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Cape Girardeau Rear-End Accident Lawyer
At NST Law, we are dedicated to helping injured individuals and their families get the justice and compensation they deserve.
Expertise
Mr. Trotz has handled injury cases involving auto accidents, slip and fall, premises liability, and negligent security. Every day, Mr. Trotz represents those who have been injured and many of his clients have sustained traumatic and life-altering injuries.
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Rear-end accidents often cause painful injuries that can take months to heal—and some never fully resolve. Rear-end accidents are common in Cape Girardeau, and they often lead to chronic pain, disabilities, and a reduced quality of life. Insurance companies often make unfair assumptions and ignore facts to minimize payouts.
As local attorneys, our Cape Girardeau rear-end accident lawyers understand the legal landscape of Cape Girardeau, its insurance adjusters, doctors, lawyers, and judges. We care about our clients and fight for the maximum compensation available. Contact us online today or call (800) 529-4004 for a free consultation
- Why Are There So Many Rear-End Accidents in Cape Girardeau?
- Injuries Commonly Sustained in Rear-End Collisions
- How NST Law Helps Cape Girardeau Rear-End Accident Victims
- What Compensation Can You Recover in a Rear-End Accident Case?
- Why Choose NST Law for Your Cape Girardeau Rear-End Accident Case?
- What Past Clients Say About NST Law
- Contact a Cape Girardeau Rear-End Accident Lawyer Today
- Our Cape Girardeau Rear-End Accident Lawyers.
- Frequently Asked Questions About Rear-End Accidents in Cape Girardeau
Why Are There So Many Rear-End Accidents in Cape Girardeau?
Rear-end crashes are the most common type of vehicle collision. According to the NHTSA, approximately 29 percent of all police-reported crashes in the United States are rear-end crashes. These collisions are almost always preventable.
Certain areas of Cape Girardeau experience congestion during peak times, such as the Route K Corridor. Our region also experiences almost every type of adverse weather, including tornadoes, blizzards, heavy rain, and fog. Regardless of the conditions, drivers must follow the law and exercise reasonable care to avoid accidents.
When someone’s carelessness injures someone else, our compassionate Cape Girardeau car accident attorneys are dedicated to holding the negligent party accountable and recovering maximum compensation for the victim.
It only takes a moment of inattention to change someone’s life. In Cape Girardeau, most rear-end crashes flow from distracted driving, following too closely, and failing to adjust to conditions.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is any activity that diverts a driver’s attention away from the primary task of operating the vehicle, such as the following:
- Texting
- Talking on a cell phone
- Eating
- Talking to passengers
- Daydreaming
- Thinking about work
- Adjusting the radio
- Viewing a map or GPS
- Looking for misplaced items in the vehicle
- Reading billboards
A distracted driver may not notice when traffic has slowed or stopped ahead, due to a traffic signal or congestion. In some cases, they hit the front car at full speed, often pushing it into an intersection or the vehicle in front of it, causing a chain-reaction collision. Our skilled Cape Girardeau distracted driving lawyers know the hallmarks of inattentive driving and can help you hold distracted drivers accountable.
Reckless Driving
Missouri law requires drivers to exercise the ‘highest degree of care’ and prohibits careless or imprudent driving, including stunt-style behaviors like racing or drifting. Penalties can include criminal charges, and causing a crash can increase the severity of the offense.
Reckless driving includes any form of driving that displays a blatant disregard for the safety of others, including aggressive driving, severe speeding, running red lights, and improper lane changes. Reckless driving often involves emotions, such as impatience or anger. It can lead to high-speed rear-end collisions due to the driver’s willingness to take unsafe risks at the expense of others.
Not Adjusting to Weather Conditions
During adverse weather, drivers must slow down, turn on their headlights, and make necessary adjustments. Cape Girardeau experiences heavy fog throughout the year, and drivers must slow down when visibility is reduced. A driver who fails to slow for thick fog may be unable to avoid a rear-end collision.
Heavy rain and snow similarly reduce visibility, create slippery conditions, and increase stopping distances. It is crucial to slow down and leave extra space between your vehicle and the one in front of you to avoid a rear-end accident if the front vehicle suddenly stops. Tornadoes, high winds, and whiteout conditions due to heavy rain can warrant pulling off the road until they pass. When a rear-end accident happens in adverse weather, the weather may have been a factor, but the driver is still responsible.
Following Too Closely
The National Safety Council recommends a following distance of at least three seconds in ideal driving conditions, with longer following distances during adverse weather and while driving commercial vehicles. Following too closely leaves too little time and space to stop safely if traffic slows suddenly.
Tailgating is especially dangerous when the front vehicle is a motorcycle. Motorcycles use different maneuvering and braking techniques than cars. For example, they often downshift to slow down rather than brake, so there is no brake light. Rear-end collisions involving motorcycles cause fatal or permanent injuries.
Injuries Commonly Sustained in Rear-End Collisions
Even a low-impact rear-end accident can leave you with serious injuries. The most common injuries our attorneys have seen in these types of accidents are whiplash, back injuries, and head injuries. Many of our clients have also had broken bones and soft tissue injuries, often affecting the arms and wrist from trying to brace against the impact.
Always seek medical evaluation—even if symptoms seem minor or delayed. Injuries affecting the neck, back, and brain often fail to cause symptoms until hours or days later. Delayed medical attention can lead to more extensive damage that could have been prevented. For example, head injuries can swell and put excessive pressure on the brain. A doctor or trauma team can reduce the pressure before brain damage occurs.
Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries in rear-end car accidents. It occurs when the head and neck are jerked back and forth from the impact of the collision. This can tear muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck and upper back. Whiplash can cause the following symptoms, depending on the severity of the crash:
- Stiffness
- Tenderness
- Muscle spasms
- Difficulty turning or moving your head or neck
- Pain that radiates to the surrounding areas
- Swelling or bruising
- Neurological symptoms
- Numbness
- Muscle weakness
- Headaches
- Tingling or burning sensation in the upper back, arms, neck, or shoulders
- Difficulty swallowing
- Loss of voice
- Vertigo or dizziness
Some people recover from whiplash, but the recovery period can take months or years. Some people never fully recover and are left with permanent shoulder stiffness, headaches, and arm pain. Our whiplash injury lawyers are familiar with the short and long-term effects of whiplash. We can estimate the lifelong cost of your injuries and maximize your compensation.
Back Injuries
Rear-end collisions often cause the following injuries to the back and spine:
- Herniated discs
- Compression fractures
- Soft tissue injuries
- Painful strains and sprains
- Muscle spasms
- Chronic back pain
- Radiating pain
- Sciatic nerve pain
- Pinched nerves
Some of these injuries may be permanent and require surgery. Back injuries can also increase the risk of degenerative disc disease later in life, such as spinal osteoarthritis. Our experienced back injury attorneys work with life care planners and medical experts to determine the true cost of your injuries so we can maximize your compensation.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury is a brain injury caused by a jolt or blow to the head. In a rear-end crash, the head often moves back and forth rapidly and may hit the dashboard, steering wheel, or headrest. In some cases, the rapid head movements result in two brain injuries—one from the initial impact and another on the opposite side of the brain when the head moves back.
Traumatic brain injuries can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Mild traumatic brain injuries are also known as concussions. Although concussions are classified as “mild,” any brain injury is serious and can lead to long-term cognitive and neurological deficits. A medical team will need to conduct tests to determine whether a brain injury is mild or severe. Seek immediate medical attention if you or a loved one experiences a blow to the head or a jolt in a rear-end collision.
How NST Law Helps Cape Girardeau Rear-End Accident Victims
At NST Law, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll a serious accident can cause. Compassion for clients is the foundation of our approach, yet our compassion does not translate to leniency towards the responsible parties. We pursue maximized compensation from every available avenue, holding negligent parties and insurers accountable while refusing to accept less than full compensation when the evidence supports it.
Comprehensive Case Investigation
We will visit the scene, interview witnesses, review video footage, and work with forensic experts to identify all of the responsible parties and prove their liability. We will rely on medical experts in our network to help us calculate the lifetime emotional and physical costs of your injuries.
Skilled Settlement Negotiations
We will contact the insurance company, inform its representatives that we are handling your case, and tell them to contact us about your case and not you. Insurance adjusters in Cape Girardeau know we care about our clients and that we can win in court. Our reputation helps us negotiate maximized settlements. If the insurance company refuses to settle for full compensation, we will confidently take your case to court.
Trial-Ready Legal Representation
We will start preparing your case for trial from the beginning by gathering forensic evidence, interviewing witnesses, and meticulously building your case. Our attorneys have the skill and experience to tell your story to a jury so it understands the evidence and the toll the accident has had on you.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Rear-End Accident Case?
You may be entitled to the following economic and non-economic damages when you are injured in a rear-end accident in Cape Girardeau:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
We will identify every financial loss the accident has already cost you and work with medical experts, vocational specialists, and life care planners to account for the medical bills you will likely have in the future and the long-term impacts on your earning potential.
What Medical Expenses Count?
You may be entitled to recover compensation for all costs related to medical needs caused by the accident, including the following:
- Doctor visits
- Emergency room visits
- Surgery
- Physical therapy
- Assistive devices
- Rehabilitation
- Transportation to the doctor
You could also receive compensation for projected future medical expenses related to your accident.
What Are Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity?
Lost wages include salaries, wages, and benefits you have already lost out on because of your accident. Loss of earning capacity is the loss of your ability to earn the salaries, wages, benefits, and promotions you could have earned in the future were it not for your accident.
What Are Non-Economic Damages?
Non-economic damages are compensation for intangible losses that cannot be measured in dollars, such as the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Loss of bodily functions
- Scarring and disfigurement
Why Choose NST Law for Your Cape Girardeau Rear-End Accident Case?
With over 35 years of experience, 175+ team members, and billions won, NST Law prepares each case as if it will go to trial. We are passionate about leveling the playing field between individuals and powerful insurance companies that have virtually unlimited funding to defend cases.
Our Cape Girardeau personal injury lawyers are available at any hour of the day and night, and we can travel to meet you anywhere you choose, including your home or hospital bed.
Billions Won and Decades of Experience
Below are just a few examples of our outstanding car accident verdicts and settlements for injured individuals:
We represented a woman who suffered permanent injuries to her legs, hips, and arms after the bus she was riding rear-ended a commercial truck. By working with medical and financial experts, we built a strong case that led to a confidential seven-figure settlement at mediation.
An elderly couple was rear-ended in a catastrophic crash. The husband suffered fatal brain trauma, and the wife sustained life-threatening injuries, including collapsed lungs, spleen removal, and multiple fractures. NST Law retained expert witnesses and successfully reduced medical liens to maximize the clients’ recovery.
We represented a man who suffered severe back, neck, and shoulder injuries from being rear-ended by a tractor-trailer. The victim had hired another law firm before hiring NST Law, and the case had almost settled for $35,000. The trucking company tried to force the $35,000 settlement, but our attorneys defeated it and won a $550,000 settlement during mediation.
Personalized and Accessible Legal Support
We want to make the legal process as stress-free as possible. We will listen to you, meet with you on your schedule at your preferred location, and keep you informed through every stage of your case. We will answer your calls 24/7 and stand with you for as long as it takes to get you the justice you deserve.
Trial Experience and Aggressive Advocacy
Our dedicated Cape Girardeau rear-end accident attorneys are skilled trial lawyers with over 35 years of experience fighting insurance companies. We know what it takes to build a strong, trial-ready case, and we are not afraid to go to trial because our attorneys are proven trial lawyers with an outstanding track record.
What Past Clients Say About NST Law
Our client testimonials speak to the compassion, work ethic, and skill we bring to every case.
Very welcoming place. Fast and simple process. Super deserving of five stars.
The team at NST is extraordinarily professional, courteous, diligent, effective, and responsive. I originally contacted them to see if I had a claim due to damage sustained to myself and my vehicle for which I was not at fault. They took the case and were able to get my truck repaired in full, as well as a settlement and full coverage of medical-related expenses.
Contact a Cape Girardeau Rear-End Accident Lawyer Today
Our attorneys operate on the Six Pillars of NST Law, which include the following:
- Compassionate care
- Accessibility
- Resourcefulness
- Trust and Transparency
- Personalized service
- Maximized pursuit
You can trust that your case is in the capable hands of compassionate, trial-tested attorneys when you choose NST Law. We charge no upfront fees, and you pay nothing unless we win. Contact us online today or call (800) 529-4004 to schedule your free consultation.
Our Cape Girardeau Rear-End Accident Lawyers
Attorney
Phone: (731) 427-5550
Attorney
Missouri
Frequently Asked Questions About Rear-End Accidents in Cape Girardeau
Below are our answers to common questions about rear-end car accidents in Cape Girardeau.
How Is Fault Determined in a Rear-End Accident in Cape Girardeau?
Our experienced rear-end accident attorneys in Cape Girardeau perform detailed investigations to determine who is at fault for rear-end collisions. Our investigation is more thorough than law enforcement’s investigation, and we sometimes overturn law enforcement’s findings.
How Long Does It Usually Take To Settle a Rear-End Accident Case?
Many cases resolve in months, but timelines vary based on injuries, treatment, liability disputes, and whether litigation is required. You will usually receive your settlement or jury award within a few weeks after your case is resolved.
When Is the Best Time to Contact a Lawyer After a Rear-End Crash?
Contact an attorney before talking to the insurance company to prevent the adjuster from using your words against you. Involving an attorney early also provides access to crucial evidence, such as video footage, forensic data, and eyewitness statements, before it fades or disappears.
Can I Still Recover Damages if I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident?
Yes, Missouri’s comparative negligence laws allow you to recover compensation even if you were partially at fault. However, your compensation will be reduced proportionately.
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Claim In Missouri?
The Missouri personal injury statute of limitations requires you to file your rear-end car accident claim within five years of the accident. However, you should involve an experienced Cape Girardeau rear-end accident attorney as soon as possible, while crucial evidence is still available.
Contact us for a free consultation now so that we can review your case and decide how we can best help you.