Winchester, TN Rear-End Collision Lawyer

Rear-End Collisions: What They Are, How They Happen, What to Do Next

You’re at a stoplight that’s just turned green. Before you can make a move, the driver behind you revs the engine and runs into the back of your vehicle. You’re on the highway and a vehicle comes up quickly. Instead of passing you to the left, he hits your car. You’re stopped in a traffic jam and a truck several car lengths behind you slams into a truck. The chain reaction makes its way to your car within seconds.

Each of these scenarios is a prime example of a rear-end collision. Rear-end collisions represent the most frequently seen type of collision according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which notes that rear-end occurrences account for 29 percent of all vehicle accidents.

• Rear-end collisions happen across the nation every day. While some are minor “fender benders,” others change lives forever. A Washington Post article from 2015 indicated that of the annual 1.7 million rear-end collisions, about a third result in driver or passenger injury or death.

Common Causes of Rear-End Collisions

A rear-end collision may happen because of a number of factors. The most often cited is vehicle operator distraction. Even if a driver looks away for a split second, he or she may miss the opportunity to successfully brake and avoid hitting a vehicle directly in front of them.

• In fact, the NHTSA has determined that in all the rear-end collisions it evaluated, 87 percent were linked to some form of driver distraction. Such distractions led drivers to follow another car too closely or miss visual cues from the vehicle in front of them.

Another reason for rear-end collisions is improper driving protocol in work zones. One study from 2014 that analyzed work zone rear-ends collisions in-depth discovered that cars that followed trucks were more apt to be involved in rear-end crashes. Additionally, other work zone factors came into play when exploring the underlying causes of rear-end collisions, including how much traffic was flowing through the work zone and whether or not the lane was next to the work being performed.

Finally, rear-end collisions can occur when a motorcyclist does not decelerate properly. Research from the NHTSA covering fatal motorcycle crashes showed that 68 percent of motorcycle-car rear-end collisions happened because the motorcycle hit the vehicle, not the other way around. Of all motorcycle-car collisions, rear-end varieties accounted for 11 percent.

Ideas to Reduce Rear-End Collision Incidents

Because rear-end collisions are such a large problem, manufacturers and driver safety advocates have begun to earnestly examine ways to reduce the incidence of these types of crashes. For instance, some types of vehicles are being equipped with sensors that alert drivers with a sound, a visual cue, or both. This helps people understand when they are following another vehicle too closely, or when a collision is imminent if they do not put on the brakes immediately.

Of course, not all vehicles offer this type of protection, either standard or as an add-on. If you’re planning to buy a new car, SUV, or truck, you may want to visit the Consumer Reports page dedicated to listing all vehicle makes and models that offer any type of advanced safety systems. That way, you can be sure that you know what your options are in terms of having access to forward-collision warnings and rear cross-traffic warnings.

What to Do in the Case of a Rear-End Collision

From a legal standpoint, rear-end collisions aren’t cut-and-dried propositions. Many factors can come into play. For instance, just because one vehicle rear-ends another doesn’t make the driver of that vehicle automatically at fault.

For this reason, contacting a lawyer may be your best bet in any situation involving a rear-end collision where you or a passenger were hurt or killed. That way, you can explore your choices. You may even learn that you have options you didn’t realize were possibilities. Contact the law offices of John R. Colvin for more information if you’ve been a victim in a rear-end collision. We’re happy to set you up with a free consultation to discuss your issues.

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