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Being involved in a car wreck can result in mounting medical bills, damage to your vehicle, and extended time in recovery. Rear-end accidents are no exceptions. When these types of auto accidents occur, it can be difficult to file a personal injury claim without the help of an experienced car wreck attorney.

If you have been injured as a result of a negligent driver, reach out to a skilled Jacksonville rear-end collision lawyer. They may be able to help you recover losses for your injuries and hold the responsible driver accountable for their reckless actions.

Common Causes of Rear-End Collisions

A rear-end collision occurs when one vehicle is following the vehicle in front of them too closely. As a result, the car in the rear slams into the back of the vehicle in the front.

Common fact patterns surrounding rear-end car accident scenarios involve intersections. If a driver approaches a light that is about to turn red, the vehicle behind may assume that the car ahead is going to make it through the light. When the driver ahead decides to stop instead, the driver behind them could slam into the back of the first person’s vehicle. Cars driving erratically and changing lanes can also cause a rear-end car wreck.

Rear-end collisions are also a frequent result of distracted driving. If a driver comes to a sudden stop on a highway or another roadway due to an obstruction and the driver behind them is not fully paying attention, this could result in a rear-end accident. In this scenario, the following driver did not notice in time to stop suddenly and consequently ran into the vehicle ahead of them. Distracted driving can also be due to the driver using their cellphone. A driver who is looking down at their phone instead of what is in front of them means they are not paying attention when a vehicle in front of them has stopped.

Assigning Fault in Rear-End Accidents

The assumption is that the car behind is always faulted in a rear-end collision, but this is not always the case. For example, if a vehicle brakes for absolutely no reason, there is no way that the driver behind them could have foreseen this situation and therefore could not have prepared to stop.

A chain-reaction crash would be another example where other drivers could be at fault for a rear-end crash. When several vehicles are rear-ended, it is possible that just one vehicle can be responsible, and the car directly behind the victim may not have been the one at fault.

It is critical to mention that contributory negligence, which is when the courts assign some of the fault to the injured party, does not play as big of a role in rear-end accidents. A Jacksonville rear-end accident attorney could review an individual’s case and help determine the at-fault party who could be responsible for paying damages to the injured party.

How an Attorney Establishes Liability

A Jacksonville lawyer who is familiar with rear-end collision cases could establish liability by hiring an accident reconstructionist. This expert uses the police report and any measurements taken at the scene to help determine what most likely happened during an accident. The reconstructionist then inspects the physical damage on the vehicles and gives an approximation of what happened in the wreck and who could be at fault.

Depending on the case, an attorney may also find other witnesses if cellphone use, road conditions, or other factors played a role in finding the at-fault party. Photos and videos may also be used to establish liability in a car wreck case.

Importance of Hiring an Attorney Immediately Following a Rear-End Accident

It is critical to contact a skilled rear-end collision lawyer in Jacksonville as soon as possible after a wreck because physical evidence can be destroyed as more time passes. Witnesses may also forget the crucial facts of the case.

Injured victims may also inadvertently make a statement to an insurance company that puts their potential compensation at risk. By hiring skilled legal counsel to assist in a case, the attorney could help collect evidence and protect injured victims from making mistakes during the investigation process.

Contact a Jacksonville Rear-End Collision Attorney

Collecting evidence, filing the proper documents, and dealing with insurance companies can be a lot for someone to handle if they do not have the experience of doing so. You do not have to go through the complex legal process on your own. Contact a Jacksonville rear-end collision lawyer to discuss your claim and the steps you can take to receive compensation.