Rear-End Collisions
Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-end collisions account for over 30% of all reported car accidents. Although many of these accidents are low-speed collisions, others are very serious –they account for nearly 10% of deaths in two-vehicle accidents. Even a most seemingly minor crash can result in soft-tissue injuries that lead to ongoing pain, disability and medical treatment.
If you were in a rear-end car accident in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. and suffered serious injury, the lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. stand ready to help you. Please contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Accident Severity
Because they are common, and may be low-speed, especially at intersections, people often assume that a rear-end collision is a minor form of car accident. However, many people suffer significant soft-tissue injuries, often lumped under the term “whiplash,” from rear-end accidents. This can include concussive brain injury and damage or displacement of the discs in the vertebrae of the neck (cervical vertebrae), injuries that may be associated with disability, long-term pain, and an increased likelihood of future injury.
Whiplash Risk Factors
Not everyone is equally likely to experience a serious neck injury in an accident. Studies show that women are 1.8-3 times more likely to suffer a chronic whiplash injury. Since NHTSA data shows women are more likely to be struck than striking in a rear-end collision, according to data, they are even more likely to be victims of serious injury due to the negligence of another driver. And older drivers have a slightly increased risk of suffering severe injuries from a rear-end accident.
And you may be at an increased risk of whiplash injury if you are looking straight ahead, rather than left or right.
Insurance Problems with Rear-End Accidents
Because of the common perception that rear-end accidents tend to be minor car accidents, you may have trouble with insurance companies refusing to pay damages for your serious injuries. Insurance adjusters often think that damage to your car is an accurate gauge of your injuries, and anything out of sync with that must be faking or malingering. We know this is not true, and have experience helping accident victims express the full human dimensions of their injuries.
If you suffered serious injuries in a rear-end car accident in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C., the personal injury lawyers of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel, P.C. may be able to help you. Please contact us today to set up a free case evaluation.
