If You Were Rear-Ended in a Car Accident, Our Law Firm Can Handle Your Case

Long Island accident lawyers seek damages for crash victims

At Licatesi Law Group, LLP, in Uniondale and Brooklyn, we have handled thousands of auto accident cases, including those involving rear-end collisions, in our 40 years of representing clients throughout New York City and Long Island. Our attorneys understand that serious injuries affect every part of an individual’s life, and pursuing a legal claim is particularly taxing while you’re trying to recover. Working tirelessly on your behalf, we will guide you through the process of pursuing full damages for medical bills, lost wages and other losses.

How rear-end car accidents occur

Rear-end collisions are common in high-density areas. New Yorkers in the boroughs and on the island are used to driving on congested roadways where motorists go from speeding to an abrupt stop in a matter of seconds. Common causes of rear-end crashes include:

• Following another vehicle too closely
• Stopping suddenly
• Speeding
• Poor weather or road conditions
• Distracted driving
• Mechanical failure

Drivers who are following too closely, speeding or driving while distracted are held responsible for rear-ending the car in front of them. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving is the cause of more than 1,000 injuries and nine fatalities a day in the United States. NHTSA defines distracted driving as “any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, or fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system.”

Whatever the cause of your auto accident in Brooklyn, Uniondale, or elsewhere in the areas we serve, we have obtained substantial settlements and verdicts in auto accident claims and are committed to fighting for clients like you.

Common injuries sustained by victims of rear-end collisions

Depending on road conditions and traffic density, those injured in a rear-end crash may suffer a range of injuries. If you were rear-ended, you may be suffering from:

• Whiplash
• Neck injuries
• Herniated disk and other spinal injuries
• Traumatic brain injury

The severity of an injury in these accidents depends on several factors, including the speed of the vehicle that hit you, whether you were wearing a seatbelt or were able to brace for impact, whether an airbag deployed and whether your headrest was high enough to protect your head and neck from over-extension.

Rather than rely on the conclusions of insurance companies, our attorneys seek opinions from trusted professionals with whom we have worked over the years. Our network of experts includes medical professionals who will examine your medical records and testify how injuries such as yours affect most patients in the long term.

How is fault determined in an accident?

While New York is a no-fault auto insurance state, a pure comparative fault rule applies when both parties are found to share blame for a car accident. Typically, the victim’s damages are assessed and then the percentage of fault that belongs to each party is determined. If your lawyer is able to prove that you have $100,000 in damages and a jury determines that you were 10 percent at fault for stopping short at a yellow traffic light, your damages would be reduced to $90,000.

Contact our Long Island auto accident attorneys for help with your rear-end collision case

Licatesi Law Group, LLP has built a network of experts to investigate and analyze accident causes. Whether the driver who rear-ended you was texting, intoxicated, speeding or following too closely, we will work to hold them accountable and pursue damages on your behalf. Call 516-227-2662 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation at our Brooklyn or Uniondale office.