Omaha Rear-End Car Accident Lawyers

Rear-Ended by Another Driver in Omaha?

Rear-end collisions are often dismissed as fender benders, but they can result in serious harm. If the rear vehicle was going fast enough, the front vehicle’s occupants can suffer soft-tissue damage, head wounds, and internal injuries to their organs. Each of these can lead to months out of work, costly medical bills, and a great deal of pain.

If you were rear-ended and suffered a serious injury, you deserve full compensation for your trauma. Insurance companies often dismiss these collisions as minor, even when victims suffer spinal cord injuries, brain damage, or fractured ribs. To get the most out of your claim, you need to work with a skilled Omaha rear-end accident attorney at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. who will not dismiss or devalue your injuries. To get our strong and aggressive representation after a wreck, call (402) 505-8234 and schedule a free consultation.

Causes of Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions are wildly common and are always the result of at least one negligent driver ignoring the rules of the road. Speeding, making improper lane changes, being distracted, and drinking alcohol can all cause drivers to collide with a vehicle in front of them. These collisions are easily avoided when drivers pay attention and act responsibility, but sadly, many do not.

In our experience, Omaha rear-end collisions are the result of:

• Failing to stop in time at intersections
• Reckless maneuvers, such as dangerous lane-changes, left-hand turns, or speeding
• Driving while intoxicated
• Driving while distracted
• Defective brakes
• Falling asleep at the wheel
• Following too closely

Tailgating and Rear-End Crashes

Tailgating is a major contributing factor to rear-end collisions. Drivers who are following too closely may not have enough time and distance to avoid a crash if traffic ahead suddenly slows or stops. The average passenger car in the U.S. weighs approximately 4,000 pounds. A rear-end collision at highway speeds can have devastating consequences.

A good guideline for allowing enough distance from the vehicle ahead is the three-second rule. Simply maintain three seconds worth of distance between your car and the one ahead. To measure the distance, choose a marker, such as a highway sign, and count off the seconds between the point when the vehicle ahead arrives at the marker and when your vehicle arrives.

Bear in mind that three seconds may not be enough in some situations. Five seconds may be better. It is a good idea to increase following distance significantly in bad weather or when you are hauling a trailer, camper, or boat.

Why Rear-End Accidents Should Be Taken Seriously

Rear-end collisions often get conflated with fender benders or other “minor” collisions, but they are more serious than people think. For one, the front vehicle’s airbags rarely deploy. Airbags are designed to deploy during collisions with the front of a vehicle, such as when a driver hits a pole or tree head-on. During a rear-end collision, the driver and front-seat passenger can be shoved forward into the dashboard and suffer brain damage.

Another aspect to consider is the speed and weight of the at-fault vehicle. Heavier vehicles like semi-trucks, SUVs, pickups, and vans all need more time to come to complete stops. If they are traveling at high speeds and the driver is inexperienced, it can result in a high-speed, high-impact rear-end collision. While the crumple zones in the back of the front vehicle may absorb some of the damage, most of it will be applied to the vehicle’s occupants. In some cases, passengers in the rear seats, such as children, suffer extensive trauma.

Many insurance companies dismiss or devalue rear-end collisions, under the theory that victim only have whiplash and do not need long-term medical care. But even with soft-tissue injuries, victims may need to take multiple weeks off work and attend months of physical therapy to heal. During that time, they may lose out on multiple paychecks and find it difficult to put food on the table. A seemingly “minor” rear-end collision can add up drastically. That is why it is important to include every cost after a wreck.

Even Low-Impact Rear-End Collisions Can Cause Significant Injuries

High-speed rear-end crashes can cause fatal or catastrophic injuries. Even in low-impact rear-end collisions, injuries can be severe. Researchers found that speed is not a major factor in rear end collisions in a study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study found that, although a vehicle may not show damage when hit by a car traveling at a lower speed, soft tissue damage can occur at only 2.5 mph. The rate of change can cause injury to joints and soft tissue when an occupant of a vehicle is stopped and changes speed abruptly.

Types of Injuries Commonly Sustained in Rear-End Crashes

Rear-end collisions can cause a wide range of injuries, depending on various factors. Common injuries in rear-end crashes include:

• Whiplash, and other soft tissue injuries
• Fractured bones
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Lacerations and contusions
• Internal Injuries

What Can I Recover in a Claim?

Your main priority after being rear-ended in Omaha may be to get your emergency room bill paid and back to work, but your claim can include so much more. Under Nebraska state law, car wreck victims are entitled to all of the damages they have suffered due to the negligent driver, which can include:

• Past and future medical expenses, including emergency room bills, surgeries, hospital care, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medication, and medical equipment
• Lost wages from taking time off work
• Lost earning capacity if you had to change jobs or careers
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Dealing With an Insurance Company

When you first file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company, the adjuster handling your claim may seem friendly and supportive. But, when it comes time to pay you money, they will likely devalue your injuries, treat your case as minor, or flat-out dismiss your claim without a second thought. This is because insurance companies make money by paying out as little as possible in accident claims, especially rear-end collisions.

But you know how serious your injuries were and understand the full weight of the trauma you experienced. You may have unpaid medical bills to deal with, be struggling at work, and be under a great deal of stress to settle. Before you do so, reach out to Bottlinger Law L.L.C. Our Omaha personal injury attorneys have dealt with numerous dismissive insurance companies and know how to fight back. We can investigate your collision immediately, collect evidence of negligence, and negotiate for full compensation on your behalf.

Do not let an insurance company get the better of you. Call Bottlinger Law L.L.C. at (402) 505-8234 to learn about your options after a rear-end collision.

Case Results

• $430,000 Settlement - Rear End Collision, Soft Tissue Injuries (Council Bluffs, Iowa)
• $125,000 Settlement - Rear End Collision (Policy Limits of Two Policies)
• $125,000 Settlement - Rear End Motor Vehicle Collision (Policy Limits of Two Policies)