Rear-end vehicle accidents can be extremely damaging. They can also lead to a major injury if the speeds involved are high. In rear-end accidents, it is usually the rear driver’s fault, so it is often (but not always) safe to say that the rear vehicle is at fault.
After experiencing a rear-end vehicle accident, it is always best to pursue financial compensation you are justly owed. If you suffer from excruciating pain and bear bruises because of someone else’s negligence, you should be compensated for the medical treatment of your injuries and damages.
According to the law, the liable party is bound to compensate these losses. Therefore, when involved in a rear-end car accident, hiring a personal injury attorney is among the first things you should do.
After the Rear-End Accident
After the collision, call the police, if you are at all able. If you have not suffered severe injuries, try getting out of the car and take pictures of the accident scene and car damage, then call your lawyer. If the police are not at the accident location, you can fill out an inquiry form to be on the safe side. Moreover, if the police have not arrived yet, you can also take witness statements.
What Else to Do?
The second step is to get medical treatment as soon as possible. Usually people are reluctant to get medically examined when they have not suffered physical medical injuries. However, it is always recommended to get yourself treated before any additional time can pass.
The injuries are not always physical; they can also be internal. For example, whiplash is an injury that often goes unnoticed for days and weeks. It is always best to get examined, even if you are unsure or feel fine. In rear-end vehicle accidents, you are likely to suffer these injuries:
- Back or neck injury
- Muscle straining and spraining
- Fatigue
- Disc injury
Get Legal Assistance
Once you are done contacting the police and getting medical treatment, you are advised to hire a personal injury attorney for your case, even if you expect it to be covered by personal injury protection. Waiting to call a personal injury attorney may delay your case, and therefore your compensation. Therefore, hiring a personal injury lawyer within twenty-four hours of the accident is always in your best interests.
Having an experienced personal injury attorney by your side will ensure you receive proper medical assistance and get the highest percentage of compensation possible. Your attorney will make sure that the liable party in the rear-end vehicle accident is held accountable
An experienced personal injury attorney will know what to do no matter the situation. They know what evidence to collect, who to contact, and what evidence is strong enough to get your case decided in your favor. Do not delay in hiring a personal injury attorney after an accident.
What Should Be Avoided?
- Giving your statement to anyone other than your lawyer and the police is strongly discouraged. If someone from your insurance company calls you and asks you for the accident details, do not give a statement until and unless your lawyer tells you to.
- Your insurance company will ask you to settle your case at some point. This is very common and settlements keep taking place in rear-end vehicle accidents. However, don’t make a settlement until you have the okay from your doctor. A settlement with the insurance company before fully recovering means losing your chance for full compensation.