Escondido Rear End Collisions

Rear end auto accidents are extremely common in North County San Diego, including Escondido, and they frequently occur because one or more drivers were negligent. When another driver is distracted and fails to hit the brakes in time, that driver might crash into the car in front. Similarly, when a motorist has not left sufficient following room behind the vehicle in front of it, a sudden stop can result in a rear end collision. Whenever another driver is at fault for a rear end auto accident in which you were injured, it is critical to seek help seeking financial compensation for your losses. An experienced Escondido rear end car accident lawyer can begin working on your case.

Determining fault in rear end collisions can be complicated, especially when more than one vehicle is involved in the crash. Often, although not always, the driver who collides into the rear end of the vehicle bears at least some responsibility for the crash. For example, if Driver B is traveling behind Driver A, and Driver A comes to a stop at a red light when Driver B is looking down at his cell phone, Driver B might not step on the brakes in time and might crash into the rear of Driver A’s vehicle.

For example: Driver B → Driver A

Yet there are also situations in which fault or liability might not be as straightforward. For example, in the same scenario described above, imagine that Driver A has been traveling behind Driver Z, and Driver A has come to a stop at the red light behind Driver Z. If Driver B is distracted and crashes into Driver A with enough force, Driver A might then collide into the rear of Driver Z’s car, and two rear end collisions may occur. In such a case, Driver A may not bear any responsibility, but instead Driver B may be responsible for both collisions.

For example: Driver B → Driver A → Driver Z

Whiplash is one of the most frequent injuries in rear end collisions. According to the Mayo Clinic, “whiplash is a neck injury due to a forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip,” and it is “commonly caused by rear-end car accidents.” For most people who suffer from whiplash, their injury will improve within a few weeks with medical treatment, but in some situations whiplash symptoms will result in “chronic pain and other long-lasting complications.”

As the Mayo Clinic explains, whiplash can result in symptoms including the following:

• Neck pain;
• Neck stiffness;
• Neck pain that worsens with neck movement;
• Loss of range of motion in your neck;
• Headaches;
• Tenderness in your shoulder, upper back, or your arms;
• Numbness in your arms;
• Fatigue;
• Dizziness;
• Blurred vision;
• Tinnitus (as known as ringing in the ears);
• Sleep disturbances;
• Problems concentrating;
• Memory issues; and/or
• Depression.

If you were injured in a rear end collision and another driver was at fault, it is important to seek help from an experienced Escondido rear end accident lawyer as soon as you can. Contact the Walton Law Firm to speak with an advocate at our firm about your options for filing an auto insurance claim or a car accident lawsuit.