Rear-End Collisions
Experienced Car Accident Lawyers for Schaumburg and Wheaton Residents
Even at low speeds, rear-end collisions can cause significant injuries. Meanwhile, rear-end collisions involving high speeds and heavier vehicles, such as a truck, can be deadly. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a rear-end accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need to reach out to a skilled Wheaton or Schaumburg car crash attorney without delay. At Therman Law Offices, we can analyze the facts of your case and help you pursue the compensation that you deserve for your harm. We understand that dealing with a rear-end collision can be stressful, but we will help you navigate the legal process as seamlessly as possible.
Taking Legal Action Based on a Rear-End Collision
A rear-end collision is a traffic accident in which one vehicle crashes into the vehicle in front of it. These accidents most often happen when a driver is stopped at a light or at a stop sign, yielding to another vehicle, or in dense traffic. Rear-end collisions are the most common type of automobile accident in the country. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 40 percent of crashes in the United States are rear-end collisions. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, more than 25,000 people were injured in rear-end collisions in 2009 alone.
One of the most common reasons for rear-end accidents is the negligence of a driver in following too closely. Other causes of rear-end collisions include:
- Road rage;
- Texting while driving;
- Distracted driving;
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
- Excessive speeding;
- Brake defects;
- Adverse weather conditions (such as poor visibility due to snow); or
- Improper lane changes.
In Illinois, there is a presumption that a motorist who rear-ended another vehicle is at fault. However, an attorney for the rear-ending motorist can rebut this presumption in cases in which the other driver created a driving hazard that could not be avoided. For example, if a front driver’s brake lights are not working, and he comes to a complete stop, the rear driver would have no warning that he should also brake. In such a case, fault may not be so clear-cut in favor of the front driver.
Fault in Illinois auto accident cases is typically established by showing that one or more parties were negligent. All drivers are required to use reasonable care behind the wheel. Reasonable care is defined as how a prudent or sensible driver would act under the same or similar circumstances. If a driver causes an accident and injuries by failing to use reasonable care, that driver would likely be liable under the theory of negligence.
Rear-end accidents can lead to a range of injuries, such as whiplash, brain injury, lacerations, broken bones, and even death. These injuries can lead to costly treatment and time off from work, and they can even compromise your quality of life for a period. Our firm can investigate your case to help you determine the dollar amount that you likely would be entitled to receive. This calculation involves examining losses such as medical bills, future medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income and benefits, property damage, and more. In each case, we will try to reach an appropriate settlement with the other side. However, we are not afraid to take your case to court if necessary.
Seek Assistance from a Car Crash Attorney in Wheaton or Schaumburg
If you or someone in your family has been injured in a rear-end collision, the attorneys at Therman Law Offices can help. With years of experience, we can work diligently to make sure that you receive full and fair compensation for your injuries. We represent people in communities such as Schaumburg, Wheaton, Westmont, Oakbrook Terrace, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Lisle, Darien, and Bolingbrook. For a free initial consultation, you can call us at 312-588-1900 or contact us online. We handle most of our cases on a contingency fee basis, so we are not paid unless we recover compensation for you.
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Chicago 773-839-8944
Wheaton & Schaumburg 847-744-8400