Pittsburgh Rear-End Accident Lawyers Seek Compensation for Victims
Aggressively pursuing justice for people injured in vehicle collisions
Perhaps the most frustrating type of car accident to be involved in is a rear-end collision. How could the driver not have seen you? You were literally right in front of him! Yet, rear-end collisions are among the most frequent type of auto accidents. According to the Insurance Information Institute, rear-end crashes in 2021 caused 2,949 deaths, which accounted for 7.5 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities. If your vehicle was rear-ended, causing you or your passengers to suffer injuries, you are almost certainly not at fault and are entitled to seek monetary damages. The experienced car crash lawyers at Phil DiLucente & Associates, LLC can help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
Common causes of rear-end accidents
The first duty of any motorist is to pay attention to where they are going. Rear-enders occur when drivers ignore that duty. Behaviors that contribute to rear-end collisions include:
- Following too closely (tailgating)
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
Rear-end accidents can also happen because of mechanical defects, such as faulty brakes.
Common injuries in rear-end crashes
Rear-end collisions often cause whiplash to occupants of the impacted vehicle. Whiplash occurs when a victim’s head snaps forcefully and rapidly forward and back or side to side, causing chronically painful soft-tissue injuries. Additionally, victims of rear-end crashes can sustain:
- Back and spine trauma
- Knee injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Fractured bones
- Bruises and lacerations
- Concussions
Victims should immediately seek medical treatment for their health’s sake and in order to document their injuries for their claim.
Rear-end accidents involving commercial trucks
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), commercial trucks are involved in almost 400,000 vehicle crashes annually, and 18 percent of these accidents are rear-end collisions. Factors that make such accidents so common include:
- Longer stopping distance needed for heavy vehicles
- Trucks traveling too fast for conditions
- Passenger cars cutting off trucks in traffic
- Truckers driving aggressively to meet deadlines
- Distracted or drowsy driving by truckers
- Faulty brakes
- Severe weather conditions
A collision with a commercial truck is potentially much more damaging to a smaller vehicle than a crash with another passenger car. Tractor-trailers are up to 40 times heavier than passenger cars and can potentially crush more than one vehicle before stopping.
Truck accidents can be harder to resolve legally for a number of reasons. First, there may be more vehicles involved, which makes determining liability for the crash more complicated. Secondly, the liability for a multi-vehicle crash with serious injuries can be considerable, so trucking companies often deny fault and defend claims aggressively. If you attempt to represent yourself or hire an inexperienced lawyer, you face a tough struggle to obtain the compensation you deserve.
How can a lawyer help after a rear-end collision?
Victims of negligent drivers are entitled to compensation for their economic losses and pain and suffering. But obtaining a fair settlement is an uphill battle, especially when insurance companies deny their policyholder’s responsibility or aggressively defend against your claim. An experienced car accident attorney understands what it takes for victims to be justly compensated.
Our legal team effectively builds our clients’ cases by:
- Identifying and interviewing witnesses to the crash
- Consulting accident reconstruction experts
- Consulting medical and financial specialists
- Assembling relevant documents and evidence
We negotiate with insurance companies from a position of strength with the goal of recovering the maximum compensation possible for your injuries.
Contact a Pittsburgh-area car crash attorney to schedule a free consultation
Phil DiLucente & Associates, LLC represents clients who have sustained injuries in rear-end collisions caused by negligent conduct. For a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney, please call 1.800.GET.PHIL or contact us online.