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Rear End Collision Fault?

Q: If someone slams on their brakes and you hit them is it your fault?

A: Most people assume that when they are hit from behind that they are not at fault. That is not always the case.

Rear End Accident Lawyer

Maybe you have been in a situation where you are following too closely behind another car, and then that car slams on their brakes, causing you to hit them from behind. To determine who is at fault it is important to know why the other driver slammed on their brakes and if any person would have been able to stop in time. Missouri is an at-fault state. That means that when you are in an auto accident, at least one driver is deemed responsible and liable for paying for any injuries or damages that result.

There are times when someone can be rear-ended and can be found partially at fault for the accident. The only way to truly know who is at fault is to figure out the events that led to the car accident. Through a combination of recreating the conditions and reviewing documents, eyewitness accounts, and how well everyone was adhering to the Missouri traffic laws, fault may take some time to sort through.

However, there are cases where both parties are partially responsible for the accident. When this happens, many auto accident victims are unclear about their right to recover compensation.

Negligence is determined by the driver’s actions before the accident happened. Someone is found negligent if they took actions that directly led to an accident happening, or because they failed to take action when they should have, and it was that failure which directly led to the accident happening.

How the Car Accident Occurred

If someone slams on their brakes hard and you hit the back of their car, it might not always be the case that it is your fault. If you were following too closely, then yes, you are negligent because you have an obligation to keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead of you. But if the person slammed on their brakes and there was no possible way that any driver could have stopped in time, then you might or might not be to blame.

Also, if there were road conditions that would have made it impossible for you to put the brakes on quickly enough, that might mean that you aren’t at fault or that you are only partially at fault. To be at fault, you have to be found negligent, and you may not be negligent for acts of weather or if there was no foreseeable way that you could have avoided hitting the car in front of you.

Have a Police Report Filed

One way to determine who is at fault for an accident is to have a police report filed. It is imperative that you have a police report drafted before you leave the site. Even if it is just a fender bender and no one is hurt, a police report can help establish liability. Sometimes an officer will issue a ticket and sometimes they won’t. What they will do is write down what the witnesses say while the events are still fresh in their minds. Although they are not admissible in court, police reports are a great way to lend credence to proving that another driver was at fault.

Missouri Traffic Laws

It is also important to know who was following the state laws and who was not. For instance, if you slammed on your brakes to turn without using your turn signal and were rear-ended, then you would not be following the rules of the road and could be held liable for the accident. Deciphering whether everyone involved was following Missouri state laws when driving will be integral to figuring out who was at fault.

Is There a Third Party Involved?

There are times when there is another party involved in the accident who caused you to be rear-ended, and they might be liable. If you were forced to stop suddenly because someone pulled out in front of you, and then you were hit from behind, then the third party may also be at fault.

Contact an Accident Lawyer in St. Louis

If you hit the back of someone’s car and you believe that it isn’t your fault, then the best thing to do is to hire a St. Louis car accident attorney to defend you. Just because you hit someone from behind does not necessarily mean that you are automatically at fault. If there are other circumstances at play or you were not negligent in the accident, then you will want someone in your corner to plead your case, so you aren’t left to pay for something that wasn’t your fault.

Call The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. at (314) 361-4242


Were you rear ended by a negligent driver?

What Injuries Are Common in St. Louis Rear-End Car Accidents?

Rear-end collisions are among the most common types of car accidents and make up about 7.2% of all fatal car accidents each year. This is lower than head-on collisions and side-swipe accidents but still very significant, and if you’re involved in a rear-end collision, you can experience serious, traumatic injuries. Here is a look at a few of the injuries that are the most common in rear-end accidents.

1. Whiplash

Whiplash is a prevalent injury caused by rear-end car accidents in St. Louis. Its symptoms include loss of range of motion in the neck, tenderness in the shoulder and upper back, neck pain, and neck stiffness. This is an injury of the upper neck muscles and back when your head rapidly moves back and forth during a collision, and whiplash can cause long-term complications. 

2. Back Strains & Sprains

When a vehicle impacts the back of your car, the muscles and tendons in your back may be injured, causing tearing, twisting, and pulling of the fibers and leading to issues with movement, as well as pain that can cause long-lasting health issues. 

3. Slipped or Herniated Disc

Our spine is made up of many “discs” that cushion our vertebrae. A significant traumatic event like a car accident in St. Louis can cause the discs to shift out of place or even tear or rupture. 

When this happens, it’s called a slipped or herniated disc. The displaced disc can press on your nerves, bulge out, and cause severe numbness or pain. 

4. Further Spinal Problems

A severe rear-end car accident can cause serious spinal injuries like a fracture (break) in the vertebrae, spinal stenosis, and lots of other issues related to your spinal cord and spinal column.

5. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) 

Traumatic brain injuries occur when a blow to the head or skull causes the brain to move and impact the skull. This is called a “non-penetrating injury” if an object does not penetrate the skull. This is the most common type of TBI caused by a rear-end accident. TBI can cause permanent neurological problems and a lot of other persistent symptoms.

If you have been rear-ended and face long-lasting injuries, steep medical bills, and serious changes to your quality of life, you will benefit greatly from an experienced legal team who will fight for you. Contact The Hoffman Law Firm LLC for a case review now, and get the compensation you deserve for your car accident injuries.


Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!

Free Consultation (314) 361-4242

Updated: February 2, 2021