Syracuse, New York, Rear-End Car Accidents

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer and American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year, is Committed to Defending the Rights of Rear-End Car Accident Victims Across Syracuse. If You, or a Loved One, Have Been Injured in an Onondaga County Onewheel Accident That Was Not Your Fault, You Deserve Effective, Aggressive Representation and a Car Crash Attorney Willing to Fight for Your Rights.

Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car crashes. Most occur at low speeds and in slow-moving city traffic.

However, even at low speeds, rear-end accidents often end in catastrophe. According to some reports, these crashes account for  29% of all motor vehicle accidents and 18% of traffic-related deaths. Survivors are at high risk for a wide range of life-altering injuries, ranging in severity from low-grade concussions to painful fractures and chronic whiplash. 

Under New York’s no-fault insurance system, victims have a legal right to recover certain accident-related damages. Unfortunately, no-fault policies have stringent limitations, and an insurance settlement is not always sufficient to cover the costs of a serious accident. Survivors may feel compelled to take on increasing amounts of medical debt, precluding them from reclaiming their financial independence or replenishing their physical well-being. 

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. believes nobody should be forced to bear the burden of another motorist’s misconduct. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Syracuse rear-end accident that was not your fault, our experienced team of attorneys could help you begin exploring your options for recompense. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to mount an effective offense and have the results to prove it. Please message us online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a rear-end car accident lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your 100% free consultation as soon as possible. 

Rear-end car crashes are anything but rare. They make up a significant portion of all automobile accidents nationwide, with an estimated 1.7 million reported annually.

The most common causes of rear-end collisions include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Distracted Driving: The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define distracted driving as any physical or mental activity that takes a motorist’s attention away from the road. Almost anything can be a distraction—a text message, food, even another passenger. Despite research showing that certain types of distracted driving are just as dangerous as operating an automobile under the influence of drugs or alcohol, distracted driving is a widespread problem with no clear-cut solution.
2. Aggressive Driving: Although Syracuse drivers do not share the same reputation for aggression as their neighbors in Albany and New York City, rush hour in Downtown Syracuse or construction on Interstate 81 regularly results in heavy congestion and slow-moving traffic. Drivers who let frustration get the better of them may be tempted to bypass traffic by speeding around blind corners or overtaking other cars on the right, increasing their chance of causing a rear-end crash.
3. Drunk Driving: Drunk drivers suffer from impaired judgment and slower-than-average reflexes. Even in slow-moving traffic, they may be unable to avoid seemingly obvious obstacles, including cars waiting at a stop sign or motorcyclists stopping for a red light.

While rear-end car crashes have a wide range of potential causes, they all have the capability to upend victims’ lives.

However, you do not have to accept uncertainty due to another motorist’s misconduct. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you or a loved one file a compelling claim for compensation against the negligent driver who caused your injuries. Please call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a Syracuse rear-end car crash lawyer and begin exploring your options for effective legal relief.

Since many rear-end car crashes occur at relatively low speeds, many people mistakenly believe they are less likely to result in serious injury.

However, rear-end collisions are not always minor fender-benders. During a recent year, these crashes killed 2,346 Americans and injured nearly 1 million more. Common injuries could include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Seat Belt Injuries: Seat belts undoubtedly save lives. However, their restraining features can also be the cause of serious injury. In a typical rear-end collision, the occupants of the forward car may be thrust forward with incredible force. While their seat belts may stop them from striking the steering wheel or impacting the windshield, they could also lacerate their skin, especially on the chest, neck, and torso.
2. Back Injuries: Back injuries, including recurring pain, are common in and after rear-end accidents. In many cases, symptoms are not immediately noticeable. Instead, they may take days—sometimes even weeks—to emerge, making it difficult for survivors to begin moving past their collision.
3. Spinal Column Injuries: Spinal column injuries are serious and potentially disabling. In a rear-end collision, the force of impact can compress or fracture both the vertebral bones of the spinal column and their underlying nervous structure. These injuries vary immensely in their impact, with symptoms ranging from mild pain to total paralysis.

Although New York employs a no-fault insurance system, legislators have long since recognized that car crash victims who suffer specific serious injuries may need benefits beyond those provided by a standard automobile insurance policy.

However, even survivors whose injuries meet the Empire State’s serious injury threshold must be able to establish that the at-fault motorist’s misconduct caused their injuries. This is typically accomplished through the establishment of the following four elements of every personal injury lawsuit:

1. Duty of Care: A duty of care is a legal obligation to act with a reasonable standard of care or caution. Everyone has a duty of care, although it is often situational. Drivers, for example, have a duty to abide by the law and minimize risk to other motorists.
2. Breach of Duty of Care: A motorist can only be found at fault for accident-related injuries if they negligently breached their duty of care.
3. Causation: Accident victims must demonstrate that the at-fault driver’s breach of duty of care was the actual or proximate cause of their accident.
4. Damages: A New York court can only award damages if the accident resulted in cognizable damages.

Popular misconception suggests that, in most cases, the rear-positioned motorist will always be found at fault for a rear-end collision. Although this logic typically holds true, New York law stipulates that, if an accident victim’s negligence either caused or contributed to the crash, their award can be reduced proportionate to the court’s finding of shared fault. Such findings can eviscerate a survivor’s recovery, leaving them with little left over from a hard-fought battle.

You should never have to pay out-of-pocket for another driver’s negligence. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you investigate the causes and circumstances of your Syracuse, New York, rear-end collision, collecting the evidence needed to establish fault and protect your rights to a fair recovery. Please send us a message online or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a Syracuse car crash lawyer and schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Syracuse, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!