Rear-end collisions are when a car runs into the car in front of it. They are incredibly common, and they are always stressful. Worse, they can cause a lot of car damage, personal injury, and even death.
In 2019 alone, there were 2,346 fatal rear-end collisions in America according to the Insurance Information Institute. Some of the 364 fatal car crashes in Minnesota in that same year were rear-end collisions
They are also a frequent source of lawsuits, as the people involved scramble to have damages from someone else’s negligent driving compensated. There are a few things you need to know about rear-end collisions should you ever be in one.
What Causes Rear-End Collisions?
A big cause of rear-end collisions is distracted driving. Distracted driving caused 3,142 deaths in 2020, according to the NHTSA.
Other causes of rear-end collisions are:
1. Brake failure.
2. Poor driving conditions such as construction work or slick road surfaces.
3. Drunk drivers and tired drivers because they have slowed reflexes and impaired judgment.
Those are the crashes caused by the tailing car though. The driver in the front car can cause the accident if they:
1. Stop suddenly to make a turn.
2. Suddenly reverse.
3. Let their brake lights stay broken so people don’t know when they stopped.
4. Stall or get a flat tire, and then doesn’t put on their hazard lights while they fix their car.
Rear-end collisions are often considered the fault of the trailing driver. However, Minnesota uses modified comparative negligence laws which means that, if you sue, the defendant’s liability in the crash can be reduced in proportion to how much blame you can put on the plaintiff to a certain extent. The plaintiff has to be less at fault then the defendant, and the plaintiff can’t recover any damages in a lawsuit if he or she is found to be 50% at fault.
What Do You Do In A Rear-End Collision?
The first thing you must do is to pull over and stop your car. The Minnesota statutes are quite clear that you have to stop as close to the scene as possible and investigate the collision to a reasonable extent, without unnecessarily blocking traffic.
When you know that the car or a person was damaged in the collision, you have to share your name, date of birth, mailing or email address, and the registration plate number of the car you were driving.
You have 72 hours to give, on request to the other person involved or to a police officer, your insurance information. This will include the name and address of the insurer and your local agent.
You are required to report any bodily injury or death to the local police department. There will be a form to fill out when you report the accident.
Once all this is done, you should see a doctor. Certain types of injuries are common in rear-end collisions, such as whiplash, damage to the extremities, or head trauma from hitting the steering wheel when the airbag doesn’t deploy.
You will also need to contact your insurance company to fix your car.
Contact A Reputable Minnesota Personal Injury Lawyer Like Swor & Gatto
As you are contacting your insurance agency, consider also calling a Minnesota lawyer. A major rear-end collision can cost you a lot, and a good lawyer can advise you on how to to get the compensation for lost wages, personal damages, and navigating any trial coming from the crash.
The Swor & Gatto law firm’s experience of handling personal injury claims in Minneapolis has helped many clients in this situation. If you want more information about personal injury law in Minnesota, contact us.