Statesboro Rear-End Collision Lawyer

Statesboro Rear-End Collision Attorney

Rear-end collisions are sometimes thought of as mild “fender-benders” that don’t lead to much damage. While that may be true in some situations, there are also many rear-end collisions that can lead to significant injuries and damage.

Whiplash and neck injuries, for instance, are commonly suffered in these kinds of collisions. These are costly injuries that the victims are owed compensation for, and a Statesboro rear-end collision lawyer can help them seek it.

Our team at Merritt & Merritt Law Firm has a strong understanding and history of working with car accident victims, including those who have been part of a rear-end collision. We bring our experience to our clients’ cases, along with 24-hour service.

We are prepared to meet our clients at work, at home, at the hospital, or wherever else fits with their schedule. Whether through negotiation or litigation, we are dedicated to getting justice for those we represent.

Compensation From a Read-End Collision

The compensation in a rear-end collision case is normally paid through two forms of “damages” addressing the different categories of costs that an injury creates. These costs must be the direct result of the accident and negligence of the party that is at fault.

Your lawyer can use bills, receipts, pay stubs, and other documentation to prove these costs, which is why it’s imperative that you keep a thorough record of the expenses that you’ve incurred as a result of the accident.

Economic Damages

Economic damages address any of the losses that have a direct financial element associated with them. One of the primary costs included in this is the medical expenses that are associated with your injuries.

Rear-end collisions can often cause significant damage to a vehicle, and that is covered in these damages as well. Also, if the injury was serious enough to lead to missed work or even an inability to return to work at the same capacity, the lost wages or lost earning capacity will also be addressed.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are designed to address costs that don’t have a clear, direct financial element and tend to be more psychological and emotional. Issues like pain and suffering, mental anguish, and others are compensated under this category.

While the money is not expected to serve as a direct solution for these issues, it may provide some indirect benefit. It is also meant to address the injustice of your suffering.

Fault in a Rear-End Collision

There’s a general understanding that whoever is at the back of a rear-end collision must be the party that’s at fault, as they failed to leave enough room to stop completely if the car in front of them stopped. While this may be true in many situations, it’s important to realize that it’s not necessarily a universal truth.

For a party to be at fault for any car accident, including a rear-end collision, they must have acted in a manner that failed to reach what was reasonably expected of them in that situation. That failure must also be shown to have led directly to the accident and the injuries that were suffered. While this may be the rear driver in many cases, there could be other issues that cause an accident.

It’s possible that the accident could be a result of a failure on the part of a maintenance provider. For instance, if the car in front recently had work done, and something was damaged in the process that caused all the rear lights and brake lights to short out, then a rear-end collision could occur at night.

If this were to happen, the maintenance provider may be liable. Additionally, if there was something dysfunctional about the brakes of the rear vehicle, it’s possible that the manufacturer of the part could be held liable.

There’s no guarantee that the rear driver will be at fault in every rear-end collision, so it will be important that your lawyer identifies who is liable, as you will need to seek restitution from whoever’s actions or inaction led directly to the accident.

For an Immediate Consultation call us at 912-764-3434

What a Statesboro Rear-End Collision Lawyer Does?

When you hire a lawyer, it becomes our job to act as your representative and advocate in the pursuit of compensation for your injuries. There are several tasks that help us do this.

Investigate Your Case

Because so much of this process depends on having a strong understanding of the facts surrounding the accident, we first need to perform our own investigation of the situation. This will allow us to identify who is liable for the accident as well as collect evidence that can prove that liability.

Attempt Settlement Negotiations

Before taking the claim through litigation, we likely have the chance to negotiate a settlement, which has the advantage of avoiding some of the uncertainty that comes with taking a claim to court. It could also be a much quicker process, resulting in you receiving your funds months or even years before you would if the claim were to go through court.

Represent You in Court

However, there are times when the other side just isn’t willing to agree to a fair settlement. Should that happen, we are prepared for the process of demonstrating fault in court through a personal injury claim. In litigation, we can make the case for why you’re owed the compensation that you’re seeking.

Understanding the Leading Causes of Rear-End Collisions in Statesboro

Rear-end collisions are among the most common types of traffic accidents, making up nearly 30 percent of all types of accidents on the road that cause injuries. These types of accidents can happen in an instant, often resulting in significant vehicle damage and painful injuries like whiplash. At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, our attorneys have seen firsthand how these incidents impact the lives of our clients.

Traffic Jams & Stop-and-Go Traffic

Anyone who drives through Statesboro during peak hours, especially along major arteries like US-301 or near the Georgia Southern University campus, is familiar with stop-and-go traffic. The constant acceleration and deceleration of vehicles in traffic requires a driver’s full attention. Frustration and impatience can then set in, which can then cause drivers to lose focus for just a moment, which is all it takes to cause a collision when the car ahead stops unexpectedly.

Following Too Closely (Tailgating)

Tailgating is a primary contributor to rear-end accidents. Georgia law requires drivers to maintain a safe following distance, yet many ignore this rule. On roads like the Statesboro Bypass (Veterans Memorial Parkway), where speeds are higher, or even in downtown traffic, following too closely to another vehicle  eliminates the reaction time needed to brake safely if the lead vehicle stops suddenly.

Sudden Stops at Traffic Lights or Stop Signs

Intersections are natural points of conflict. Busy intersections in Statesboro, such as those along Northside Drive, see a high volume of traffic. A driver may be forced to stop abruptly for a yellow light, a pedestrian, or cross-traffic. The driver behind them, if not paying adequate attention, can easily cause a rear-end crash due to the sudden and abrupt stop.

Distracted Driving

In today’s world, distracted driving is a plague on our roads. Whether it’s a driver texting, adjusting their GPS, or dealing with passengers, any activity that takes a drivers’ eyes or mind off the road is dangerous. A moment of distraction is all it takes to miss the sight of brake lights ahead, turning a routine drive through Statesboro into an accident scene.

Speeding or Driving Too Fast for Conditions

Exceeding the speed limit or simply driving too fast for the current conditions dramatically increases the risk of a rear-end collision. A driver who is speeding needs a much greater distance to come to a complete stop. This is a common issue on straighter, faster roads where drivers might become complacent, or do not think the posted speed limit is warranted.

Weather-Related Incidents

Statesboro is no stranger to sudden, intense rainstorms. Wet roads significantly increase braking distances and can reduce visibility. Drivers who fail to slow down and increase their following distance during adverse weather are setting the stage for an accident. A typical afternoon shower can quickly turn asphalt slick, making a normally safe stop near impossible.

Sudden Lane Changes or Merging

Improper lane changes or aggressive merging are frequent causes of collisions. When a driver cuts in front of another vehicle without enough space, it can force the trailing driver to slam on their brakes. This can cause a chain-reaction crash, especially in areas where multiple lanes merge, such as the on-ramps to the bypass.

Rubbernecking and Sudden Slowdowns

When an accident or a police stop occurs, it’s common for drivers on both sides of the road to slow down to look. This “rubbernecking” effect creates unexpected slowdowns that can easily catch an inattentive driver by surprise, causing them to collide with the vehicle in front of them.

Highway Off-Ramps and Exits

Exiting a highway requires a driver to decelerate, often rapidly. On the Statesboro Bypass, a driver who is not paying close attention may not realize the vehicle ahead is slowing down to take an exit until it is too late. This misjudgment of speed is a frequent cause of rear-end accidents at off-ramps.

If you have been injured in a rear-end collision in Statesboro, it is crucial to understand your rights. Proving fault and navigating the insurance claims process can be complex. Contact Merritt & Merritt Law Firm at 912-764-3434 for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.

Seek Compensation for Your Rear-End Collision With Our Help

At Merritt & Merritt Law Firm, working for our clients aligns with our belief in the importance of restorative justice. We believe that those who’ve been injured because of someone’s negligence deserve the opportunity to seek compensation from the liable party.

We understand how important it is that they receive proper restitution for their medical costs, lost wages, property damages, pain and suffering, and any other costs that they’ve suffered.

Our firm is dedicated to pursuing fair compensation for our clients through negotiation or litigation. Since 1973, we’ve been successful in getting our clients restitution through negotiated settlements.

When that option wasn’t viable, we’ve won many cases that were argued before a court. Our clients receive excellent service paired with our experience. If that’s the kind of legal help you’re looking for after a rear-end collision, contact our team today.