Rear-end collisions are among the most common type of vehicle accidents. Rear-end collisions occur when one vehicle hits another vehicle from behind. A rear-end car accident may be caused by a variety of reasons including the malfunctioning of the vehicle or poor road conditions. However, most rear-end collisions are caused by driver negligence. For example, if a driver is distracted by his cell phone and does not notice that the car in front of him has slowed down, the driver may slam into the rear of the car that has slowed down. Injuries from rear-end collisions can be quite serious. Victims of such accidents often suffer serious injuries such as a brain injury, contusions, broken bones, internal injuries, amputations, paralysis, or spinal cord injury. Sadly, many victims of such accidents do not survive. If you or a loved one was in a car accident caused by a driver negligently rear-ending your car, you will need to speak to a New York Injury Lawyer. An experienced Nassau County Rear-End Collisions Accident Lawyer who will help ensure that those responsible for your injuries are held accountable through a personal injury claim. In addition, if during the course of the treatment for your injuries your doctor commits medical malpractice, the party responsible for your car accident injuries may be required to compensate you for the medical malpractice injury as well.
Causes of Rear-End CollisionsThere are several possible causes for rear-end collisions. One common reason is a driver following another vehicle too closely. This is referred to as tailgating. Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law section 1129, it is against the law to follow another vehicle "more closely than is reasonable and prudent." If a driver follows another car too closely and it unexpectedly decelerates, there is a good possibility that the following driver will hit the other car in the rear-end. If a driver hits the car in front of him or her, the presumption will be that the following driver was at fault. In addition to following too closely, other common causes of rear-end collisions include distracted driving such as texting while driving, poor weather conditions such as fog, heavy rain or snow, and driving too fast.
Pursuing a claimVictims who suffer injuries in car accidents face significant medical expenses including fees associated with emergency room treatment, the hospital stay, treatment by doctors, physical therapy, assistive equipment, and medication. To make matters worse, while you are recovering you will not be able to work and earn an income to pay for your medical expenses and support your family.
Fortunately, if your injury was due to the negligent acts of another person such as driving recklessly, speeding, or driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, under New York law you have the right to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. You may be able to recover both past and future medical expenses including hospital bills, expenses for surgery, rehabilitation fees, and fees for prescription medication. Furthermore, you may be able to recover both lost wages, loss of future earning capacity and pain and suffering.
Beware that New York law has a specific time limit for filing a claim in a personal injury case. If you do not file your claim within the time period, you will be forever barred from collecting damages even if your case has merit. In addition, if the party responsible for your injury was a government entity then there are special procedures you must follow to file a claim.
Nassau County Rear-End Collisions Accident LawyerA car accident can leave you both physical injuries and financial stress. A personal injury lawsuit against the person responsible for the accident will not only hold that person accountable for his or her negligent acts but will also provide you and your family with needed financial relief. Through a personal injury action you can seek compensation to cover the past and future medical expenses related to you injury. You can also seek compensation for your lost earnings and loss of earning capacity. However, to ensure that your rights are protected it is important that you are represented by someone with experience representing victims of car accidents. The staff at Stephen Bilkis and Associates has extensive experience representing clients injured in head-on collisions, rear-end collisions, sideswipe accidents as well as other types of vehicle accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your car accident.