Who is liable in a rear-end collision?
One of the most basic rules of the road is to leave enough room between your car and the car ahead of you so that if the car ahead of you suddenly stops you have enough time to apply the brakes without running into the back of it.
What that means is that if you are hit from behind, the other driver is almost always at fault. Even if you ended up slamming into the person in front of you after you were hit, you are likely not liable for that person’s damage. The person who caused the initial accident in a chain-reaction is often responsible for all damages.
Oftentimes, rear-end collisions occur when you are stopped at a stoplight or a stop sign, which can result in whiplash and other serious injuries even though the accident seem less serious than, say, a head-on collision.
Seemingly minor injuries such as whiplash can also lead to very serious or life-threatening conditions like embolism or stroke. That’s why it’s so important to seek medical treatment right away following a rear-end collision.
Additionally, it is common for whiplash and other injuries stemming from rear-end accidents to take a while to show up, so don’t be surprised if your neck suddenly feels sore days after your accident.
If you are worried about paying for medical treatment or chiropractic care following a rear-end collision, rest assured that the other driver or your own insurance company may be responsible for compensating you for these expenses.
Our firm has investigated and handled countless rear-end collisions for clients in the Sacramento area and we know how to work aggressively to get our clients the compensation that they deserve. For more information on how we can help, please see our Roseville Rear End Collision Attorney page.