Rear-End Collisions

One of the most common types of car accidents in the state of Florida is a rear-end collision. Unfortunately, these accidents often result in serious head and neck injuries caused by the force of one car colliding into the back of another. Most rear-end accidents are assumed to be the fault of the car following behind. Even if the car in front stopped suddenly, the car behind them should be following at a reasonable distance and speed, and should be able to stop suddenly without resulting in a collision. However, there are certain circumstances where both cars may be partially at fault, or the car in front may have been driving so erratically that the car behind could not prevent a collision. In these cases, Florida follows the comparative negligence rule. This means that fault can be divided up between both (or multiple) parties. If you have been involved in a rear-end collision, call an experienced Tampa car accident attorney to explore your options for compensation.

Comparative Negligence

Under the comparative negligence approach, it is crucial that you gather as much evidence as possible in order to determine and prove exactly who was at fault. This is why hiring a skilled Tampa car accident attorney is so important. If you are involved in a rear-end collision, take as many photos as possible of the scene and the vehicles. If you do not have access to a camera, write down exactly what happened. If you see any witnesses, obtain their contact information. If you are not able to do this because of serious injury, call a friend or family member that can help document the collision.

The rule of comparative negligence takes into account the fault of each party involved in the collision. Although you may typically think of rear-end collisions as the fault of the car following behind, that is not always the case. There are some circumstances where the car in front may be partially or fully at fault for the accident. For example, Car A is following behind Car B on a busy main road. Car A shifts over to the left lane to anticipate a future turn. Car B suddenly shifts into Car A’s lane without using a signal, causing Car A to crash into the back of Car B. Because Car B was driving erratically and not utilizing their turn signals, they can be found at least partially, if not fully at fault for the collision. Car A could not have kept an adequate speed or distance to prevent the collision because Car B made an illegal lane change.

Injuries Caused by Rear-End Collisions

Many rear-end collisions cause more damage to the vehicles than to the people inside them. However, even collisions at low speeds (20 mph) can cause soft tissue damage, whiplash, and other neck injuries. When a car collides with the car in front of it, the passengers and driver of the car in front are thrown forward suddenly. This causes one of the most common rear-end collision injuries: whiplash. More serious head, neck, and spinal injuries can occur in higher-speed collisions. If you have been injured in a rear-end collision, call an aggressive Tampa car accident attorney at Pallegar Law P.A. today. We will make sure you receive just compensation for your injures while you receive the medical care you need.

Call Pallegar Law, P.A. Today

If you or someone you know has been injured in a rear-end collision, call a skilled Tampa car accident attorney at Pallegar Law, P.A. today. Call 813-444-3912 for your free consultation.