Rear-Ended While Stopped

Rear-ended at red light

Getting rear-ended at a red light is a common scenario. Often, the driver in front was obeying the rules of the road and was stopped at a red light. Meanwhile, the driver in back was speeding, texting while driving or simply not paying attention, resulting in the back-driver crashing into the car stopped at a red light.

When this happens, serious injuries and significant vehicle damage often occur. This is why drivers hit from behind at a stoplight should seek immediate medical care. Injuries caused by rear-end red light accidents can be serious. Also make sure to contact the police if you or anyone else is severely injured. Then make sure you talk to a rear-end accident attorney licensed in your state to learn more about your legal rights.

Rear-ended at stop sign

There’s no excuse for being rear-ended at a stop sign. The rear-driver should know there’s a stop sign and that everyone should stop at one. Unfortunately, rear-end stop sign accidents happen all the time. And when they do, the driver and passengers in the front vehicle often sustain serious injuries.

Like red-light rear-end accidents, stop sign rear-end collisions often involve the driver in back behaving in a reckless or negligent manner. Instead of focusing on driving, the at-fault driver might be texting, speeding, intoxicated or asleep at the wheel. Whatever the circumstances of your rear-end stop sign accident, make sure you get immediate medical care. Then talk to a lawyer to learn more about your legal rights.

Rear-ended at intersection

Rear-end intersection accidents happen for many different reasons. Sometimes, the driver in front is hit from behind while waiting to take a left turn. Other times, the front-driver is stopped at a red light or a stop sign. 

Whatever the circumstances, the rear-driver should be held accountable for your rear-end intersection accident. Just be prepared that the at-fault driver might deny doing anything wrong. They might even try to claim you somehow caused the collision. When this happens, an experienced rear-end accident lawyer can work with you to build a strong legal case in support of your rear-end intersection claim.

Rear-ended at low speeds

Many rear-end accidents involving a stopped car occur at low speeds. The rear-driver might only be going a few miles per hour when they crash into the car in front. But even though they might not be going fast, serious injuries can still occur in low-speed rear-end collisions.

Often, it’s the driver and any passengers in the front vehicle that sustain such injuries. And what can make such injury claims even more complicated is the at-fault driver’s insurance company will often dismiss such injuries as minor and downplay or deny the claim.

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Injuries sustained by drivers and passengers in rear-end accidents involving a stopped vehicle can be very serious. Depending on the speed the other vehicle was traveling, if more than two vehicles were involved and other factors, injuries sustained in rear-end stopped-vehicle accidents can cover a wide range, including:

• Neck injury – From neck pain to neck fractures, such injuries can be very serious.
• Whiplash – One of the most common (and most misunderstood) rear-end accident injuries, whiplash can affect the neck, shoulders and other muscles in the body.
• Back injury – Injuries to the lower back and upper back often occur in stopped-vehicle rear-end accidents, resulting in severe back pain and other back problems.
• Head injury – Head injuries, including concussions and other types of brain injuries, often occur as a result of rear-end collisions involving a stopped car.

Are you suffering from one of these injuries? Or did you sustain a different type of rear-end accident injury? Whatever type of injury you sustained, make sure you get the medical care you need right away. See a doctor and have them run the necessary medical tests to diagnose exactly what’s wrong. Your health should always come first after your rear-end stopped vehicle accident.

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In most cases, the driver who hit the stopped car in a rear-end accident is the at-fault driver. Even if the front vehicle stopped suddenly, it’s almost always the other driver’s fault. So if you were hit from behind by another driver while stopped at a red light or at an intersection, don’t blame yourself. Odds are the other driver was clearly at fault and caused your rear-end collision.

Even so, don’t simply assume that you will be fairly compensated for your rear-end accident, just because the other driver clearly caused your collision. You can read more below about what to do in such situations. But the bottom line is the sooner you have an experienced rear-end accident attorney involved, the better.

Will my insurance rates go up?

Unfortunately, sometimes your car insurance rates will increase, even if you did not cause your rear-end stopped-vehicle accident. This is because insurance companies take many factors into account when determining someone’s car insurance rates, such as the age of the driver, previous car accidents and where the driver lives.

If you believe your insurance rates have been unfairly raised after a rear-end stopped vehicle accident, you often have several options available to you. One, you can switch insurance companies and get your car insurance from another insurance provider. Two, you can call your insurance company and ask them to lower your insurance rates. Three, you can call a lawyer and ask them for help as part of their efforts to obtain money for you in the form of a rear-end accident settlement claim or lawsuit.

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There’s no set dollar amount when it comes to how much money injury victims receive for a rear-end stopped-vehicle accident. A settlement for getting rear-ended while stopped can vary from a few thousand dollars to significantly more. The difference depends on many different factors, including:

• Severity of your injuries
• Cost of your medical care
• Damage sustained by your vehicle
• Whether you can immediately return to work
• Whether you sustained a permanent disability

Add up all these expenses and you could be eligible to receive thousands of dollars or much more. Unfortunately, insurance companies often do everything they can to pay injury victims as little as possible. This is especially true when it comes to rear-end collisions involving stopped vehicles. They often insist that such accidents are minor and that your injuries are minor as well.

You know the truth. You’re in pain. Your car is severely damaged. You might not be able to work for several weeks, months or even longer. When this happens, you should be fully compensated for all your injury-related expenses. This is why you need an experienced rear-end accident lawyer on your side, standing up for your rights.

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If you were hit from behind while stopped, whether on the highway or in a parking lot, it’s critical that you take certain steps right away to protect your health and your rights. While every rear-end accident is different, many of the steps you should take are the same, including:

• Call the police if you or anyone else sustained a serious injury in your rear-end accident.
• If possible, before moving the vehicles, take pictures of your accident.
• If anyone saw your collision, get the person’s full name and phone number. Statements from eyewitnesses can be critical pieces of evidence.
• Get the other driver’s information, including their name, address, driver’s license number and insurance information.
• After exchanging information, don’t talk about your accident with the other driver.
• Don’t say anything about your collision with anyone else at the scene of your crash. Anything you say (even something as simple as “I’m sorry”) could later be used as evidence to deny your injury claim.
• See a doctor as soon as possible after your accident, even if you feel fine.
• If you have already seen a doctor, schedule a follow-up appointment. Many rear-end accident injuries have delayed symptoms.

Call a rear-end accident lawyer as soon as possible after your collision. The sooner you have an attorney on your side, the better. Your lawyer can deal directly with insurance companies for you, answer any legal questions you might have and work with you to build a strong rear-end accident claim or lawsuit.

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