rear end car accident

New Jersey Rear-end Car Accident Lawyer

Fighting for the rights of Nj clients who have been injured in rear-end crashes

Rear-end car accidents are the most common type of car accident in the United States. Drivers drive too aggressively and follow the vehicle in front of them too closely, and they are distracted behind the wheel. These behaviors often end in disaster in the form of a rear-end car car accident. Whether you are stuck in traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike, or waiting in a line of cars on Route 1 trying to get into the parking lot of the Menlo Park Mall, a rear-end crash can happen anywhere.

If you or someone you care about has been injured in a rear-end car accident, or any other kind of crash, the experienced New Jersey car accident lawyers at Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP are here to fight aggressively for the compensation you deserve. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your case today.

Rear-end car accidents

Rear-end car accidents, where one car crashes into the rear of the car in front of it, are the most common type of traffic crash on U.S. roads. The National Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that rear-end crashes account for about 33.4 percent of all motor vehicle crashes.

One of the most common causes of rear-end crashes is the dangerous practice of tailgating, which is following too closely behind the vehicle in front of you. Sometimes these crashes occur because the driver of the rear vehicle is inattentive to what is happening on the road. If the vehicle in front is forced to stop quickly and unexpectedly, if the vehicle behind is following too closely, they may not have the time or space to react in time to avoid crashing into the vehicle in front.

Common injuries after a rear-end car crash

Depending on the type and severity of the rear-end car accident, there are many different types of injuries that a person might sustain. In general, the higher the speed the vehicles were traveling when they collided, the more severe the injuries can be expected to be. The following are some of the more common injuries that can occur after a rear-end car accident:

  • Whiplash, or soft-tissue damage caused by the violent jerking motion of the head in a car accident
  • Airbag injuries. While the airbag is there to protect you from hitting the windshield, the force of the bag's deployment can bruise or injure your face, cause a broken nose, clavicle, or ribs depending on the area of strongest impact.
  • Back and neck injuries such as injury to the discs in the neck and spine which can cause unbearable pain and limited movement.
  • Traumatic brain injury from the force of the brain being knocked around inside the skull. TBI symptoms may take a day to appear, but they can have a lasting impact on a person's life.
  • Bone fractures such as broken ribs, shoulders, elbows, knees, ankles and feet can occur in a rear-end crash.
  • Spinal cord injury whether or how severely a person is paralyzed depends on the location of the injury.
  • Facial injuries can occur from broken glass and being struck by objects inside the vehicle which become projectiles during the crash.
  • Seat belt injuries which occur when the belt is restraining your body against the g-forces pushing it forward in a rear-end crash. The seat belt's job is to keep your body restrained in the seat to avoid other injuries, but it can cause cuts and lacerations and bruising.

What are the symptoms of whiplash?

Whiplash is one of those injuries that most often occurs after a rear-end accident, but it can also occur in a sporting accident or from physical abuse. Whiplash is a result of the head being thrown backward and then forward forcefully as occurs in a rear-end car accident. This forceful motion can bruise and injure the ligaments, muscles, and other tissues in the neck. The Mayo Clinic lists the following as the symptoms of whiplash:

  • Neck pain and stiffness
  • Worsening of pain with neck movement
  • Loss of range of motion in the neck
  • Headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull
  • Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back or arms
  • Tingling or numbness in the arms
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness

Some people also have:

  • Blurred vision
  • Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Memory problems
  • Depression

Sometimes the symptoms of whiplash are not evident immediately following the accident, but can show up 24-hours later, possibly after the shock of the accident has worn off.

Given that whiplash is a soft tissue injury, most cases will usually resolve on their own with time and medical treatment. There are cases where symptoms of whiplash which may have gone undiagnosed or untreated following a car crash, which can become chronic and long lasting including.

What damages are available after a car accident injury?

While we cannot tell you the value of your car accident injury case, we can tell you about the different types of damages that might be available to you if your claim is successful. Here are some of the types of damages that are available depending on the facts of the personal injury case:

  • Medical costs including everything from doctor visits, hospitalization, physical therapy, and any other expenses related to the accident injury.
  • Lost wages from time missed at work for medical care and recovery at home
  • Diminished earning capacity for permanent, disabling injuries
  • Emotional distress from the trauma of the accident
  • Loss of consortium (for the spouse of the injured person)
  • Other losses related to the accident

What is my rear-end car accident injury case worth?

This is one of the most common questions we hear from new clients after they have sustained an injury in a car accident, but it is a question that we cannot answer at the start of your case. Soon after the accident, your injuries are still fresh and there is no way of knowing how they will resolve. Until we know if the injury will cause ongoing problems for you, how it will affect your work, how much time you will lose at work for medical care and recuperation, and how the injury will affect your ability to live your life, we cannot know the value of your case.

How can a New Jersey car accident lawyer help my injury case?

We can tell you that our New Jersey car accident lawyers are here to protect your right to recover the full value of your case. We investigate the cause of the crash, and we work to develop a strong case on your behalf. Anyone can settle a car accident injury claim for a lowball offer from the insurance company. What you will benefit from is the experienced New Jersey car accident attorney team at Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, which is widely regarded as one of the leading personal injury law firms in New Jersey.

Our car accident attorneys undergird our integrity with a strong record of securing hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients in personal injury and auto accident cases over our 10-year history. You can feel confident that we are fighting for the maximum compensation for you.

Experienced New Jersey rear-end car accident lawyers fighting for you

After surviving the trauma and pain of a car accident, you may be ready to talk about your options for recovering compensation. From offices in Edison, Red Bank, and Toms River, the lawyers at Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP advise and represent clients who have been injured because of someone else’s negligence throughout New Jersey. From wherever you are, you may call our office at 732-777-0100 or contact us to arrange a free consultation with an experienced NJ car accident lawyer at an office nearest to you.