According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 28 percent of all vehicle accidents in 2012 were rear end collisions.

In Pennsylvania, there were more than 26,000 rear-end collisions with 76 deaths attributed to such crashes. Statistics for auto accidents in Delaware and New Jersey are similar.

If you’ve been involved in a rear end collision accident, contact the auto accident attorneys at Lundy Law.

Rear End Collision Accident Severity

When it comes to rear-end collisions, even minor accidents can cause significant injury.

Research indicates that occupants of the car that is rear-ended often suffer more injuries than those in the vehicle that strikes another from behind. There have been cases where what appears to be a minor “fender bender” resulted in significant injury to occupants of the vehicle that was struck. Some of the more common injuries include:

Whiplash Injuries When a Vehicle Strikes from Behind

The most common injuries sustained, regardless of the severity of the accident, are whiplash and spinal injuries. Because the spine contracts to brace for impact when the brain senses an impending accident, there may be less damage to spinal discs or ligaments when a vehicle is struck from the front or side.

However, in a rear-end accident, your brain is unable to anticipate the accident so the spine does not have a chance to stabilize and protect itself. Injuries may not be noticeable immediately after the accident, which is why medical attention is critical after an accident in which you were rear-ended.

Rear End Accidents and the Concept of Negligence

Although many people believe that a rear-end accident is always caused by the negligence of the driver who hit another car from behind, our auto accident attorneys will explain that this is not always the case. In order to prove negligence, you must prove that the other driver’s actions were not what any other reasonable person would have done to keep others on the road safe.

If you can show that the other driver was following too closely, speeding, unable to control their vehicle or was not paying attention, you can prove that the driver was negligent.

Establishing Fault in a Rear-End Accident

In Pennsylvania, it is not automatic that a driver whose vehicle strikes your vehicle from behind is at fault. In the case of a chain reaction, where three or more vehicles are involved in multiple rear-end crashes, drivers at the back of the chain reaction may not be found at fault. If your vehicle has faulty brake or tail lights, it is possible the other driver may not be at fault.

In Delaware, if you can prove that a driver who struck you from behind was following too closely or was not paying attention or driving carelessly, they will more than likely be found at fault in the auto accident.

In New Jersey, a driver who strikes your vehicle from behind will more than likely be found at fault, unless it can be proven your actions contributed significantly to the accident, such as backing a vehicle in a traffic lane. Because traffic laws can be complicated, it is important to reach out to our personal injury attorneys as soon as possible to learn where you stand after a rear-end collision.

If you or a loved one was injured in an auto accident where another vehicle rear-ended yours, or if a loved one has died of injuries sustained in such an accident in Delaware, Pennsylvania or New Jersey, contact Lundy Law today to discuss your case with a personal injury attorney. You can reach us by phone at 1-800-Lundy Law.