Rear-end collisions that cause injury account for over a third of crashes every year according to 2019 crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A rear-end car accident can result in long-term and potentially serious injuries.
In densely populated areas known for traffic congestion, like the city of Chicago, rear-end accidents are all too common. Add in factors like icy roads during the winter months that negatively impact safe stopping distances and these types of car accidents become even more frequent.
An Experienced Auto Accident Attorney Can Help
With the help of experienced auto accident attorneys like those at The Kryder Law Group, LLC, you can be sure to get fair compensation if you or a loved one is injured in a Chicago rear-end collision. Contact an experienced Chicago car accident lawyer from our law firm today for a free consultation. You may be entitled to a rear-end collision settlement that could help you recover from your injuries and financial losses.
Factors in Rear-End Car Accidents
Negligence is usually a key factor in Chicago rear-end collisions. However, age and gender can also play a role. The NHTSA annual report, Traffic Safety Facts: A Compilation of Motor Vehicle Crash Data, shows that young male drivers, ages 16-24 are most likely to be driving a vehicle involved in fatal crashes.
Common factors that can lead to a rear-end crashes include:
It’s important to contact a Chicago car accident lawyer shortly after your rear-impact collision for a few reasons. First, evidence can degrade with time, so acting fast will help ensure you can make the best case possible.
Second, many insurance companies may try to argue about the extent of your injuries. Some rear end collisions may be minor, while others result in lasting injuries. By establishing an attorney client relationship with one of our car accident attorneys, you’ll be able to make a strong case for your settlement. We’ll work with crash reconstruction experts, witnesses, medical records, and other experts to give you the support you need. We will negotiate with the insurance company or insurance companies involved to make sure you get the recovery you deserve.
Call our law offices today for a no-obligation free consultation to discuss any questions you may have about rear end accidents.
Common Injuries from Rear-End Accidents
Rear-end auto accidents can happen at very low or very high speed and the related rear-end collision injuries don’t necessarily appear immediately following the motor vehicle accident. In a study by the European Spine Journal, it was concluded that serious injuries like whiplash can even occur at speeds as low as 7 to 10 miles per hour.
An example of a low-speed rear end collision might be a driver sitting at a red light getting hit from behind from an inattentive driver. A high speed rear-end accident might happen on a freeway when a driver has to brake hard to avoid a road hazard and gets hit from behind by rear vehicle following too closely.
In the first example, the injured driver might not notice symptoms until the days or weeks after the accident, while in the second example, the driver might immediately notice some but not all of their injuries.
In both of these scenarios, the injured accident victims might find themselves suffering from these common injuries:
Whiplash
Concussions
Headaches
Migraines
Herniated disks
Muscle strain
Whiplash Symptoms
Whiplash occurs when your head is thrown back and forth quickly and forcefully. This violent motion can cause damage to the spine, disks, ligaments, nerves, and muscles in your neck.
Whiplash symptoms can develop within days of the rear-end motor vehicle collision and can include:
Stiffness in the neck and neck pain
Increasing neck pain when moved
Noticeable loss of range of motion when turning the head
Headaches that often start at the base of the skull
Numbness or tingling through the arms
Tiredness
Dizziness
Pain and tenderness in the shoulders, arms or upper back
Other common severe symptoms of whiplash from a rear-end accident may include:
Blurry vision
Tinnitus
Inability to sleep soundly
Irritability
Difficulty concentrating
Problems with memory
Depression
Concussion Symptoms
Concussions are a traumatic brain injury that impacts your brain function and are usually caused by a blow to the head. In rear-end collisions, this may happen if a driver’s head hits the steering wheel or a passenger hits the dashboard with their head. The effects of a concussion are usually temporary but may include problems with balance, coordination, concentration, memory, or headaches. Any type of traumatic brain injury should never be taken lightly.
Symptoms of a concussion caused by a blow to the head in a rear-end collision can be subtle and may not show up immediately and can last for days, weeks, or longer. Common symptoms or physical signs that you are suffering from a concussion after your accident may include:
Headache
Ringing in the ears
Nausea
Vomiting
Drowsiness or fatigue
Blurring vision
Some other signs and symptoms of a concussion include:
Feeling foggy or clouded
Forgetting the details of the event (amnesia)
Seeing stars or feeling dizzy
Herniated Disk Symptoms
A herniated disk refers to a problem with the disks that sit between the vertebrae in your spine. It can also be referred to as a slipped disk or a ruptured disk. A herniated disk occurs when some of the nucleus, the jellylike center of the disk, pushes out through a tear in the annulus, the rubbery exterior of the disk. This can can occur in any part of the spine and can irritate a nearby nerve causing numbness, pain, or weakness in the arms or legs.
Some people may have no immediate pain, weakness or tingling from a herniated disk, but it may still show up on a spinal image. Even without immediate symptoms, a herniated disk caused by a rear-end accident might have a negative impact on how quickly a person may develop disk degeneration in the future from a minor twist or strain.
Our Rear-End Collisions Attorneys Are Ready to Help You
Many neck injuries or spinal cord injuries can have long-lasting effects. We’ll make sure that the compensation you receive covers both present and future medical expenses resulting from your auto accident injuries.
What Your Rear-End Collision Case Is Worth
After you’ve been rear-ended, your life can be turned upside-down by your injuries. Especially when you’re left with outstanding medical bills, loss of income, and property damage. This is why you need experienced car accident attorneys on your side so you can get the most out of your case.
In a rear-end car accident claim, you may be able to get compensation for:
Medical bills, including emergency transport in an ambulance, emergency room costs, hospitalization, surgical care, physical therapy, counseling, prescription medications, assistive devices, and future medical care.
Lost wages, including wages lost while healing from your injuries or attending medical or PT appointments and lost or reduced future earning capacity.
Out-of-pocket expenses, including travel costs like gas costs or rideshare costs, parking fees at your doctor’s office, or renovations to your home or vehicle to accommodate a disability.
Pain and suffering for physical and emotional harm.
Property damage including the cost to repair or replace your vehicle.
Free Case Evaluation
If you or someone you love has been injured in a Chicago rear-end collision, now’s the time to call the law offices of The Kryder Law Group, LLC for a free consultation. We’ll review your situation and make sure you reach a fair financial outcome for your car accident case. Get in touch today for your free case evaluation so we can help you explore all your legal options.
Bumper to bumper traffic. Rear-end accidents are common occurrences in Chicago rush hour traffic. If you've been seriously injured in an accident, call today to find out what your case is worth.
(312) 223-1700