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Rear end accidents make up about half of accidents involving two cars. In Cartersville, they can happen daily—and they’re just as serious as other types of car accidents. Even if the damage to your vehicle isn’t too bad in a rear end accident, you could be left with injuries that affect your day-to-day life or get worse over time. Rear end accidents can leave those involved with serious injuries, high medical bills, and hefty repair costs. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a rear end accident that wasn’t your/their fault, you need to speak with a Cartersville rear end collision accident lawyer today.
Our attorneys at John Foy & Associates have spent the last 20+ years helping accident victims seek financial recovery for their costs. We hold one of the best reputations in Georgia and a strong track record of success. We know you shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s negligence on the road. Contact us today for a FREE consultation to look over your case and discuss your options. For a free consultation, contact us today at 404-400-4000, or by filling out the form to your right.
What Should I Do After a Rear-end Accident?
The most important factor following a rear end accident is the safety of you and anyone else in your vehicle. If there are serious injuries that require immediate medical treatment, don’t hesitate in getting it. But if you are well enough to stay at the scene, hold off on treatment long enough to complete a few steps:
Call Police
Georgia law states that you must report an accident involving injuries to police. Call Cartersville police right away and tell them about the accident. Officers will come to the scene and create a police report about the incident. This is important for your case because it will provide proof of the accident and what happened. Give officers a detailed description of the accident, your injuries, and how the other driver was behaving before you were rear ended.
Take Pictures
While you’re waiting for police, use your phone to take pictures of the accident scene, damage to your vehicle, and any visible injuries you sustained. You might also jot down some notes on any specific details you remember about what led to the accident. Maybe the other driver was being aggressive or driving too fast when they came up behind you.
Also, if you notice them acting suspicious or you suspect drunk driving, try to get a video of the behavior and let police officers know about your suspicions.
Talk to Witnesses
There are often people around when rear end accidents occur. If anyone saw what happened, ask them about what they saw and get their full name and contact information. Your rear end collision accident lawyer will likely contact them later for a statement about what happened.
See a Doctor
Even if you feel okay or don’t think your injuries warrant medical attention, you should still use a doctor. There are a number of reasons for this.
First, it’s good for your case to have record of seeing a medical professional for your injuries. It will create a record that you were treated for them and of any advice you’re given about treatment going forward. If your injuries require ongoing medical attention and treatment or surgeries, you should be able to include the costs of those on your insurance claim.
Second, injuries can show up or get worse over time. Whiplash is one of the most common injuries resulting from rear end accidents, and it doesn’t always manifest right away. Insurance companies often don’t take whiplash claims seriously because you can’t physically see them—and they might try to say they aren’t that serious. But whiplash is a real condition that can cause tremendous amounts of pain and affect your ability to function normally. Having a doctor confirm whiplash or any other injury will demonstrate it’s real.
Also, if an injury shows up or gets worse after your first doctor visit, go back and update your doctor on the changes.
Don’t Accept Anything from the Insurance Company
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, so they will be looking for ways to decrease what they pay on your claim. Don’t accept any amount of money or sign anything from the other driver’s insurance until you’ve spoken with a rear end collision accident lawyer.
If the insurer tries to offer you money upfront, it’s almost never enough to cover the full costs of your damages. You need a legal professional who can add up your costs and include them in your claim before you agree to any settlement amount.
The Other Driver Is Claiming I Stopped Too Suddenly. What Do I Do?
The other driver may try to place some blame on you by saying they didn’t have time to brake before hitting you. But chances are, they weren’t paying close enough attention to their speed or your brake lights. Common causes of rear end accident in Cartersville include:
- Tailgating
- Driving above the speed limit
- Driving while distracted, such as texting
- Drunk driving
- Changing lanes too aggressively
- Weather conditions like fog or heavy rain that make it hard to see
You know what happened, so it’s important to recount to police and to your lawyer what the other driver was doing. And if there were any witnesses, they can help confirm the other driver’s fault.
In most cases, the fault a rear end accident falls on the rear car. Unless there is concrete proof against you, your lawyer can help prevent the other driver was placing blame on you.
Talk to a Cartersville Rear-End Collision Accident Lawyer for Free
Rear end accidents can be painful and frustrating—but you shouldn’t have to pay for costs someone else caused by rear ending you. At John Foy & Associates, we can help you seek the financial recovery you actually need and deserve to cover your costs and move on from the accident. For a FREE consultation to discuss your options and how we can help, contact us today. Call 404-400-4000, or fill out the form to your right to get started.
