Rear-end car accidents are one of the most common types of crashes. They can happen on any street, at any speed, or when stopped at a light. While any accident can be devastating, a rear-end crash can come with no warning at all, changing your life in seconds.
They can cause serious, and costly, debilitating head, back, and neck injuries that may lead to permanent incapacitation requiring long-term care. Injured survivors of these accidents may be left with mounting medical bills even as they are unable to work.
If you or a loved one was injured or you lost a family member in a rear-end accident, you may be entitled to compensation through insurance or a wrongful death lawsuit. Rear-end accidents are often preventable, and liability is typically very clear. If the driver behind you was following too closely and couldn’t stop before colliding with your vehicle for any reason, that driver is typically at fault for the accident and responsible for your damages.
Still, Georgia personal injury law is complicated; and even in a rear-end case, insurance companies may try to deny your claim, pay out the lowest amount possible, or even make it seem that you did something to contribute to the accident.
Fortunately, you do not have to fight this battle alone. There is help available from the experienced rear-end accident attorneys at The Stoddard Firm. Our personal injury firm has successfully provided legal assistance to car accident victims for many years.
Reach out to us today so we can discuss the particulars of your case and determine the best way to move forward. We provide free, no-obligation consultations. Call 470-467-2200 for help.
Our car accident attorneys have decades of legal experience, a reputation for providing top-notch client service, and a winning track record, as you can see from our case results.
While the injury claims we successfully handle are often complex, our approach to consistently achieving successful outcomes is a simple one:
When we take on your rear-end crash case, you can trust us to fight hard for your interests from Day One.
You can count on us to handle all the insurance and legal hurdles involved with pursuing the compensation you need to pay for your injuries and other damages. We will do the complicated work while you focus on your recovery.
When we work with you we will:
The sooner you have us on your side, the sooner we will begin to investigate your rear-end accident, develop your case, and get you on the path toward financial justice.
While other crash types often require investigations to determine who was at fault, rear-end collisions are generally more cut and dried when it comes to liability. When distracted or speeding drivers fail to leave enough space when following a vehicle or don’t brake early enough to avoid a collision, they are typically responsible for the accidents that result.
Most of the time, the rear-ending driver is legally at fault. There are, however, scenarios in which additional parties may have contributed to the accident and could also be named in a claim.
In addition to the driver who hit you, the following parties may also be liable depending on the circumstances of your crash:
Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate your accident to identify all liable parties and hold them accountable.
The term “damages” refers to both the losses and injuries you received and the amount of compensation you are entitled to receive from the parties you are suing. Depending on your injuries and losses you may receive damages that include:
You might also receive punitive damages if the conduct of the at-fault driver was particularly egregious. Punitive damages are meant to punish the responsible party and deter them from the same behavior and actions in the future.
Compensation varies widely in auto accident cases. It can range from the thousands to the millions of dollars. What you could get depends on the factors in your individual situation, including:
There are no limits or caps to special or general damages you can receive in Georgia. Our Atlanta rear-end attorneys will fight for the maximum settlement possible.
Following are common questions about rear-end car accidents answered by one of our knowledgeable attorneys.
What are common causes of rear-end accidents?
A major cause of rear-end accidents is driver distraction and inattention. Texting and speaking on cell phones are the most obvious distraction, but almost anything could threaten to cause an accident. A buzzing fly, a radio, or any other distraction that pops up inside the car or outside on the road could take a driver’s attention away from where it should be.
What serious injuries result from these crashes?
Whiplash and other neck injury, traumatic brain injury, concussion, broken bones, crushed legs and knees, and back and spinal damage can result from serious rear-end accidents. Many of these injuries will require expensive, extensive, and ongoing medical treatment.
How will your attorneys prove negligence and fault for my accident?
Our rear-end crash attorneys must prove that the driver who hit you and/or other party acted negligently. This means showing that the party had a duty of care not to harm you; they breached that duty through their actions or failure to act; the breach caused your injuries; and you suffered damages as a result.
How much does it cost to hire your law firm?
We work on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs to hire our law firm. Our legal fees are paid out of the settlement or award that we win for you. We always expect to get compensation, but if for some unusual reason we do not win you anything, you do not pay us anything.
We can answer questions specific to your case when we speak with you in your free consultation.
When you’ve been hurt in a rear-end collision caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be eligible for payment to cover medical bills, lost wages, and additional damages. But if your injuries are serious, it is to your benefit to consult with an experienced attorney before trying to settle your claim on your own. The attorneys at The Stoddard Firm are here to answer your questions and address your concerns.
Don’t delay if you are considering a legal claim, as there are time limits for filing. The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Georgia is generally two years from the day you were injured. There are some exceptions to this deadline, so speak to a lawyer to find out specific time frames for your case.
Matt Stoddard is a professional, hardworking, ethical advocate. He routinely faces some of the nation’s largest companies and some of the world’s largest insurers – opponents who have virtually unlimited resources. In these circumstances, Mr. Stoddard is comfortable. Mr. Stoddard provides his strongest efforts to his clients, and he devotes the firm’s significant financial resources to presenting the strongest case possible on their behalf. Matt understands that his clients must put their trust in him. That trust creates an obligation for Matt to work tirelessly on their behalf, and Matt Stoddard does not take that obligation lightly. [ Attorney Bio ]
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After a serious car accident, a survivor usually asks themselves several questions in quick succession. Am I going to be okay? Will everyone else be okay? Was it my fault? What am I going to miss out on? How will I pay for medical care and other expenses? When the answer to the first two questions is “yes,” survivors can jump right into figuring out responsibility and how to m...
