Driving Under The Influence

Driving while drunk or high makes it very hard for a driver to think clearly, react quickly, and pay attention. A driver who is under the influence is much more likely to misjudge distances, not notice changes in traffic, and cause a rear-end accident.

Sudden Stops

Sometimes you have to stop suddenly because of an emergency, like an animal in the road or another driver cutting you off. But stopping suddenly for no reason, or “brake-checking,” can cause rear-end collisions. When it’s safe to do so, drivers should brake smoothly.

Poor Weather and Road Conditions

Rain, fog, ice, or even the sun shining too brightly can make roads slick and hard to see. It takes longer to stop a car in these conditions safely.

Drivers who don’t change their speed or how far behind they are following when the weather is bad are more likely to cause a rear-end crash.

Potholes, construction, or trash can also make people stop suddenly, which can start a chain reaction.

Whiplash

This is perhaps the most well-known injury from rear-end collisions. Whiplash happens when your head and neck are suddenly thrown back and forth, like the cracking of a whip.

This can strain the muscles, ligaments, and discs in your neck, causing pain, stiffness, headaches, and dizziness. Symptoms might not appear for hours or even days after the accident.

Back injuries

The force of a rear-end impact can jar your entire spine. This can lead to injuries like:

• Herniated discs
• Strains and sprains
• Fractured vertebrae

Neck injuries

Similar to whiplash, other neck injuries can include muscle strains, ligament sprains, or even nerve damage due to the sudden movement. These can lead to chronic pain, reduced range of motion, and long-term discomfort.

Spinal cord injuries

While less common in minor rear-end accidents, severe impacts can lead to catastrophic spinal cord injuries. These can result in partial or complete paralysis, loss of sensation, and other life-altering conditions, requiring extensive medical care and rehabilitation.

Soft tissue injuries

This is a general term for damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Besides whiplash, other soft tissue injuries can affect shoulders, wrists, knees, and other joints as the body braces for or reacts to the impact. These injuries might not show up on X-rays but can cause significant pain and require long recovery times.

Safety First:

If possible, move your vehicle to a safe spot out of traffic. If not, turn on your hazard lights.

Check for Injuries:

First, check yourself and your passengers for any injuries. If anyone is seriously hurt, call 911 immediately.

Call the Police:

Even for minor accidents, it’s wise to call the police. They will create an official accident report, which can be very helpful for your insurance claim.

Exchange Information:

Get the other driver’s name, contact information, insurance details (company and policy number), and license plate number.

Gather Evidence:

If it’s safe to do so, take photos of the accident scene, including both vehicles, their positions, damage, road conditions, traffic signals, and any skid marks. Get contact information for any witnesses.

Seek Medical Attention:

Even if you feel okay, see a doctor as soon as possible. Some injuries, like whiplash, have delayed symptoms. Getting checked out creates a medical record of your condition right after the accident.

Avoid Discussing Fault:

Do not admit fault to anyone—not the other driver, the police, or even your own insurance company (beyond stating facts). Just stick to the facts of what happened.

Contact a Lawyer:

Before talking to the other driver’s insurance company, contact a Richmond rear end accident lawyer. They can protect your rights and handle communications for you.

It can be hard to deal with the aftermath of a rear-end collision, but you don’t have to do it alone. The team at Vendt Accident Attorneys is here to help you with your legal needs and give you the support you need if you’ve been hurt in a rear-end accident in Texas.

We know that an unexpected crash can cause significant stress, pain, and financial problems.

Our company is committed to being your strong advocate and fighting for your right to fair compensation so you can focus on getting better. You have a dedicated rear-end accident law firm on your side.

You may have to pay for and lose a lot of things you didn’t expect after a rear-end accident. Texas law lets people who have been hurt get money for different kinds of “damages” to make up for their losses. Some of these are:

Medical Expenses:

This covers all costs related to your injuries, including emergency room visits, doctor appointments, surgeries, medications, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and future medical care you might need.

Lost Wages:

If your injuries keep you from working, you can get money for the income you’ve lost, both from time off work in the past and any future income you might lose if your injuries make it hard for you to work long-term.

Pain and Suffering:

This means the physical pain and emotional pain your injuries have caused you. It includes pain, trouble, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental pain. This is usually a big part of a claim for personal injury.

Property Damage:

This includes the cost of fixing or replacing your car and any other personal items that were damaged in the accident.

Other Out-of-Pocket Expenses:

This includes things like rental car fees, getting to medical appointments, or anything else you had to pay for directly because of the accident.

Our Richmond rear-end accident lawyers will carefully look at all of your damages to make sure that every loss is included in your claim.

Texas uses “modified comparative negligence” (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Section 33.001 – Texas Statutes Section 33.001). This means if you are partially at fault (50% or less), your compensation is reduced by your fault percentage.

If you are found over 50% at fault, you cannot recover any damages. This rule highlights why minimizing your assigned blame is crucial.