North Dakota Rear End Accident Attorneys
Car accidents happen every single day in the United States and lots of those results in injury. In fact, around three million people are injured because of car accident in the United States each year, with more than 90 people dying each day from car accidents and related injuries.
In North Dakota, there are around 100 fatal crashes each year. Considering that North Dakota has such a low population (less than one million), this car accident fatality rate per 100,000 people is fairly equal to more densely populated states.
Car accidents are often caused by texting while driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, reckless driving, speeding, and even aggressive driving. There are many different types of car accidents, such as sideswipe accidents, head on collisions, and t-bone accidents, but one of the most common and most likely to cause injuries are rear-end accidents. Accidents in which a car is struck from behind can cause injuries that range from mild to severe depending on how fast the car was going when it collided with other vehicle.
A rear end accident that happens at slower speeds may only cause minor injuries, like whiplash or bumps and bruises. However, a high speed rear end accident like one that could occur on a highway could cause much more severe injuries. When a car is sitting still, like in bumper to bumper traffic or at red light, and they are stuck from behind at full speed it can cause life-changing injuries or even fatalities.
Common Injuries Associated with Rear End Accidents
Rear end accidents can cause all types of injuries but some of the most common are neck and back injuries, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, crippling arm injuries, and airbag- and seatbelt-caused injuries.
Neck and Back Injuries
When a driver’s vehicle is struck from behind, neck and back injuries are incredibly common. In high-speed and even low-speed rear end accidents, the force of the car hitting you from behind can cause spinal compression, strained muscles, and damaged tendons. You may end up with a herniated disc, slipped disc, and damage to the surrounding nerves, all of which can cause neck and back pain that may affect you for the rest of your life.
Spinal Cord Injuries
While spinal injuries are common in most car accidents, they’re especially common in rear end accidents. The force applied to your back when your vehicle is struck from behind puts stress on your spine that it has not evolved to take. Spinal cord injury can cause permanent loss of strength, full or partial loss of sensation, and paralysis. Often times, spinal cord injuries caused by rear end accidents require extensive surgeries and rehabilitation to regain independent and pain-free movement–if that is even possible at all.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries can easily occur in rear end accidents because the rear force can easily send one’s head into the steering wheel or to slam forward in the skull causing a coup-contrecoup injury. A traumatic brain injury can also occur when the head is penetrated by a damaged object in the car. A traumatic brain injury can range from minor, like a concussion, to more severe, like those that result in loss of consciousness, coma, or even brain death. No matter what type of brain injury your rear-end accident causes, they can all leave you with lasting effects.
Airbag and Seatbelt Injuries
Your airbag will most likely deploy in an accident that occurs over 20 mph. If your airbag does deploy, the force from being struck can send you forwards into your airbag. Airbags are known to cause broken noses and burns to the face or scalp. They may also cause broken ribs. The same is true with seatbelts. Although seatbelts almost always save lives that doesn’t mean that they cannot cause other injuries. For example, if your seatbelt causes you to suffer broken ribs or other internal injuries the negligent party would still be responsible because they caused the accident.
Wrist and Arm Injuries
If your hands are on the steering wheel at the time of impact, the force of a car hitting your vehicle from behind may cause damage to your arm and wrist. Injuries to the hands and arms, like broken bones, sprained wrists, dislocated shoulder, and ripped tendons can create life-long pain and limited movement.
What to Do After a Rear End Accident
After you are involved in a rear end accident, there are a few key steps you should take. If you are so injured that you have to be immediately transported to the hospital obvious you won’t be able to complete these steps but that is okay. Your attorney will still be able to build your case. However, if you can, these steps can help with the process.
1. Make sure that everyone at the scene of the accident is safe. If anyone is seriously injured, call 911 immediately. If possible move to the side of the road to get out of the way of further harm.
2. Exchange information with the other party involved. Sometimes rear end accidents can involve multiple parties. You should get everyone’s insurance and contact information.
3. Take as many pictures as you can. Take pictures of your car, the other cars, your injuries, and the surrounding area. You should also write down or record a statement of what happened since the details will be fresh in your mind after the accident occurs.
4. Seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Make sure you let your doctor know that your injuries occured because of a car accident, so they can note this in your records.
5. Hire an attorney. You should hire an attorney as soon as possible after a car accident because the insurance companies will have experienced professionals working on their side immediately and so should you.
Rear End Accident Compensation
Getting into a car accident can often mean accumulating a large amount of debt. You may have high medical bills to pay back, as well as wages you’ve lost from being out of work. Your attorney can help you recover these damages by filing a personal injury lawsuit for you.
Damages come in two different categories, economic and non-economic. Economic damages refer to things with a monetary value, like medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages cover things like pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of earning capacity, and any compensation for permanent disability or disfigurement. Your attorney can help you sort out what damages you have and how much you can reasonably expect from your rear-end accident case.
Contact a Rear End Car Accident Attorney
If you or someone you love has been injured in a rear end car accident, hiring an attorney is a crucial step toward getting the compensation that you deserve. The attorneys at Sand Law in North Dakota have years of experience negotiating high settlements and winning cases. We’re ready and willing to help you get back on your feet. For more information or a free case evaluation, please contact us online or at 701-609-1510.