Rear End Collisions

Our Rear End Collision Attorneys Can Help

If you’ve sustained injuries in a rear end collision involving a car or truck, you’re likely feeling frustration and fear. Someone else’s actions have caused you pain, and you’re uncertain about how to cover your mounting medical bills and other expenses. This is where a personal injury attorney can make a difference, helping you seek compensation for medical costs, lost wages, disability, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and loss of your everyday life.

Contact Gardi, Haught, Fischer & Bhosale LTD, and our trusted rear end collision lawyers, at (847) 944-9400 to schedule a free initial consultation.

Our team of rear-end accident attorneys operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay us only if we win your case.

Rear-end collisions are the most frequent type of car accident in Schaumburg, accounting for approximately 29 percent of all collisions, as the Illinois Department of Transportation reported. Each year, there are nearly 80,000 rear-end collisions in the state, resulting in tens of thousands of injuries and dozens of fatalities.

Common Causes of Rear-End Collisions

In most cases, rear-end collisions are the fault of another driver. Illinois law presumes that the driver rear ends another vehicle and is responsible for the accident. However, the other driver may present evidence suggesting that external factors or another person contributed to the crash. For instance, the driver who rear-ended you at a red light may have been hit by another vehicle, causing them to collide with your car.

Rear-end collisions often involve more than one vehicle, but somewhere along the line, negligence usually plays a role. An experienced personal injury attorney can help determine the cause of your crash and work to secure compensation from the responsible party for your injuries and damages.

Some common driving behaviors leading to rear-end collisions include:

Following Too Closely: Drivers are required to maintain a safe following distance between their vehicle and the one in front. This distance should allow them to stop suddenly without causing a collision. Tailgating often leads to rear-end collisions when drivers are forced to stop abruptly due to road debris or other reasons.

Distracted Driving: Drivers distracted by activities like talking or texting on mobile phones, eating, or applying makeup may not pay full attention to the road. Consequently, they may fail to notice stopped vehicles in front, leading to rear-end collisions.

Speeding: The stopping distance of a vehicle is directly related to its speed. Speeding drivers often cannot stop in time when faced with obstacles, such as stopped vehicles.

Faulty Brakes or Mechanical Defects: Drivers are responsible for maintaining their vehicles in roadworthy condition, including ensuring their brakes and other components are in good working order. Brake failures can result in collisions.

Common Injuries in Rear-End Collisions

The injuries resulting from rear-end accidents vary depending on the circumstances of the crash.

However, some of the most common injuries include:

Neck Injuries: Whiplash is a prevalent injury following a rear-end collision. It occurs when your head jerks backward and your neck extends beyond its normal range, causing excruciating and lingering pain. Herniated discs and spinal cord damage can also occur.

Back Injuries: Rear-end collisions can lead to herniated discs and spinal cord injuries.

Head Injuries: Concussions, brain injuries, bruises, and cuts to the head are often seen in rear-end accidents.

Broken Bones: A severe impact can result in broken arms, legs, or ribs.

Soft Tissue Injuries: Painful sprains, strains, and tears in muscles, ligaments, or tendons may occur.

Rear-End Accidents Involving Trucks

When a large commercial tractor-trailer, weighing over 80,000 pounds, rear-ends another vehicle, the injuries and resulting damages are often catastrophic. Medical bills, vehicle repairs, and other expenses can be astronomical in such cases. Moreover, the medical treatment followed by rehabilitation can be physically and emotionally exhausting, especially when battling the trucking company or its insurance carrier for fair compensation.

The primary reason behind rear-end truck accidents is the inability of trucks to stop quickly. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), out of an estimated 400,000 significant truck accidents each year, approximately 18 percent are rear-end collisions. This means that about 42,000 rear-end truck accidents occur on American roads annually, involving large commercial trucks striking other vehicles.

These rear-end accidents involving big rigs are particularly dangerous for several reasons:

Weight Disparity: Large trucks can be up to 40 times heavier than other passenger vehicles, resulting in more severe damage when they collide.

Longer Stopping Distances: Due to their size and weight, trucks require longer distances to come to a stop.

Multi-Vehicle Collisions: Truck rear-end accidents often involve multiple vehicles, causing additional complications.

Are Rear End Truck Accidents Always the Truck Driver’s Fault?

Unless a rear-end accident involving a tractor-trailer or another commercial truck occurs in one of the twelve no-fault states, the presumption is that the rear-ending driver is at fault. However, the rear-ending driver may be able to prove extenuating circumstances, such as being pushed by another vehicle. In most cases, though, the vehicle striking from behind is typically held responsible.

In these situations, the driver may have caused the collision, but the financial liability for damages will likely fall on the commercial trucking company they work for. Other circumstances may involve the truck’s manufacturer or a trucking repair shop. For instance, if a truck is found to have collided with another vehicle due to defective or poorly maintained brakes, multiple companies could be held accountable for the resulting damage.

Is Illinois a No-Fault State?

Illinois is not a no-fault state concerning car insurance coverage in rear-end collisions involving big rigs; it follows a tort system. In rear-end collisions, where one driver is determined to be at fault—typically the driver who struck the other vehicle from behind—this driver’s insurance company is responsible for covering the cost of injuries or damages resulting from the accident. However, the at-fault driver’s insurance company may also appoint an attorney to represent them in case of a lawsuit.

The Multi-Car Collision Rule

Another exception to the general rule of rear-end collisions involving trucks is the multi-car accident rule. While rear-end collisions typically occur because the rear vehicle is following too closely, multi-car accidents often involve the rear vehicle being pushed into the lead vehicle by a third vehicle or a truck.

For example, if multiple cars are stopped at a red light, and a commercial truck fails to stop in time, its size and speed can push the first car into the next, triggering a chain reaction. In such cases, the second driver did nothing wrong, as they were stopped at a red light during the collision. The trucking company would likely be held responsible for all the damages sustained by all vehicles involved in this scenario.

Contact a Rear End Accident Attorney in Schaumburg Today

Cases involving rear-end collisions, whether with cars or trucks, are intricate and confusing for victims. Establishing negligence in a rear-end collision requires time, experience, and resources. If you’ve suffered injuries in an auto accident involving a rear-end collision, our personal injury law firm is ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

Contact a Schaumburg Rear End Accident lawyer today at (847) 944-9400.

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