Stopping at a light or turn only to be struck from behind is a terrifying experience, especially when you suffer serious injury and debilitating pain because someone else was not paying attention. Your legal right is to seek financial compensation from those who hurt you.
At Siegfried & Jensen, our Orem rear-end accident lawyer brings the fight to those responsible. Expect compassionate and trusting service tailored to protecting your rights. For more than 30 years, our Orem car accident lawyer has helped victims recover the compensation they need to move forward.
Determining Who Is at Fault in a Rear-End Accident
Most of the time, a driver maintains responsibility for their vehicle, meaning that if they strike you, they are at fault. There are limitations to this, though, and there are times when the stopped driver could be at fault.
To prove liability in a rear-end accident, our Orem personal injury lawyer must determine what the cause of the accident was, such as:
- Distracted drivers: If the driver striking you was using their phone, changing the radio, or applying makeup, and that distraction caused them to strike you, they maintain responsibility for your losses.
- Reckless driving: if the other driver was speeding and failed to stop in time, striking you. As a result, they are responsible. However, if you stop suddenly to brake-check the driver behind you, you could be held responsible for reckless driving.
- Vehicle brake failures: The driver may be responsible for poor maintenance if their brakes fail to operate, or the manufacturer may be responsible if you can demonstrate the problem was in the design or development.
- Malfunctioning brake lights: If the driver did not stop because they did not see any brake lights, and you learn that the lights were malfunctioning, that could be a direct result of a mechanical error or, in some situations, your fault if you knew the lights were not working and did not fix them.
- The driver in front cuts off the driver behind: In this case, another form of reckless driving is when one driver cuts off the other driver too closely, not providing enough room for the vehicle behind them to stop or get out of the way. That driver cutting off the other could be responsible.
These examples of rear-end car accidents offer insight into what you can expect in terms of fault. Yet, many other factors play a role in determining fault as well.
With the help of a rear-end accident lawyer in Orem, UT, at Siegfried & Jensen, you gain an advocate who can help you find out what really happened and who is at fault.
For a free legal consultation with a rear-end accident lawyer serving Orem, call (801) 266-0999
Evidence Can Build Your Case
With the guidance of an attorney, it may be possible to gather evidence to support your claim that the other party was at fault for your injuries and losses.
Police reports from the scene of the accident tend to be the first component of the investigative process, but they are not the only part of the puzzle. Your attorney may use other tools to help determine the fault in your case as well:
- Photos and videos of the accident were taken from cameras in the area or witnesses who saw what occurred.
- Statements from you, the other driver, and witnesses that provide insight into what occurred.
- Accident reconstruction experts can demonstrate what occurred and how it happened using technology.
- Medical reports could show the other driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident, if applicable.
- Your injuries could also provide insight into how you were struck and the amount of force that occurred, causing this accident.
These cases can be complex if both parties do not agree on what occurred. Ultimately, a judge may make a decision on who is at fault in the accident. This could impact your right to seek compensation for losses.
Orem Rear-End Accident Lawyer Near Me (801) 266-0999
What You Should Do After a Rear-End Accident
Knowing what steps to take after you are in a rear-end accident could help you protect your rights to compensation later, especially in serious accidents. What is most important in every situation is to protect your health and well-being, and that means getting medical care. Consider the following steps to take if and when it is safe to do so.
- Pull over out of the way of traffic if you can do so. Make sure you are in a place that is safe. Call 911 and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
- If it is safe to get out of your vehicle, do so. Get the other driver’s contact information, including a copy of their insurance information.
- Take photos of the area, the damage to your car and their car, and any debris in the roadway. If possible, describe what occurred In detail in a video.
- Get medical care. Even if you feel okay, you may have unknown injuries that require attention.
- File a police report that outlines what occurred. Always provide just the facts and do not admit to any guilt.
- Stay off social media. Anything you share there could be used against you later when you file your claim for losses.
- Document all of your injuries, lost hours at work, and medical care.
Once you take these steps, contact a rear-end accident attorney in Orem, UT, who can help you. Though you may need to report the injury to your insurance company and file a claim, allowing an attorney to help you with this process reduces the risk that you will face undeserved fault or that you will not receive the damages owed.
The knowledge and experience of your Orem truck accident lawyer will enable them to provide clarity on your rights to compensation above and beyond what your insurance policy may offer.
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Meet with Our Orem Rear-End Accident Attorney Today for a Free Consultation
When you are hurt with physical and emotional injuries and financial losses as a result of the negligence of another person, empower your right to maximum compensation by scheduling a free consultation with our Orem rear-end accident attorney.
Call Siegfried & Jensen today to request a no-obligation consultation to discuss your case and learn what steps you can take to maximize your claim. We are here to provide advocacy for you so that you do not struggle with your losses.
Call or text (801) 266-0999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
