Everything You Need to Know About Rear-End Collisions in Rio Linda
I’m Ed Smith, a Rio Linda car accident lawyer. Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident today. Of the 6 million vehicular accidents each year nationwide, 2.5 million are rear-ending type accidents, which translates into one such collision every eight seconds. Approximately 2,000 people die, and more than 500 are injured in these crashes. A vast majority of rear-end collisions occur due to distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Due to the sheer numbers of rear-end collisions and the damage that results, it is essential to learn how and why they happen, the injuries they cause and ways to avoid them.
Causes of Rear-End Accidents
Driver error causes 90 percent of all rear-end crashes. Some of the most common are:
- Drowsy driving: Driving while tired leads to many accidents. This may occur due to OTC or prescription drugs and not getting enough sleep.
- Speeding: Speeding can lead to rear-end accidents due to the inability to stop in time.
- Distraction: Drivers often try to multitask while driving. This interferes with their ability to concentrate on traffic conditions, often leading to airbags crashes.
- Impaired drivers: Drivers who are impaired by alcohol lack the ability to judge distances accurately.
- Roadway problems: Signs that are hidden from view by overgrown foliage and non-working traffic lights are other reasons.
- Tailgating: Traveling too close to a lead vehicle often leads to a rear-end collision. Drivers are obligated to stay a safe distance from the vehicle in front of them.
- Debris on the road: Sudden stops due to roadway debris can cause other drivers to hit the vehicle in the rear.
- Unmarked disabled car or truck: If a vehicle is left disabled on the road without flashers, other drivers may not be aware of its status until it is too late to stop in time.
- Non-working brake lights: If a vehicle’s brake lights are not working, other motorists will not be aware that the car or truck is slowing down or stopping.
- Road work: Slowdowns for construction work on the road are notorious for causing rear-end accidents.
- Police vehicles: Traffic often slows due to sighting radar, police or a stopped vehicle.
Types of Injuries in a Rear-End Accident
Some of the common injuries in a rear-end accident are:
- Cervical sprain: This is one of the most frequent injuries resulting from rear-end accidents. It is caused by the rapid back and forth movement of the upper body from the impact. Symptom onset can be delayed and may linger in 50 percent of individuals for 12 months or more.
- Facial injuries: Facial bone fracture, loss of teeth and eye injuries happen primarily when the accident occurs at low speeds since airbags do not deploy.
- Back injuries: Due to the compressive forces of accidents, disc herniation can occur. The cushioning effect of this gel-like substance between vertebrae is lost, causing pressure on spinal nerves.
- Lower extremity injury: The impact can push the lower extremities into the steering column or dashboard, causing fractures or lacerations.
- Seat belt injuries: While restraints save lives, in a rear end accident, the seat belts may be strained as the body hyperextends and hyperflexes. This can cause lacerations from the seat belts. It can also cause organ trauma in both the chest and abdomen.
How to Prevent Rear-End Accidents
There are things a driver can do to prevent rear-end accidents. One of the most important measures is to maintain vigilance on the road. Watching for traffic conditions in front of you so you can anticipate slowdowns ahead of time is crucial.
Driving at night presents additional problems. Trucks, for instance, might not have lights along the sides of their trailer that show you the size of the vehicle. When a truck is trying to make a turn, the trailer may be turned sideways, giving the impression that the lane is clear. The trucker, in this case, would be negligent for not being compliant with the placement of reflective tape or lights. Slowing down when roadway traffic is confusing at night may prevent a rear-end crash.
Rio Linda Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Rio Linda car accident lawyer. After an accident, an injured person is caught in a web of pain, escalating medical bills and lost wages. An experienced car accident lawyer can help in a number of ways, taking the burden of worry off the injured person. Call me anytime at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
I’ve been helping residents of Rio Linda and the wider Northern California area obtain the compensation they deserve in all types of accidents for more than 36 years.
If you are thinking of retaining an attorney, you should know about them and their practice. Learn about mine at:
I am a California member of the Million Dollar Advocates. We are a forum of trial attorneys who have won verdicts and settlements of more than $1 million for a client.
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