Urbana Rear-End Crashes Lawyer
Rear-end accidents that occur in and around Urbana can range widely in severity. Sometimes rear-end collisions are relatively minor, and motor vehicle occupants can recover quickly from their injuries. In other circumstances, rear-end accidents can result in debilitating and deadly injuries. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), rear-end accidents happen quite commonly, and they account for about 17 percent of all fatal traffic collisions each year. Whether you sustained property damage and minor injuries or have suffered severe and life-altering injuries, our attorneys at Patel Law, PC can help you to seek compensation. Contact our experienced Urbana rear-end crashes lawyer to get started on your claim.
Causes of Urbana Rear-End Crashes
Rear-end accidents in the Urbana area can happen for various reasons, and the following are some of the most common causes:
- Distracted driving, which typically involves a motorist failing to hit the brakes in time to stop because of a distraction like talking or texting on a phone, or taking their eyes off the road to reprogram a map or GPS app;
- Defective brakes, which can prevent a motorist from effectively stopping in time;
- Taillights burned out, which can prevent a rear motorist from seeing a vehicle ahead of it in the dark or at dusk and being unable to stop before a collision;
- Tailgating or following too closely, which often results in rear-end collisions when the motorist in front needs to come to a quick stop
Common Injuries in Rear-End Collisions in Urbana
In a rear-end crash, a vehicle occupant can sustain various types of injuries that can range in their severity. According to the Mayo Clinic, whiplash is one of the most common kinds of injuries to affect occupants of vehicles who are involved in rear-end accidents. The Mayo Clinic defines whiplash as “a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip.” Typically, people with whiplash will heal with time and effective treatment, but neck injuries can also involve long-term consequences.
The following are some of the most common types of injuries that people sustain in rear-end crashes in the Urbana area:
- Whiplash;
- Neck injuries;
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions;
- Bone fractures;
- Bruises;
- Lacerations; and
- Internal bleeding.
Who Is at Fault for an Urbana Rear-End Accident?
The rear driver who hits the car in front of it is often at fault for a rear-end collision, but other parties might also be liable depending upon the circumstances of the case. You should speak with a rear-end accident lawyer in Urbana if you have questions about who you might be able to name as a defendant in a lawsuit. The following are examples of parties who could potentially be responsible for damages in a rear-end accident:
- Rear driver;
- Lead driver;
- Mechanic who negligently maintained or repaired one of the vehicles; or
- Automaker if a defect caused the rear-end accident.
Contact Patel Law, PC
The advocates at Patel Law, PC can help you seek compensation following a rear-end collision in Illinois. Contact an experienced Urbana rear-end crash lawyer for assistance with your claim.