Our specialists are here to listen and help for free, no strings attached.
877-999-9999
for a free consultation
Your insurance company may not be telling you everything. Know what you’re entitled to with a free consultation. Rest assured that we will never charge any fees unless we win.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates more than 30 percent of all traffic collisions in the United States each year are rear-end accidents, making them the most common type of motor vehicle accident. Although rear-end collisions are plentiful, they are also less likely to lead to death than other kinds of traffic crashes. Yet, when the following vehicle is traveling at a high speed, those in the lead vehicle are at risk for severe, sometimes fatal injuries. Rear-end accidents can occur when drivers get distracted, follow other cars too closely, or make other negligent choices when driving. If you live in the Greater Tampa area and have sustained injuries in a rear-end car accident, Florida law entitles you to sue the at-fault driver for damages related to losses you’ve incurred from the accident and your injuries. A skilled Tampa car accident attorney at Boohoff Law can help you hold the driver who caused you harm accountable. Contact us at (877) 999-999 for a free consultation to discuss the circumstance surrounding your rear-end accident and injuries and learn about the best course of action for your case.
The award-winning legal team at Boohoff Law, P.A. continues their tradition of professional excellence, client service, and client advocacy to get the compensation their clients deserve after a traffic collision. The firm’s passion for seeking justice for their clients had resulted in the recovery of tens of millions of dollars in settlements and court verdicts, helping to alleviate the financial burden that comes with a serious injury. Our skilled personal injury attorneys have ample experience investigating accident cases, negotiating and settling with insurance companies, and litigating claims when settlement isn’t an option. We cannot guarantee a particular outcome for your rear-end accident case, but we will build the strongest case possible against the at-fault driver(s) who caused your injuries, so you have a better chance for a positive outcome.
Rear-end accidents occur so frequently that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has made them a focal point for research to find out how they can prevent them from happening. Much of the NHTSA research focuses on driver attributes in rear-end collisions, as well as broad trends. Some factoids and statistics from the NHTSA research on rear-end traffic crashes include:
Fortunately, rear-end car crashes aren’t often fatal and many might not lead to any injuries. Yet, serious and severe injuries can occur, especially when the crash involved high speeds. Higher speed means a greater impact during the collision, causing more property damage, more severe damage, and sometimes death. Backseat occupants are especially vulnerable to debilitating injuries during a rear-end accident. Fatalities are more likely in smaller passenger vehicles that don’t have the protection offered by an SUV or other larger vehicles. Some of the most serious injuries an accident victim might suffer in a rear-end accident include:
When a rear-end collision occurs, drivers’ and occupants’ heads may suffer a blow from the impact. This movement can result in a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) called a concussion or a much more serious moderate or severe TBI. In some cases, drivers might hit their heads against the steering wheel or windshield, and backseat passengers’ heads might hit the seat in front of them, making the injury even worse. Left untreated, serious TBIs can lead to permanent brain damage. The long-term impact of a TBI can include residual headaches and migraines, difficulty remembering things, struggles with balance, challenges with communication, and much more. In the most severe car accident cases, accident victims might be in a coma or a permanent vegetative state (PVS).
Whiplash most commonly occurs in car accidents, and is especially common in rear-end accidents when a person’s head whips back and forth upon impact. Whiplash injuries include strains, sprains, nerve damage, cracked vertebrae, and bulge discs. The most minor damage occurs to the soft tissue in the neck and will heal quickly, but more severe damage can lead to residual headaches and pain. Some common whiplash symptoms include stiffness and pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, dizziness, numbness in the neck, and abnormal sleeping patterns.
A severe rear-end collision can cause painful back injuries that cause accident victims to suffer for life. Back injuries can vary, but include fractured vertebrae, bulging discs, and slipped discs. Back injury victims often need surgery to alleviate the pain they suffer. Surgery can help, but victims still might have to cope with lifelong discomfort, never finding relief. Back surgery might also include implanting a pain management device, and using screws, braces, and plates to reconstruct the spinal column, or at least make it stable. Victims can also expect to spend weeks, months, or more in physical therapy to help them recover as much as possible.
When you file a personal injury lawsuit as a consequence of sustaining injuries in a car accident, your attorney will need to prove the following driver caused the accident. An assumption, which is often true, exists that the second driver is always at fault, but your lawyer will strengthen your case by presenting proximate causes during settlement negotiations or litigation. A proximate cause is used to prove negligence in a personal injury lawsuit and isn’t always a direct cause, but it is sufficient for determining liability. Some proximate causes of rear-end accidents include the following driver behaviors:
The NHTSA estimates that 85 percent of rear-end collisions are a consequence of distracted driving. Most states have some sort of distracted driving laws, but they only address cell phone use, not the other distractions that might cause an accident. In 2019, Florida made texting and driving a primary offense, which means law enforcement can pull a driver over and give them a ticket if they see a driver texting. Before the new law, a driver must have violated some other traffic regulation for law enforcement to make a legal traffic stop. This change will hopefully help curb this dangerous driving behavior in the years to come. Florida, however, does not require drivers to use their phones hands-free unless they are in a school zone or construction zone. Other distractions that might lead to a driver causing a rear-end accident include:
Avoiding a rear-end collision means having the capability to judge time and distance, especially when following another vehicle. When drivers use drugs or consume alcohol and get behind the wheel, their impairment prevents them from not only judging space and time but from reacting to a sudden stop or other maneuvers by the car in front of them.
Motorists have varied backgrounds, different jobs, different size families, and different responsibilities. When drivers don’t get enough sleep or regularly get little sleep because their plate is full, they put themselves and everyone else on the road at risk for accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Some sleepy drivers try to drink caffeine, smoke cigarettes, roll down the window, and/or turn up the radio to stay awake while driving. Yet, these are only short-term fixes and won’t protect from an accident. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that 18 hours without sleep has the same effect on the body as someone who has been drinking and has a 0.08 breath or blood alcohol level. When drivers nod off or fall asleep, they risk running into the vehicle that they are following. In heavy traffic, this might even mean starting a chain of rear-end accidents.
Following a rear-end collision, your and the other party’s insurance company will assess the damages and determine a settlement offer based on the damages you received. This number will account for compensatory damages, such as medical bills, damaged property, and any ongoing medical care you receive after the accident. However, these initial settlement offers often fail to consider the full extent of your damages. A skilled personal injury lawyer can help ensure that you get fair compensation for your car accident case that allows you to move forward and recover.
Florida is one of a handful of no-fault insurance states in the nation, which requires those who register a motor vehicle to purchase $10,000 of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. This means that your first step after a rear-end accident is to file an insurance claim under your PIP policy, even though it’s likely the other driver is at fault. In a minor rear-end car crash, your PIP insurance might cover your damages and no further action will be needed; however, when a rear-end accident is severe, you will likely exhaust your policy limits quickly. Florida PIP insurance only covers 60 percent of lost wages related to the accident and injuries and only 80 percent of medical expenses related to your injuries. It does not take into account the physical and emotional suffering you might be experiencing, other expenses related to your injuries, or other non-economic damages. In these cases, please contact a Florida car accident attorney at Boohoff Law who can help you get the compensation you deserve.
After you suffer injuries in a rear-end accident, Florida law permits you to take legal action against the at-fault driver to recover damages related to the accident and injury, as long as you do so within the four-year statute of limitations. If you come to a fair settlement or a Florida court rules in favor of the plaintiff, you might be compensated for some of the following losses you suffered as a result of your rear-end accident and injuries:
Being involved in a serious car accident carries not only physical pain, but emotional trauma, and economic stress. At Boohoff Law, we understand the difficulties you might face in the wake of a rear-end car accident and want to help you through this challenging time. When someone else’s actions cause your injuries, you shouldn’t have to shoulder the financial burden. Our skilled auto accident attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve, while you focus on healing and recovery. If you have suffered harm in a rear-end collision, contact Boohoff Law online for a free consultation with a Tampa car accident lawyer. Rear-end accidents can be physically and financially devastating, but you don’t have to shoulder the burden alone. Our Tampa car accident attorneys can help you learn about the best course of action for your situation. We take personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, so you need not worry about upfront payment of attorney fees. Instead, we deduct our fees from any compensation we secure for you in the form of a settlement or verdict in your favor.
Boohoff Law P.A. Tampa, Florida Location
829 W Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Tampa, FL 33603
Phone: (813) 536-6221
★★★★★
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
available 24/7
(877) 999 - 9999