Car accidents are not uncommon, but they are always unexpected. Injuries and damages are always unexpected as well and this means that people are never prepared for the changes and losses that are often a result of car accidents. As Spokane rear end accident attorneys know, even rear end car accident damages and injuries can be significant and life altering. Rear end accidents are often known as ‘whiplash accidents’ because whiplash is an injury that is commonly associated with rear end collisions, but there are many other types of injuries that may occur with rear end accidents as well.
Rear end accidents are typically thought of as property damage accidents with minor, if any injuries, however, in many cases this could not be further from the truth. Rear end accidents can cause serious injuries such as spinal cord injuries, other types of neck and back injuries, broken bones, cuts and lacerations, traumatic brain injuries, and, as mentioned above, whiplash. These injuries can lead to missed work and significant pain and suffering.
Common factors and causes of rear end car accidents include the following:
It is often presumed that the driver of the second car that rear ended the first car is at fault, which is often, but not always the case. When the first car makes a sudden and unexpected stop and the following car strikes the rear of the car that suddenly stopped, fault may not be entirely on the driver of the second vehicle or may not be on that driver at all. In cases like these, it could be the driver of the first vehicle that came to a sudden stop that may be at fault or it could be a third party’s fault, such as a pedestrian who suddenly entered the roadway in violation of the rules of the road or an off leash dog that ran in front of the first vehicle who had to make a sudden stop. In these cases, the pedestrian or dog owner may be liable.
People injured in car accidents often wonder if they are permitted to recover compensation when they were partly at fault for the accident. In Washington, injured parties are not barred from recovery just because they are partially at fault in an accident. For example, if a driver sustains $50,000 in injuries and damages in a car accident and he was 10% at fault for the accident, his financial recovery will be reduced by 10% ($5,000) to $45,000.
If you sustained injuries in a rear end or other type of car accident, contact a Spokane rear end accident attorney at Russell & Hill, PLLC for a consultation to discuss available recovery options.
Great people, they took care of my car accident case very competently, I was happy with the level of care they show for each client.
