaining to the crash. If possible, take photos of the scene of the accident after it happened. Keep copies of police reports, medical records, and auto repair shop estimates in an organized file. Recording this evidence will make it a lot easier to establish your claim against the party that rear-ended you.
4. Call a Vehicle Collision Attorney
Finally, you should get in touch with a car accident attorney. The recovery and settlement process with the other motorist or the other motorist's insurer is often time-consuming and frustrating. A car collision lawyer can ease the stress of this process by handling essential tasks such as talking to witnesses and conducting investigations into the accident. A vehicle collision lawyer will also be able to assist you through the settlement or litigation process and will be there to give you legal advice concerning complicated legal issues such as negligence.
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