Rear-End Accidents In Oklahoma City

Many motorists interpret a “rear-end collision” as a minor fender-bender, with images of a small bump in a parking lot or a dented bumper at a stop sign. However, a significant number of rear-end collisions occur at high speed with serious injuries and even fatalities resulting. A startling 3,400 car accident deaths occurred in a single recent year due to rear-end accidents, including in Oklahoma City car accidents. Make sure to speak with an Oklahoma City car accident attorney for legal guidance if you were involved in an accident.

What Causes Rear-End Collisions In Oklahoma City?

A rear-end accident happens in an instant but may leave motorists dealing with the physical and economic impacts of the accident for months—or for the long term. The driver in the rear vehicle is typically responsible for a rear-end collision, except in specific circumstances, such as when the driver of the front vehicle comes to an abrupt stop or has failed brake lights.

The most common causes of Oklahoma City rear-end accidents include the following:

Even when inclement weather such as icy or wet roads causes an accident, a driver may still be partly at fault if they failed to take reasonable measures such as adjusting speed and braking time to accommodate adverse road conditions.

What Types of Injuries Occur in Oklahoma City Rear-End Accidents?

The crash force of an accident puts tremendous stress on bodily structures. According to crash force calculations, a 135-pound person becomes a 4,725-pound force in a collision. In a rear-end accident, a motorist’s body is propelled forward and then snapped back against the seat, compromising the spine and causing an internal collision of organs and bones. Common injuries in rear-end collisions in Oklahoma and elsewhere include:

  • Whiplash and other neck injuries
  • Herniated discs, disc fractures, and other back injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Soft-tissue injuries such as sprains and torn ligaments in shoulders, knees, wrists, and ankles
  • Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
  • Internal organ injuries
  • Head injuries/traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Facial trauma

While seatbelts and airbags minimize the risks of fatalities in rear-end accidents, they cannot prevent all harm and may contribute to some types of injuries, such as facial and upper-body trauma.

Proving Liability In Oklahoma City Rear-End Collisions

It often takes a thorough investigation to present compelling evidence of an at-fault driver’s liability for a rear-end accident. Oklahoma’s fault-based insurance law requires injury victims to file claims against an at-fault party’s insurance. To recover compensation for common damages such as medical expenses, lost earnings, and compensation for pain and suffering, an injury victim must show the following:

  • The at-fault party owed a duty of care to the injury victim and others on the road
  • They breached their duty through an act of negligence
  • Their negligent breach of duty directly caused the injury
  • The injury victim suffered economic and non-economic damages from the injury

In a rear-end accident claim in Oklahoma, the injury victim has the burden of proving the at-fault driver’s liability through a preponderance of the evidence. Then, they must show a list of their damages to recover compensation.

How Can a Rear-End Accident Attorney Help?

Most car accident claims in Oklahoma are made directly against an at-fault driver’s auto insurance. This requires the injury victim to make a compelling case. Call an Oklahoma City injury lawyer from Dan Davis Law for an experienced investigation to safeguard your rights followed by assertive negotiation for the maximum compensation available.