A rear-end collision occurs when one vehicle fails to stop before hitting another vehicle from behind. Rear-end collisions are the most frequently occurring car accident. They are also the accident most closely linked to the injury known as “whiplash.”
If you or a loved one has suffered whiplash or another injury in a rear-end collision in Tampa or anywhere in Florida that was someone else’s fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and other losses. An experienced lawyer can investigate your crash and help you seek the compensation you deserve for the harm you have suffered.
The Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, P.A., can help you just as we have helped hundreds of car accident victims throughout the Tampa-St. Petersburg region and across Florida. Call us today or complete our online contact form for a free initial consultation about your case.
What Rear-End Collisions Do
Nearly 30 percent of all auto accidents are rear-end collisions, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says. This makes rear-end accidents the most common kind of car wreck.
Rear-end collisions are also the most common cause of whiplash. PubMed Health describes whiplash as occurring when a vehicle stops suddenly in a crash or is hit from behind. While the seat belt keeps a person’s body from being thrown forward, the head snaps forward and then backward, causing a whiplash injury.
Whiplash damages the joints, disks and/or ligaments of the spine in the neck.
Most people recover from whiplash in just a few weeks, but some victims may need several months to a couple of years to recover, the Mayo Clinic says. Some people develop chronic pain after a whiplash injury and never fully recover.
Why Rear-End Crashes Happen
A rear-end collision happens because the trailing car has failed to stop. This is usually a matter of inattention or speed – or both. Factors that cause rear-end collisions include:
- Distracted driving – A study by the NHTSA found that about 87 percent of rear-end crashes involve some form of distracted driving. Cell phones and texting while driving have increased the incidence of distracted driving over the last several years.
- Drowsy driving – Fatigued or sleepy drivers cause a “disproportionate portion” of rear-end accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Drunk / drugged driving – Driving while intoxicated or impaired by alcohol or drugs, which results in inattention and slower reaction times, remains a leading cause of car accidents of all kinds.
- Tailgating/speeding – Following a car too closely or speeding make it more difficult to stop in time to avoid an accident.
- Failed brakes – Sometimes, it’s the car and not the driver that has caused a car accident. If a rear-end collision has been caused by brake failure because of faulty design or manufacturing, anyone injured in the accident may have a products liability claim.
A Tampa Rear-End Collision Lawyer Can Help You
If you or a loved one of yours has been injured in a rear-end collision in Tampa or anywhere in Florida that was caused by distracted driving, drowsy driving, drunk driving or some other form of negligent or reckless driving, or by the failure of an automotive part, Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, P.A., wants to help you.
You may be eligible to obtain compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, pain and suffering and other losses.
To set up a free initial consultation about your rear-end accident injuries, contact us today by phone or through our online form.
For More Information
- Whiplash: Complications, Mayo Clinic
- Drowsy Driving, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- State Laws and Funding: Florida, Governors Highway Safety Association