The Dangers of Rear-End Auto Accidents

You might imagine a rear-end collision as some innocuous thing, as something no more dangerous than accidentally bumping into someone’s elbow in the supermarket. “Just” a fender bender, you might think.
You would be wrong in thinking so. Rear-end collisions are the most frequent and most common kind of accident to occur on the roads. In 2015 alone, more than 500,000 people suffered some kind of injury in a rear-end collision, and another 2,000 were killed.
Rear-end auto accidents, like any automobile accidents, are no light matter, and you and your loved ones should always take the steps to avoid being involved in one of these accidents.
If you or someone you know do end up being the victims of one of these accidents, we at Siegfried & Jensen are here to support you and help you recoup any money that you might deserve.

Causes of Rear-End Collisions

Distracted Driving

The number one cause of rear-end collisions is driving while distracted, the most common example of which is texting while driving. Texting while driving is dangerous at any speed, as is anything that takes your attention and your eyes from being focused on the road in front of you, opening you up to hitting the back of someone’s car.
Other causes of driving while distracted include eating behind the wheel, fixing your appearance in a mirror, reaching for things in your car, and adjusting your car’s radio or temperature.

Technical Problems with Your Vehicle or Other’s Vehicles

There are various things that can go wrong with your vehicle that can lead to rear-end collisions, even if you’re being vigilant while driving.
If you are experiencing problems with your brakes, your car can end up slamming into the back of someone else’s car whether you’re paying attention or not. You can end up being the victim of this scenario if another driver’s brakes fail them as well.
Equally, if a driver in front of you is driving with faulty brake lights, you can find yourself not knowing when to properly stop in time, and hit another’s car through no fault of your own.

Going Over the Speed Limit

In any situation, you are better off following the speed limit than exceeding it. That is especially true when it comes to rear-end collisions, as speeding can reduce the amount of time you have to use your brakes, which can easily lead to a collision.
The dangers of speeding are even more exacerbated when the conditions of the road worsen, or you find yourself in a heavily trafficked area.

Driving While Impaired

Rear-end collisions, as with most accidents, are much more likely if one of the drivers involved is not of their right mind.
The most obvious case of this would be driving while under the influence. Being intoxicated while driving is never acceptable, and can lead to the injury or loss of life of yourself and others on the road. Even if no one is hurt, driving after drinking alcohol increases the likelihood of all sorts of automobile accidents occurring, rear-end collisions included.
Those that cause accidents while under the influence of alcohol face much higher consequences as well, so it goes without saying that you should certainly never drive while you are drunk.
Besides drinking, driving while lacking sleep can increase your chances of getting into rear-end collision accidents, especially in the early hours of the day when sleep deprivation can really catch up with people. Studies have shown that driving drowsy can be equally as dangerous, if not more so, than driving drunk.
If you find yourself in a situation where you might need to drive while you’re severely lacking in sleep, it is recommended you find a way to get some of the sleep you need. Pulling over your vehicle to a rest area or having to tell your boss at work that you need to be late is much preferable to getting into an accident.

Tailgating

Tailgating is another bad driving habit that can cause rear-end accidents. Some report it as the most common cause of rear-end collisions.
It’s important to give your fellow drivers the necessary space they need, as you would hope they would do the same for you.

Road and Weather Conditions

If there is something wrong with the road, due to weather or construction, the chances of rear-end collisions increases dramatically.
You might have to make sudden stops due to these unforeseen conditions, causing someone behind you to hit your vehicle.
As well, slick and slippery conditions increase the chances of your car handling poorly and sending you skidding into a rear-end collision accident.

Physical Dangers of Rear-End Collisions

As already mentioned, rear-end collisions can most certainly lead to physical injuries.
One of the most common types of injuries caused by rear-end collisions are whiplash injuries, which can occur at accidents happening at any speed. These injuries are caused by sudden and violent movements of the neck and often take some time to set in, increasing in intensity as time goes on. Whiplash can cause intense neck and head pain, a loss of movement in the neck, and pain that can spread to the back or arms.
As well, you can suffer a number of other physical ailments, including scars, fractured or broken bones, disk and spine problems, nerve injuries, injuries to the brain and even death.
Quite literally, avoiding rear-end auto accidents can save your life.

Legal Dangers

The myriad of physical dangers aside, a massive danger you put yourself at risk for is the legal danger.
This is especially true for those who are the ones crashing into the other car, as the one who rear-ends almost always has the liability in the situation.

Salt Lake City Lawyers That Can Help

If you find yourself the victim of a rear-end collision, make sure you contact Siegfried & Jensen of Utah today.
We at Siegfried & Jensen have over 30 years of experience in helping people in legal situations they may not feel equipped to handle, including automobile accidents and rear-end collisions.
We can assist you in handling the difficulties of legal situations such as these, and help you claim any money you might be owed.