Chris Hammons | May 20, 2024 | Car Accidents
Rear-end collisions can be terrifying events, as you often have no opportunity to avoid them. They can cause serious injuries, especially to the neck and spine. If you were rear-ended in Oklahoma City, OK, you have a right to seek compensation from the at-fault driver to cover things like medical costs, lost wages, and property damage.
If you were injured in a rear-end collision, consider reaching out to an experienced Oklahoma City car crash lawyer to help you navigate the claim process.
How Common Are Rear-End Collisions?
Rear-end crashes are one of the most common types of car accidents. They account for nearly 29% of all crashes and cause thousands of injuries and fatalities each year. In most cases, the vehicle in front is either completely stopped or moving very slowly when struck from behind by another car. According to the Insurance Information Institute, rear-end collisions account for about 7% of all fatal crashes.
Who Is at Fault in a Rear-End Collision?
While the person driving the rear car is often at fault in a rear-end collision, sometimes both drivers are to blame for the accident. Every driver owes other drivers and the public a duty to drive reasonably, including following all relevant traffic laws and signals. The failure to do so can lead to a rear-end collision or other type of crash.
Here are some scenarios where the driver who rear-ended another car is at fault:
- A driver crashes into the back of another car that is slowing down on a busy road.
- A driver begins accelerating as soon as a traffic light turns green, even though the car in front of them has not started moving yet.
- A driver does not notice that the car in front of them has their turn signal on and is slowing down to make a turn.
- A driver speeds to get through a yellow traffic light before it turns red, but the car ahead of them comes to a stop.
In contrast, here are some scenarios where both drivers may share responsibility for the rear-end crash:
- The lead driver suddenly slams on the brakes for no apparent reason and with no warning.
- The lead driver’s brake lights and/or turn signals do not work.
- The lead driver fails to use their turn signal before slowing down to make a turn.
- The lead driver puts the car in reverse in a lane of traffic.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Partly to Blame for a Rear-End Collision in Oklahoma?
You may be able to recover compensation if you were partly to blame for a rear-end accident, but the amount of compensation you can recover may be impacted. Oklahoma has a modified comparative negligence law, which prohibits recovery to anyone who was 51% or more at fault in an accident.
If you were 50% or less at fault, you could still recover compensation from the other at-fault party, but your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your degree of responsibility.
Imagine that you were rear-ended when you failed to use a turn signal on a busy road and were found to be 20% at fault in the accident. If your total damages were $50,000, you could recover up to $40,000, or 80% of your total damages.
An Experienced Oklahoma City Rear-End Crash Attorney Can Help You Pursue Compensation
If you were injured in a rear-end collision, you may have suffered serious injuries, including whiplash and other neck or spine injuries. An experienced rear-end collision attorney will guide you through the legal process and fight for you to recover compensation for all of your injuries. For more information, please contact an experienced Personal Injury lawyer at Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers
We proudly serve Oklahoma County, OK and its surrounding areas:
Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers – OKC
1332 SW 89th St,
Oklahoma City, OK 73159
(405) 497-0480