RICHMOND, VA REAR END ACCIDENT LAWYERS

Rear and collisions are the most common kind of car accidents that we see in Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, and indeed across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Often times, an innocent driver is stopped at a red light or stop sign, and is all of a sudden jarred with an impact from behind. Many times, there is no warning of these crashes - no sound of squealing tires or car horns. You are taken completely by surprise.

The Richmond Rear-End Accident Attorneys at Blaszkow Legal know that just as quickly as these collisions happen, your life can be turned upside down by them. What may start off as a twinge and tingle of pain in the back of your neck can very easily turn into an injury that changes how you live your daily life. It is our job to fight for all of the compensation that you deserve due to the other driver's negligence.

Blaszkow Legal is a dedicated car accident law firm, practicing up and down the I-95 corridor. Our attorneys, paralegals, and investigators are all trained to understand how these accidents impact our clients' lives, and how to work and develop their cases to get them all of the compensation they deserve.

Contact an experienced Richmond car accident lawyer to discuss your case, and talk about how we can help you fight to help you recover from this accident. Calling a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident drastically improves your chances of success, and minimizes the risk that an insurance company is going to take advantage of you. Call today for a free initial consultation!

Richmond Office:
7824 Shrader Road, Richmond, Va. 23294
804-273-8929

Alexandria/Northern Virginia Office:
5270 Shawnee Road #102, Alexandria, Va. 22312
703-879-5910

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How Do Richmond Rear-end Crashes Happen?

Rear end collisions, more often than not, are entirely preventable. They happen due to the negligence of another driver who is simply not paying attention! There are many different factors that go into these collisions, and here are some of the most common:

• Speeding. A driver who is moving so fast, regardless of how quick they try to react, has less space in which to do it. The higher speed a car is going, the greater the force with which it will impact the car ahead. These cases often cause serious Whiplash type injuries.

• Distracted Driving. Drivers who focus on their phones, or infotainment systems, are distracting themselves from paying full-time and attention to the roadway. This seriously reduces reaction time, and even if that driver notices a car ahead, sometimes they will not be able to stop in time.

• Drunk driving. Alcohol, and other drugs, seriously impair a motorist reaction time, and can lead to serious collisions. Buzzed driving is still drunk driving, and these crashes can be horrific.

• Reckless driving. Some drivers are aggressive when they drive, and will do everything from driving on the shoulder to weaving in and out of traffic. These drivers are often not ready for the actions of other drivers, such as breaking due to traffic control devices or other conditions ahead.

• Poor maintenance issues. Some people drive their vehicles even when they know the car is not safe to be on the roadway. For whatever reason, they hear squealing brake shoes and they keep driving the car without making necessary repairs, thus endangering other cars when those safety devices fail.

Common Injuries after Richmond Rear-end Accidents

Rear end accidents are different for every person, and no two people are alike. However, there are some commonalities that we find in many cases. This is both among drivers, as well as passengers. When you consider the mechanism of injury - the impact from the rear - this is understandable.

• Whiplash - this is when your head and upper spine rack forward and backward, often restrained by a seatbelt.

• Sprains and strains of the mid-back (thoracic spine) and low back (lumbar spine)

• Head injuries, caused by impact with side windows, roof support pillars, and the seat pack itself

• Traumatic brain injuries

• Lacerations, sometimes caused by flying debris

• Bruises and contusions, specifically a "seat belt sign," which is a bruise across the center of the chest or sternum from the force of where a seat belt digs into the chest

Investigating Rear-end Car Accidents

Blaszkow Legal always recommends that you contact an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible after an accident. Even though a rear-end crash may seem straightforward, you always have the risk that an insurance company is going to make some argument to try to make you responsible for the accident - even though you were sitting still! The best way to do that is to confidently and immediately investigate the facts of the accident.

Our team is dedicated to investigating all car accidents as soon as possible. From the moment you become a client, we set our team to work in searching for witnesses and camera footage. It is extremely important that we interview people right away! Peoples memories change and fade over time, and we want to preserve their recollection while it is sharp, and fresh in their minds.

Camera footage is overwritten if it is not preserved. High-end systems, such as the type found in banks, is often held for 30 days or more. But smaller systems at convenience stores, for example, may only retain the footage in the data bank for a week or less. The sooner you hire an attorney, the sooner that attorney can begin investigating and preserving the evidence that will make your case.

Liability and Virginia Rear-end Crashes

Virginia is one of only a handful of states that still practices the legal doctrine of contributory negligence. Contributory negligence is sometimes called the "1% rule," because if the defense can allege that you, the injured person, are even 1% responsible for the happening of the accident, then you cannot recover without going into litigation. This is a very high standard to meet, and is far different than the law practiced in most of the rest of the country.

This is every insurance company's favorite tactic: to shift blame onto the victim. It is extremely important to call an experienced car accident lawyer who is going to be able to investigate the case, and kick the legs out from under such assertions.

Your Damages after a Richmond Rear-end Car Accident

If you have been hurt in a car accident that was not your fault, you have the right to file a claim for your damages. There are many things that go into the computation of your damages. Some of those elements include:

• Time lost from work

• Future lost wages

• Loss of earning capacity

• Medical expenses

• Future medical expenses

• Prescription costs

• Pain and suffering

• Emotional distress

• Post traumatic anxiety

• Permanent injury

• Scarring

• Disfigurement

• Property damage

• Diminished value

Calling an Experienced Rear-end Accident Attorney

You should always talk to a lawyer as soon as possible after a crash! Attorney Joe Blaszkow and his team know how to preserve evidence so it is not lost, and how to make your case. It is always a claimant's responsibility to prove not just their case, but also their damages. And that is exactly what we do.

Blaszkow Legal has over 40 years fighting for our clients throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. We have battled every insurance company around for our clients, and are ready to work hard for you!

If you have been hurt in a rear-end accident today, you need to Get Justice with Joe, and call our Richmond office for a free consultation immediately!