The beautiful city of Houston has a lot to offer—from the Space Center to the Rockets, from world-class museums to the hands-down best Tex-Mex in the nation. There’s something for everyone in this, one of the nation’s most diverse cities.
One thing that Houston is perhaps best known for, however, is its never-ending sea of traffic. With all that traffic comes rear-end crashes. While people tend to think of rear-end accidents as nothing more than fender-benders, these accidents are often quite serious, and even at lower speeds they can lead to significant damages.
The team of lawyers at the office of Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law, is committed to helping victims of rear-end accidents in Houston obtain the compensation to which they’re entitled. If someone else’s negligence has left you injured in a rear-end car accident, you may well be at a loss for where to turn. While the path of least resistance is often simply to allow the insurance company to do its presumed job, that’s rarely in the best interest of either you or your claim.
Please know that the lawyers at Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law, offer a FREE consultation, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so call us right now at 800-898-4877, or click HERE to send us a question or get more information.There is NO cost to get a free consultation right now.If you decide to hire us, you pay us nothing up front, and you will pay absolutely nothing at all unless and until we’ve won your case.
With more than 20 years of experience and thousands of victories under our belts, our team of Houston attorneys will leave no stone unturned to get you the largest possible recovery for your injuries.Furthermore, we are one of the highest rated major personal injury law firms in the state, and we take pride in treating our clients like family—so contact us right now.
Rear-End Accidents Can Happen Anywhere
A rear-end accident can happen anywhere—on a sleepy surface street, in a parking lot, at a stoplight, or in rush-hour traffic. Rear-end accidents are equal opportunity accidents. Of course, when a rear-end crash occurs at high speeds, it’s far more dangerous. Even rear-end accidents that take place at much lower speeds, however, can lead to injuries—some of which don’t present immediately after the accident but instead worsenwith time. If you are in a rear-end collision, it is in the best interest to seek medical attention as soon after the accident as possible,if not only your health but also for the integrity of your car accident claim.
Rear-End Accidents: The Statistics
Rear-end accidents happen—a lot—and they’re often exceedingly dangerous. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), rear-end accidents account for nearly 7 percent of all traffic fatalities and account for more than 32 percent of accidents that cause injuries. Furthermore, rear-end accidents make up more than 33 percent of the crashes on our nation’s roadways. In fact, rear-end crashes are the most common type of car accident on our roads, and they pose a serious threat on the busy streets of Houston.
Distracted Driving: A Common Cause of Rear-End Accidents
Distracted driving is on the rise. The nation’s skyrocketing obsession with smartphones has led many a driver to fail to remain focused on the primary task of driving safely. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) reports that distracted driving plays a significant role in many rear-end accidents (DOT, 2007 Analysis of Rear-End Crashes). Most rear-end collisions happen when the vehicle that’s rear-ended has either come to a stop or is moving very slowly at the moment of impact, and the DOT has determined that distraction is a factor in almost 87 percent of these collisions. To recap, rear-end accidents are the most common car accidents out there, and a distracted driver is involved in most of them.
Distracted driving has become so prevalent that the U.S. government has dedicated a website to the issue, distraction.gov, which defines distracted driving as any driving in which the driver’s attention is focused on anything other than driving safely. Driver distractions are broken down into three classifications that include: Visual distractions that engage the driver’s vision, manual distractions that engage the driver’s hands, and cognitive distractions that engage the driver’s thoughts. Because interfacing with one’s smartphone engages all three varieties of distraction, it’s considered the apex of distractions.
Distraction Isn’t the Only Culprit: Other Causes of Rear-End Accidents
While distracted drivers are dangerous drivers who contribute to many rear-end collisions, they are far from the only culprits. Drivers engage in many dangerous driving activities that can lead to rear-end accidents:
- Drivers who tailgate other vehicles (a form of aggressive driving)
- Drivers who change lanes impulsively and without preemptively engaging their turn signals to warn other drivers
- Drivers who don’t heed posted warnings or reduced speed limits while driving through road construction zones or detours
- Drivers who don’t alter their driving to accommodate inclement weather or other adverse road conditions
- Drivers who don’t allow themselves sufficient distance to brake safely when the need suddenly arises
- Drivers whose who drive on bald—and thus unsafe—tires
- Drivers who fail to scan traffic for upcoming slowdowns and stops
Even the most alert driver needs sufficient time to react to a sudden slowdown, and anyone can be caught off guard when fast-moving traffic suddenly comes to a crawl. A fundamental function of safe driving is maintaining a safe distance between your own car and the car ahead of you. By doing so, you allow yourself the time you need to react in an emergency driving situation.
Avoiding Rear-End Accidents
The frequency and exceeding dangerousness of rear-end accidents mean that when you take to the streets of Houston, implement several precautions to help you safe:
- Stay alert to the traffic all around you
- Check your safety mirrors frequently
- Focus on driving safely and keep distractions to a minimum (put your smartphone away)
- Make it your goal to come to smooth, progressive stops whenever possible
- Keep your tires in good driving condition by checking them regularly
- Check your headlights, brake lights, and turn signals regularly
- Allow ample distance between your car and the forward vehicle
- When coming to an unexpected slowdown or stop in traffic, check for an escape route—in case the car following you fails to stop in time
Even at slow speeds, rear-end collisions are dangerous. You learned it in driver’s education—and it remains true—the best way to keep yourself and your loved ones safe on the road is to drive defensively.
Rear-End Accidents and Commonly Associated Injuries
Rear-end accidents often lead to serious injuries, and they’re most closely associated with neck injuries, including whiplash. These painful, physically debilitating, and sometimes chronic neck conditions may necessitate ongoing medical treatments and physical therapy. Neck injuries, however, are far from the only injuries that rear-end accidents frequently cause. Others include:
- Head injuries
- Facial lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Ankle, knee, and leg injuries
If you were in a rear-end collision, take the matter seriously and seek medical attention. Early diagnosis of an injury is the surest path to an improved prognosis.
Whiplash Injuries
in courtroom comedies, a symbol of an injury hoax is the neck brace, but whiplash is often a serious injury. Whiplash comes from soft tissue damage that’s caused when the head whips back and forth on the neck (much like the cracking of a whip). While nearly any kind of car accident can lead to whiplash, rear-end accidents are common causes. Whiplash can range from mild to extreme, and the injury’s physical effects can manifest immediately or can build slowly with time. Whiplash is often extremely painful and can heal slowly. Their unpredictable effects and recovery times can affect your life in seemingly random ways.
Symptoms that commonly accompany whiplash injuries include:
- Pain, soreness, and stiffness throughout the neck, back, shoulder, and jaw
- Blurred vision
- Sleep and mood disturbances
- Ringing in the ears
- Numbness and weakness of the limbs
If your whiplash injury hasn’t healed within six months, you may have suffered a chronic injury that will require ongoing treatment.
The myth that whiplash injuries are often faked is so prevalent that many sufferers are slow to heed the physical warning signs of their injuries. Don’t become one of these victims—whiplash is a serious injury that necessitates medical attention, and if you suffer any of these symptoms you ARE deserving of treatment.
Your Rear-End Accident Claim
If another driver’s negligence caused you to be injured due to a rear-end accident, you’re likely to have suffered extensive damages that aren’t limited simply to property and medical expenses. There’s also the expense of time lost from work, and if you sustained serious injuries, you may face a future of lost earning potential. Because a person’s career is often so closely associated with a sense of self and position in the world, a diminished job position can lead to painful emotional consequences, including depression and increased anxiety. Never discount your pain and suffering associated with rear-end collisions.
- Medical Expenses
- If a rear-end accident injured you, you may incur extensive medical expenses:
- Emergency transportation and care
- Surgeries and aftercare
- Appointments with doctors, specialists, and therapists
- Ongoing care
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy
- Adaptive physical devices
- Home adaptations
- Home healthcare
Again, every rear-end accident is as unique as the individuals involved. It’s imperative that your accident claim comprehensively reflects the totality of damages you’ve suffered. Your experienced car accident attorney should be adept in making a thorough assessment of these damages and losses.
The Insurance Company
If someone else’s negligence has left you injured in a rear-end accident, you’re going to deal with an insurance company. It’s important to note, however, that you aren’t obligated to provide a formal statement (or even to speak to) a representative of the other driver’s insurance company, and you’re well-advised not to do so. While you may need to provide a statement to your own insurance company, your car accident attorney will go over your responses with you. Our attorneys always handle all insurance communications with our clients to prevent any unintended negative consequences. We will ALWAYS have your best interest at heart.
Yes, the insurance policies sold by insurance companies are meant to cover you in case of an accident—such as a rear-end accident—but insurance companies are in the business of turning a profit and your just compensation is far from their top priority. And that’s not even the worst of it.
The American Association for Justice reports in Tricks of the Trade: How Insurance Companies Deny, Delay, Confuse and Refuse that many insurance companies are not only not on your side, but actually stoop low to keep their profits high. The report goes so far as to reveal that “[s]ome of America’s most well-known insurance companies—the same ones that spend billions on advertising to earn your trust—have endeavored to deny claims, delay payments, confuse consumers with incomprehensible insurance-speak, and retroactively refuse anyone who may cost them money.” Luckily with more than 20 years of experience, any insurance company’s tricks are no surprise to our lawyers, who deal with these insurance companies each and every day!
Your claim, your rights, and your rightful compensation are far too important to leave to chance or to the biased intentions of the insurance company. The lawyers of Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law, have battled with insurance companies for decades, and we’re committed to fighting for your just and fair compensation.
If You’ Were Injured in a Rear-End Accident, Contact a Houston Car Accident Attorney Today
Houston is an exciting, rollicking city, but the city’s roads sees its fair share of rear-end collisions. Houston and traffic seems to go together, and not be separating anytime soon. If another driver’s negligence has left you injured in a rear-end accident, you need experienced legal counsel. The skilled legal team at Stewart J. Guss, Attorney at Law, is nationally recognized, and we’ve protected car-accident victims’ rights for decades. We’re here to help, so please contact or call us now at 800-898-4877 for an immediate evaluation of your case.
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“Mr. Guss was wonderful. He fought hard against the insurance company to get us what we deserved. I went from owing almost $5000 in medical bills to actually getting money in my pocket. Absolutely Amazing!!!!! A big thank you from me and my family!!!”
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