Rear End Collisions

One of the most common types of accidents that you can experience on the road is a rear end collision. While these crashes can be relatively minor, sometimes they are devastating and cause extensive and life-altering harm. At high speeds, rear end collisions can lead to injuries like brain trauma, broken bones, paralysis, and even a tragic death. If you have been struck from behind by a careless driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Spartanburg and Greenville car accident lawyer Patrick E. Knie has advocated diligently for injured individuals and their families throughout South Carolina.

The first step in pursuing compensation after a rear end collision is to prove that the other driver failed to operate his or her vehicle with the requisite amount of ordinary care and skill. Although there are a plethora of traffic laws that dictate how we must operate our vehicles on the road, drivers are also governed by the standard of care. This standard embodies the same behavior that a reasonably prudent person would use in a similar situation, considering the weather, traffic, and roadway hazards that may have been involved. For example, it would not be prudent to speed during a thunderstorm or tailgate during rush hour traffic.

After showing that the other driver operated his or her vehicle negligently, you must prove that this negligence was the direct cause of your injuries. Rear end collisions often happen in intersections, where cars have to stop before proceeding across another roadway. Many drivers fail to see a stop sign or red light due to distracted driving, or they may enter the intersection too quickly as the result of reckless driving or simply failing to observe their surroundings. To assert the right to compensation, a victim must show that the crash was a reasonably foreseeable result of the defendant’s careless actions, such that it probably would not have happened otherwise.

The final step in a negligence claim involves proving that you are entitled to compensation. An injured individual usually will provide documentary support for the cost and losses that he or she is pursuing in the lawsuit. These tend to include medical bills, missed wages, repairs to a vehicle, and the costs of future treatment, as well as more subjective damages like pain and suffering. In the unfortunate event that an accident proves fatal, the victim’s surviving family members can potentially file a wrongful death claim, seeking compensation for the loss of their loved one’s comfort, love, and support in addition to any funeral and burial expenses.

At the Knie & Shealy Law Offices, we understand how difficult it is to endure a car accident, no matter the circumstances. Greenville and Spartanburg car accident attorney Patrick E. Knie represents accident victims throughout South Carolina, including in Cherokee, Union, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Laurens Counties. He knows what it takes to investigate your claim, gather evidence, and put together the strongest case possible. Call motor vehicle collision lawyer Patrick E. Knie at (864) 582-5118 or contact us online to set up a free consultation.