Paramus Attorneys Represent Victims of Rear-End Collisions

Determined pursuit of full compensation for soft-tissue injuries

The most common type of auto accident is the rear-end collision. These crashes occur when the driver of a trailing car does not react quickly enough to avoid hitting a lead car that has either stopped or slowed dramatically. The impacts of rear-end collisions vary greatly, depending on the speed of both vehicles, so damage ranges from barely discernible dents to total wrecks. Injuries vary also, and most consist of whiplash injuries, which can be extremely painful and debilitating, but difficult to prove. As a result, most attorneys hasten to settle rear-end collision claims, often for less than the victim deserves. At Razi & Giampa Law, we feel much differently about this situation. We understand how much torment a soft-tissue injury can cause, and the unbearable limitations it can place on your life. We are willing to fight aggressively, taking your case to trial, if necessary, to obtain the full compensation your injury deserves.

Common causes of rear-end collisions in New Jersey

The precise reason that a trailing car hits a lead car is usually one of the following:

• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Aggressive driving
• Road rage
• Distracted driving
• Driving under the influence
• Sudden loss of visibility due to heavy rain, snow, fog or glare

In virtually every case, the trailing driver is not obeying two of the primary rules of the road: pay attention and maintain a safe stopping distance. Tailgating is an inherently unsafe driving practice, especially at high speeds. But many drivers don’t realize that even if they’re not technically tailgating, they are too close for the speed they’re traveling, and a single moment of inattention can invite disaster.

The good news for victims is that rear-end accidents are almost always deemed the trailing driver’s fault. The trailing driver might claim the lead car braked suddenly, but trailing drivers are expected to be able to compensate for that likely occurrence. For this reason, liability is hardly ever an issue in a rear-end collision case.

The exception is a widely known insurance fraud scheme, known as the “swoop and squat.” In this scenario, a car driven by a fraudster makes an abrupt lane change in front of the unsuspecting driver of another car and then jams on the brakes. When the trailing car makes contact, the fraudster plays the victim and files a false insurance claim. But unless you made a highly questionable maneuver immediately before the collision, there should be no doubt that the other diver is at fault.

Severe injuries from rear-end accidents

Victims of rear-end collisions most often suffer moderate to severe whiplash injuries. Whiplash is a syndrome comprised of trauma induced by the rapid movement of the head, either front to back or side to side, that overextends connecting tissue. Resulting problems include:

• Concussion
• Torn muscles, ligaments, and cartilage
• Inflamed nerves
• Damaged discs
• Spinal cord trauma

Symptoms most often affect the cervical or thoracic region of the spine, though a severe crash can cause spinal trauma down to the lumbar region.

People with whiplash often suffer from:

• Chronic pain
• Muscle spasms
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Loss of mobility
• Loss of strength in the extremities
• Numbness or tingling radiating from the injured area

Traditionally, whiplash has been a difficult injury to prove, because soft-tissue damage does not register on X-rays. Consequently, many alleged victims have attempted to fake whiplash injuries to drive up the payout from a settlement. Today, medical diagnostics have improved, so devices such as MRIs can detect soft-tissue damage. Unfortunately, patients with similar diagnostic images can have widely divergent pain experiences, so the test images don’t really prove pain. As a result, it can be difficult to prove the level of pain a whiplash victim feels.

For this reason, we know many attorneys who will not take a soft-tissue injury case to trial. We believe this refusal to fully litigate puts the victim at a great disadvantage. When an insurance company knows the lawyer won’t take the case to court, they have all the leverage. They can delay, dragging out the case to compel a low-ball settlement. At Razi & Giampa, we believe that every case we undertake deserves our full commitment. That means going to trial when necessary. This stance puts teeth in our negotiations, and enables us to press for the settlement you deserve.

Contact Razi & Giampa Law in Paramus for a free rear-end accident consultation

Razi & Giampa Law in Paramus provides highly professional and personalized legal services for victims of rear-end auto accidents in Bergen County and throughout New Jersey. To schedule a free consultation at our office, in your home, or at the hospital, call us today at 201-534-5011 or contact our firm online.