While nobody expects to get slammed from behind while driving, rear-end accidents can bring disastrous results. San Diego rear-ends 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. A quality San Diego car accident legal team can help you determine not only your legal options but can also 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 motor vehicles collide. However, what sets this crash apart from other automobile accidents, is that in a rear-end accident, the front bumper of one vehicle collides with the back of another motor vehicle. While a rear-end crash can occur for many reasons, some of the more common causes of this devastating accident 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.
Injuries That Can Result From a San Diego Rear-End Accident
Rear-end accidents can result in many injuries, ranging in severity. However, in general, the more frequent injuries resulting from this debilitating collision include:- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Head and brain trauma
- Facial injuries and eye trauma
- Crushed limbs
- Broken bones
- Emotional effects, such as severe anxiety, a feeling of being overwhelmed, nightmares, and distress
- Death
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. Most individuals will only have a few years to file their suit after a rear-end accident. In fact, in California, victims of a rear-end accident have only two years to file.
If they do not meet this deadline, the defendant will likely file a motion to dismiss their suit because the claim has expired, and in most instances, the court will agree. This will ultimately stop them from going after the legal remedies they are entitled to for the harm and losses 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.
Go After the Justice You Deserve After 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.
