Glen Burnie Rear-End Accident Attorney

Rear-end collisions can be some of the most deceptive types of car accidents in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Often, the victim in a rear-end collision will suffer an injury that isn’t immediately apparent. This means that they might accept a low insurance settlement when they would be better off contacting a Glen Burnie rear-end accident lawyer.

The decision about whether to contact a Glen Burnie rear-end accident lawyer or not could be almost as life-altering as the injuries that some victims suffer in these collisions. The wrong choice can lead to a lifetime of pain and disability without compensation from the responsible party.

Leppler Injury Law is open 24/7 and is 100% committed to helping car accident injury victims recover. Call (443) 955-1989 for a free consultation with John Leppler now.

What makes rear-end collisions so dangerously deceptive? Several factors create this situation. From 2019 to 2023, there were nearly 51,000 car accidents in Maryland. Just under 200 were fatal, and slightly fewer than 15,000 resulted in injuries. Typically, rear-end accidents fall in the latter category.

But that doesn’t tell the whole story. These statistics determine injuries based on when the crashes were reported. Thus, if the victim in the accident doesn’t believe they are injured and doesn’t go to the hospital, it is reported as a non-injury crash.

Often, this is the case with rear-end accidents, resulting in underreported injuries and insurance claims that are settled before signs of an injury are apparent.

However, not all rear-end collisions go unreported. In 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one of the most common causes of rear-end accidents, speeding, resulted in 12,151 deaths.

Reasons Why Rear-End Collisions Happen So Often

Rear-end accidents are one of the most common types of accidents. Almost all rear-end collisions occur when one driver is moving faster than another in the same direction. The following are some of the most common causes of rear-end accidents which rear-end accident attorney in Glen Burnie, John Leppler sees:

Distracted Driving

By far, the most common cause of rear-end collisions is distracted driving. However, it is important to stress that this type of accident often involves several causes that combine to result in a collision.

In many accidents, the driver in the rear vehicle gets distracted by something, causing them to take their eyes off the road in front of them. Then, while they are distracted, the situation changes.

For example, a driver might turn their head to change their radio moments before the driver in front of them starts braking. Normally, if the rear driver were paying attention, they would brake to maintain proper distance. However, because they look away, they end up slamming into the car in front of them.

Distracted driving was a contributing factor in almost 24,000 accidents between 2019 and 2023 in Anne Arundel County. According to the same data, it was also a contributing factor in over 250,000 accidents in Maryland during that time.

This isn’t very surprising. It only takes a moment or two of distraction to end up in a dangerous situation. At 60 mph, you are traveling 88 feet per second. That means you travel the entire length of a football field in fewer than four seconds.

Speeding

Another common factor in rear-end collisions is speeding. It is harder to stop or avoid an accident the faster you are traveling. During the five seconds that you take to look down at your phone and read a text message while driving 75 mph, you have traveled over 500 feet.

Even if you aren’t distracted, unless your car is in peak condition, road conditions are perfect, and your reflexes are excellent, you can easily discover that you don’t have enough time to brake at high speeds. Speed limits don’t just exist to make money for the state. They are also intended to save lives.

Poor Road Conditions

This factor in rear-end accidents often combines with speeding. If you are traveling faster than is safe for the road conditions, you are creating a danger to yourself and others.

In rain or snow, you should drive more carefully. These conditions reduce traction, making it more difficult to avoid dangers or slow down. Even driving at the speed limit can result in a rear-end collision that is your fault when the weather conditions are such that you should be driving slower.

Similarly, you should be wary of poorly maintained roads. While roads in Glen Burnie are generally well-cared for, some back roads may not be in the best condition, and potholes are more common in early spring after the long winter.

Tailgating or Aggressive Driving

These are also factors that often combine with speeding or distracted driving to result in a rear-end accident. When driving, you are supposed to give the person in front of you a reasonable cushion. This allows you to respond appropriately if something forces them to brake suddenly.

Poor Car Maintenance

Your car is only as good as the maintenance it receives. If your brakes are wearing out or your tires are balding, you will take a lot longer to slow down than normal when you use your brakes. Depending on how much your brakes or tires have deteriorated, this could more than double your braking distance.

At high speeds, this could mean that you don’t have enough room to slow down, even if you are giving the other driver a normally reasonable cushion between your car and theirs. If other factors like weather or speeding are present, you could end up in a devastating accident.

Sudden Lane Changes

When someone pulls in front of you, possibly without signaling, you need to act quickly to avoid an accident. If you are distracted, you may not notice until it is too late. Even if you aren’t, if someone pulls in too close, you may not have time to slow down enough to avoid a rear-end collision.

To learn more about the causes of rear-end accidents, schedule a free case evaluation with experienced Glen Burnie rear-end accident lawyer John Leppler today.

Is the Driver Behind Always at Fault for a Rear-End Accident?

According to Maryland Transportation Code Annotated, § 21-310(a), the driver of a motor vehicle must leave a reasonable and prudent amount of room between them and the vehicle directly in front of them. However, this law doesn’t define the terms “reasonable” or “prudent.”

Generally, though, a person is judged to have violated this law if they are the rear driver in a rear-end collision. The reason is simple. If the driver in the rear had left a reasonable and prudent amount of room, they would have been able to slow down to avoid the accident.

This creates two common scenarios. In both, the front driver is moving slower than the rear driver.

The first scenario is one where the rear driver doesn’t attempt to slow down. This usually occurs because the rear driver doesn’t recognize the danger, often due to being distracted or under the influence of alcohol. Failing to recognize the danger almost always represents negligence or intentional action that makes the driver responsible.

In the second scenario, the rear driver attempts to slow down but isn’t able to reduce their speed quickly enough to avoid an accident. In this situation, the fact that they tried to slow down and failed effectively proves that they violated the Maryland statute noted previously. If they had given the front driver more room, the accident would never have occurred.

When Is a Front Car Driver at Fault?

Typically, the only time a front car driver is at fault is when they cut off the rear driver. This means that they move from another lane directly in front of the rear vehicle without giving them enough space to slow down in time to prevent an accident.

This can be very difficult to prove for the rear driver. Typically, if you believe that you were cut off, you should contact a Glen Burnie rear-end accident lawyer to help you prove your case. A Glen Burnie rear-end accident attorney can investigate your claim and potentially obtain evidence to support that telling of the events.

Backing Up

There is one other case where a front car driver is likely to be at fault, but this usually happens at low speeds. If a front car driver is driving in reverse, the rear car driver usually is not responsible for an accident. When someone is driving in reverse, they typically must give the right-of-way to all other drivers. And if someone is illegally driving in reverse on a public road, they are almost certainly at fault in a rear-end accident.

When Fault Is Shared

Shared fault is relatively uncommon in rear-end accidents, but it can occur. If two drivers are both found to be at fault, Maryland’s strict contributory negligence rules effectively mean that both drivers are entirely at fault.

This is because these rules prohibit you from getting any compensation from another driver if you are even slightly at fault for your injuries. If someone intentionally slams into you from behind but you aren’t wearing a seat belt, you would be restricted to only getting compensation from your insurance policy.

As a skilled Glen Burnie car accident lawyer, John Leppler is familiar with this rule and will fight to prove that you were not in any way at fault in a rear-end collision. If an attorney agrees to take your case, it usually means that they believe that there is enough evidence to prove that the other driver was fully responsible for the injuries you suffered in a collision.

Injuries After a Rear-End Collision

Hidden injuries are a common concern after rear-end collisions. If you break your arm or lose a tooth, that is pretty obvious. But you might not be aware of many types of internal injuries immediately after a rear-end accident. The following are common injuries that you should be cognizant of.

Whiplash and Other Spinal Injuries

In a rear-end accident, the passengers of both vehicles often are thrown forward rapidly and then slammed back into their seats by the seat belt. This sudden whipping motion places a massive strain on the spinal cord, potentially causing whiplash or other spinal injuries.

Unfortunately, spinal injuries often aren’t immediately apparent. Whiplash symptoms can take a week or more to appear. Something like a slipped or herniated disc may not become apparent for months, depending on the circumstances.

This is why it is so important to talk to a Glen Burnie rear-end accident lawyer immediately after a crash. Experienced attorneys know how to look for these types of injuries and can help you connect with doctors who know how to best evaluate them.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Another common hidden injury is a traumatic brain injury. You don’t have to slam your head against something to suffer a brain injury. Your brain can get damaged just by moving around inside your skull at high speeds.

This means you might suffer a traumatic brain injury with no physical indications that you were hurt. Even worse, symptoms like dizziness, slurred speech, or nausea might not crop up for some time. Once again, an experienced lawyer can help you get a medical evaluation for these injuries.

Internal Injuries

The symptoms of these injuries are less likely to be delayed, but that doesn’t mean they are any less dangerous. In many ways, they are often the most dangerous injuries. Internal injuries usually require some form of surgery to repair. If they are not repaired quickly, they are likely to be fatal.

Broken Bones, Torn Ligaments, and Torn Tendons

These are usually the most obvious injuries and often the most painful. Thankfully, they are usually the least life-threatening. Unfortunately, they are likely to leave you unable to work for several months while they heal.

Auto Accident Attorney in Glen Burnie, Maryland

If you are involved in a rear-end accident in Maryland, you should contact top rated Glen Burnie personal injury lawyer, John Leppler, as soon as possible. He is available to speak 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will get started on your case as soon as possible.

This is important when you are dealing with insurance companies that will attempt to open and close your case before you blink. You need an experienced lawyer who knows the tactics of insurance companies and how to challenge them.

Don’t delay after an accident, even if you think you aren’t injured. Contact Leppler Injury Law as soon as possible.

John Leppler also serves locations near Glen Burnie including Owings Mills, Pikesville, Towson, Baltimore, Timonium, Parkville, and more.