San Diego rear-end accidents can leave victims dealing with devastating injuries, debilitating pain, and numerous other issues that can affect them and their families. For these reasons, if you or a loved one sustained injuries in a San Diego rear-end accident, contact an experienced car accident attorney.
An experienced San Diego car accident attorney can help you determine your legal options, take on your case, and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
Everything You Need to Know About San Diego Rear-End Crashes
A rear-end collision is an accident that results when one vehicle slams into the back of another. Most rear-end collisions happen at low speeds, but that's not always the case. Rear-end collisions happen for many reasons, and some of the most common causes of rear-end accidents include:
- The rear motorist, driving at high speed, ran into the vehicle in front of them, which was stopped.
- The rear motorist was driving at a faster speed than the motorist in front, and the two automobiles collided with each other.
- The rear motorist was not paying attention to the road and slammed into the car in front of them.
However, while these may be some of the more common causes of these types of accidents, there are many other factors and scenarios that can result in a rear-end accident. For these reasons, following your rear-end crash, consider contracting an experienced car accident attorney. A legal professional can review your rear-end accident, determine if you have a valid legal claim, and help you pursue the justice you deserve.
Injuries That Can Result From a San Diego Rear-End Accident
Rear-end accidents in San Diego can result in various injuries, ranging from minor to severe. The nature and extent of injuries depend on factors such as the speed of the vehicles involved, the angle of impact, the use of seat belts, and the presence of safety features. Common injuries from rear-end accidents include:
- Whiplash: Whiplash is a common injury in rear-end collisions. It occurs when the head is forcefully jerked back and forth, straining the neck muscles and ligaments. Symptoms may include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and shoulder pain.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: In addition to whiplash, other soft tissue injuries such as sprains, strains, and contusions can result from the impact of a rear-end collision.
- Back Injuries: The force of impact can cause back injuries, including herniated discs, spinal fractures, and strains. These injuries can lead to pain, limited mobility, and other complications.
- Head Injuries: Depending on the severity of the collision, occupants may sustain head injuries, ranging from mild concussions to more severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
- Facial Injuries: Broken glass or impact with the steering wheel can cause facial injuries, including lacerations, fractures, and dental injuries.
- Chest Injuries: The impact can lead to chest injuries, such as rib fractures, bruised or collapsed lungs, and injuries to internal organs.
- Knee Injuries: The lower body may be affected in a rear-end collision, leading to knee injuries, including sprains, strains, and fractures.
- Psychological Injuries: Emotional trauma, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can result from the psychological impact of a rear-end accident.
- Seat Belt Injuries: While seat belts are crucial for safety, they can cause injuries during a collision. Seat belt injuries may include bruising, chest pain, or abdominal injuries.
- Wrist and Arm Injuries: Occupants may sustain injuries to the wrists, arms, or hands during the collision, especially if they brace for impact.
- Airbag Injuries: While airbags provide protection, the force of deployment can cause injuries such as abrasions, burns, or bruising.
It's essential for individuals involved in rear-end accidents to seek medical attention promptly, even if injuries seem minor initially. Some injuries may have delayed onset symptoms, and early medical intervention can help prevent complications. Additionally, consulting with healthcare professionals and, if necessary, legal experts, can be crucial in addressing injuries, obtaining proper treatment, and pursuing compensation for damages.
Compensation You Can Go After Following a Rear-End Collision
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, you may be entitled to certain types of compensation for the harm and losses you suffered, including both economic and non-economic damages. These damages include payment for:- Medical bills related to surgery costs, assistive medical devices, prescription medications, hospital stay expenses, and other medical treatments
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Domestic replacement services
- At-home nursing care
- Rehabilitative therapy and other ongoing medical treatments
- Pain and Suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship
- Other expenses
Deadline to File a Lawsuit Following a San Diego Rear-End Accident
Following a rear-end accident, the statute of limitations restricts the amount of time you have to pursue legal action. In California, victims of a rear-end accident have only two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court, seeking damages.
If you do not meet this deadline, the defendant will likely file a motion to dismiss the suit because the claim has expired, and in most instances, the court will agree. This will ultimately stop you from going after the legal remedies you are entitled to for the harm and losses you sustained.
As a result, after your rear-end accident, ensure you have enough time to go after the compensation you need by contacting an experienced San Diego car accident attorney as soon as possible. Your lawyer can promptly figure out how much time you have to file your lawsuit and file all necessary paperwork before time runs out.
In addition, even though you may have years to file a legal claim, it is best not to wait to seek legal action. In many instances, the longer you wait, the higher the chances are of witnesses no longer being able to testify on your behalf, evidence no longer being available to help substantiate your case, and memories of the accident fading, which can also hurt your chance of bringing a successful lawsuit.
Seek the Justice You Deserve Following a San Diego Rear-End Accident
Taking action after a rear-end accident may not be the first thing on your mind following this tragic incident, but it is important that if you can, you should take certain steps after this collision. These steps can help you not only protect your safety and legal rights, but they can also help you secure the evidence needed to validate your legal claim. Consequently, after a rear-end accident, you should consider doing the following:Contact the Police
Call 911 as soon as you can after the collision. If you cannot make this call, have someone around you contact them. Reaching out to the authorities after the rear-end accident can ensure that medical personnel is dispatched to the scene as well as the police. From there, these officials can make sure you get the required medical care as well as investigate your accident and write down their findings in their police report. If you file a legal claim after this collision, your attorney can use this report to prepare solid legal arguments and go after the financial recovery you deserve.Look for Evidence After the Collision
You should collect as much evidence after the rear-end accident as you can, including photos of the harm you suffered, the motor vehicles involved, the positioning of these cars on the road, traffic signs near the site, traffic, weather, and road conditions at the time of the collision, and anything else that can demonstrate what occurred. However, if your injuries prevent you from obtaining any of this evidence, do not worry about missing out on the evidence. An experienced San Diego car accident lawyer can take on this investigation for you and obtain the documents, pictures, and videos necessary to corroborate your claim.Get to a Doctor Right Away and Get Examined
Even if your injuries appear insignificant after the rear-end crash, you should get to a medical professional immediately, as many serious injuries, including spinal cord damage, brain damage, and internal bleeding can take time to develop. As a result, you may not even realize you suffered severe trauma for many days after the accident, but the longer you wait, the more debilitating these conditions can become. You should get to a doctor as soon as possible to get examined. Additionally, getting checked over after the rear-end crash can provide you with a medical report that can help your legal claim by establishing a direct connection between your injuries and the rear-end collision, as well as detailing the extent of the trauma suffered. This can be especially important if the other party claims that your trauma resulted from another event or the injuries were not that severe.Talk to the Other Drivers and Witnesses From the Crash Scene
If they will talk, get information from the other drivers involved in the rear-end accident, including getting their names, driver’s license numbers, phone numbers, and insurance information. However, if these individuals are acting rowdy or not willing to share, wait in a safe spot for the police to arrive and have them obtain this information for you. In addition, if people saw the incident, you should also get their names and phone numbers. These individuals can offer your attorney valuable details regarding the accident and provide helpful testimony that can assist your lawyer in substantiating your claim. Yet, as you speak to these individuals, watch what you say. This means not making any conclusive statements regarding what happened, taking any of the blame, or apologizing for what transpired. This is because your comments and opinions can be used against you to hurt your case and the money you can obtain.Watch What You Say to the Insurance Company After the Rear-end Crash
Be careful when talking to the insurance company after a rear-end accident. While you may think that the insurer will want to help you get all the money you need, these companies only make a profit when they pay less on your claim. As a result, insurance companies and their representatives will try to find anything they can use against you, including statements you make. For these reasons, before you speak to the insurance company after your rear-end accident, consider contacting a skilled car accident lawyer. Your legal team can help you understand the games these insurance companies may play and take on these discussions for you, ensuring you do not say anything that can hurt your legal case.Reach out to a San Diego Car Accident Lawyer for Your Free Case Evaluation
If you or a loved one suffered harm in a rear-end accident, you do not have to take on this challenging legal situation alone. Rather, you can have experienced legal help fighting for your rights, justice, and the money you deserve. That is why after your crash, reach out to a San Diego car accident lawyer. A knowledgeable legal professional can review your rear-end crash, determine what happened, and figure out your legal options. They can also:- Thoroughly investigate the incident and look for evidence to help prove your case.
- Provide you with the clarification and support you need during this difficult time.
- Handle the settlement negotiations and go after a reasonable settlement amount.
- Proceed to take your case in front of a judge or a jury if the other party refuses to settle for a fair amount, and fight hard for every last dollar you deserve.
