Tulsa Rear-End Accidents

Tulsa rear-end accidents can cause substantial bodily injury and extensive property damage. Rear-end car crashes have become one of the most common types of negligent car crashes.

When a distracted driver or speeding driver hits the back of a vehicle, it causes a whip-like effect that can lead to serious injuries or permanent disability.

Recovering compensation after a read-end accident can be challenging, and insurance carriers regularly put up a fight against having to pay a fair amount. When you have sustained injuries or property damage, a Tulsa read-end accident lawyer from Graves McLain Injury Lawyers can provide the award-winning legal advice and representation they need to recover the full compensation they deserve.

What are the Most Common Causes of Rear-End Accidents?

Hitting the back of a person’s vehicle is almost always an act of negligence.

The most common causes of rear-end car accidents involve:

• Distracted driving: When a motorist uses a cell phone or lets their mind wander, they may not respond quickly when the car in front abruptly stops.
• Speeding: When a motorist speeds, they may not have enough distance to come to a complete stop before colliding with the next vehicle.
• Losing control: Poor weather conditions and hazardous road working sites can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicle and hit the car in front.
• Following too closely, or tailgating: When the average car weighs between 2,000 and 6,000 pounds, drivers must ensure they have enough room to stop without occupying the same space as the driver ahead.
• Failing to yield the right of way at intersections When motorists get impatient, they may take their aggression out on the road and rear-end the car in front

When people are injured in a negligent rear-end car crash, they may be entitled to various remedies under Oklahoma law.

What Are the Remedies in an Oklahoma Rear-End Car Accident Claim?

Remedies in an Oklahoma rear-end car accident claim depend on a number of variables during and after the crash. Every car accident claim is unique and may qualify for different damages.

Most injury claims can recover the following:

• Medical bills and other healthcare expenses
• Property damage
• Lost wages they are unable to work
• Loss of future income
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of enjoyment of life damages
• Emotional distress damages
• Possible punitive damages under certain circumstances

A personal injury law firm evaluates how a car accident victim has been harmed, including physical bodily damage, mental trauma, and how those injuries affect their personal and professional life. Remedies or damages are then awarded to make the injury victim “whole” under the law and are reflected as monetary compensation.

Are Rear-End Car Accidents Common?

Rear-end car accidents are the most common type of car crash.

According to the National Safety Council Injury Facts, in the last reporting year:

• Over 39,000 people were killed in rear-end car accidents
• 4.5 million people were injured in a rear-end accident
• Rear-end accidents represent 29% of all car wrecks and 17.4% of all car accident fatalities

The severity of rear-end accidents can widely vary from minor car wrecks to crushing car collisions.

Can a Rear-End Car Accident Cause Serious Injuries?

Rear-end car accidents cause serious injuries. According to a study from the National Library of Medicine:

• High impact rear-end car accidents result in life-threatening or catastrophic injuries (e.g., paralysis, paraplegia, permanent brain damage)
• Low impact car crashes can cause significant soft tissue and joint damage that may result in life-long chronic pain (e.g., torn ligaments, severe fractures that lead to breaks)

Surprisingly, the study revealed speed was not a major factor in the seriousness of rear-end car accidents. Bodily injury was more severe and occurred more frequently when the person experienced a significant rate of change in speed.

For comparison, examine two rear-end car accidents:

• A low impact, high rate-of-change rear-end accident: If a driver hits a stopped vehicle at a moderate 35 miles per hour, the occupants of the stopped vehicle will lurch forward. When the human body is suddenly whipped forward from a stopped position, ligaments and other soft tissues are unexpectedly stretched and often tear.
• A high impact, low rate-of-change car accident: If a driver going 55 miles per hour rear-ends another car going 45 miles per hour, the change in speed is significantly less damaging. Serious injuries may result if the impact causes the vehicles to lose control, hitting other cars, or rolling over.

Researchers concluded that soft tissue damage may happen well before the vehicle itself may show damage. According to the study:

• Motor vehicles will not show property damage from an accident until they are traveling at 8.7m or greater
• Soft tissue damage can occur at only 2.5 miles per hour

In addition, chain reaction rear-end car accidents may result in mass fatalities. When the first rear-end accident propels the car into the next vehicle, it can set off a series of rear-end car accidents that pile up on freeways and other major roads.

Accident victims are often trapped in their cars, suffering the impact of each new rear-end collision. When trapped cars begin to number in the tens or hundreds, many occupants suffer crushing injuries due to the growing weight of vehicles with each subsequent rear-end car accident.

What Serious Injuries Are Most Associated with Rear-End Car Accidents?

Serious injuries are devastating.

Accident victims often suffer lengthy recuperation times, missing vast amounts of work while medical bills continue to pile.

The most common serious injuries associated with a rear-end accident include:

• Neck and back injuries, including whiplash, sprains, and other soft tissue damage
• Spinal cord injuries, which may result in paralysis or paraplegia
• Internal bleeding or organ damage
• Lacerations
• Broken, fractured, and dislocated bones
• Head injuries, including concussions or traumatic brain injuries

It is crucial to speak with a skilled car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Do Injury Victims Need Rear-End Car Accident Lawyers in Tulsa?

Rear-end car accident victims face many obstacles when filing an injury claim. There are complex factors in rear-end accidents that may prevent an injured person from recovering the full damages they are entitled to.

Accident lawyers protect the best interests of their clients. With years of experience handling similar claims, a rear-end accident attorney can employ several strategies to ensure clients receive fair compensation.

In addition, a skilled lawyer can guide clients through the claims process, helping them avoid the various pitfall that may lead to denied and delayed claims, including:

• Low settlement offers: Insurance adjusters favor the bottom line and seek to minimize any settlements regardless of the extent of injuries. A skilled accident lawyer can represent a claimant’s best interests during settlement talks and negotiate fair compensation.
• Potentially biased medical care: Insurance companies can insist claimants use the doctors and medical offices on their recommended list. However, a doctor who works closely with insurance companies may not have the best interests of a claimant at heart. A rear-end accident attorney can help a claimant get the treatment they need and ensure all their injuries are examined and diagnosed correctly.
• Delayed or denied injury claims: Filing an injury claim with the insurance company can be complicated and involve extensive paperwork, deadlines, and evidence gathering. Minor mistakes may cause a legitimate claim to be delayed or denied. A personal injury lawyer will have years of experience filing detail-oriented paperwork. They will prepare all documents, gather critical evidence, and retain supportive medical and investigative experts to give a claim the greatest possibility of acceptance.

In the event that the insurance adjuster refuses to offer a fair settlement or denies a claim, a rear-end accident attorney will represent a claimant in court and seek the verdict they deserve.

Do I Need a Wrongful Death Lawyer?

Death of a family member or partner in a negligent accident is devastating. Wrongful death claims differ from personal injury claims.

The role of a personal injury case is to recover damages that will make the claimant “whole” in the legal sense. Bodily injuries and pain are given monetary values to represent the extent of suffering accident victims have endured.

The role of a wrongful death claim is to prevent similar acts of negligence in the future. When loved ones are lost in preventable tragedies, surviving family members can seek justice in civil court. The value of wrongful death settlements tends to reflect the extent of wrongdoing by the responsible party.

In addition to holding negligent parties accountable for the loss an individual, any monetary compensation can ease unexpected financial burdens, including:

• Medical care and treatment for the deceased loved one
• Funeral expenses
• Burial costs
• Loss of future income
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of consortium
• Possible punitive damages

Compassionate wrongful death attorneys can help surviving family members through the difficult process and provide any legal advice. Cases are handled with sensitivity and dignity.

Contact the award-winning and nationally recognized personal injury attorneys of Graves McLain Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case evaluation by calling (918) 359-6600.