If you or a loved one is suffering from the effects of a rear-end accident caused by another driver, our lawyers understand how difficult your position may be. By working with a DC lawyer from our firm, you can focus on recovery while our experienced team oversees the claim process for you, fighting to receive maximum compensation and ensure that justice is served.
The most common kind of car accident is when one car rams another from the back. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) approximates that such collisions make up more than 30% of all reported wrecks. Many happen at low-speeds, and those involved frequently think they can drive away without concern. But if you are in a rear-end accident, you may want to take a closer look at what happened. Or, if you need to know about the law surrounding a this type of accident, contact a DC car accident attorney today.
Rear-end crashes can be severe — they account for almost 10% of deaths in two-vehicle accidents. Even a rear-end accident in DC that looks minor at first can mean severe soft-tissue injuries in the long-run.
Whiplash is one kind of soft tissue injury you might get in a DC rear-end car accident. It can damage the vertebrae in the neck, in addition to causing a great deal of pain. It may also increase the possibility of future injuries. Even low-speed crashes can twist your neck in harmful ways. This may mean that your nerves, ligaments, tendons, and muscles are stretched beyond normal capacities. Whiplash can even cause permanent neck strain and concussive brain injury.
When you are in an accident, it is imperative that you seek medical attention immediately in order to evaluate the extent of your injuries. You may initially feel fine. However, internal injuries sometimes do not manifest themselves immediately. As a lawyer can tell you, that is why it is so important to consult a doctor immediately after your collision.
The most important reason to get a thorough medical evaluation is because it may assist you in proving that a given injury is a direct result of the accident, rather than an unrelated circumstance. This sort of information can help your lawyer to push for the maximum amount of compensation possible when filing your injury claim or negotiating with the insurance company.
Many DC rear-end accident victims may not know this, but car design contributes a great deal to what injuries – if any – are incurred in a crash. For example, head rests are known to be a significant factor in whiplash injuries. That is because while some vehicles have well-designed headrests, others do not. Those that don’t increase your risk of getting whiplash – even if your accident happened that a low speed.
And poorly-designed cars aren’t the only thing with which you need to be concerned. You may have problems with insurance when it comes to your rear-end accident in Washington DC. Certain insurances see these crashes as “minor;” therefore, they may deny you compensation for any injuries you get. Insurance adjustors often measure the level of harm suffered by the victim by how much damage was done to the vehicle.
Our DC attorneys understand that this is an inadequate way to determine the compensation amount you deserve. Call our firm to see how to get the most for your injuries.
