Carabin Shaw is a Leading Personal Injury Law Firm in South and Central Texas, Serving Clients in San Antonio, Houston, Laredo, Austin, Corpus Christi and every Town in between.
You were stopped at a red light or slowing in traffic when suddenly—impact from behind. Your vehicle lurched forward, your head snapped back, and in an instant everything changed. Rear-end collisions rank among the most common accidents on Austin roads, occurring at intersections, in highway traffic, and in parking lots throughout the city. Our auto accident attorneys Austin handle rear-end collision cases daily, understanding that these crashes cause real injuries despite what insurance companies claim. The car accident lawyers Austin at Carabin Shaw fight to ensure rear-end collision victims receive full compensation for their injuries, not the lowball settlements insurers routinely offer.
Insurance adjusters dismiss rear-end collisions as minor fender-benders, but our Austin car accident attorneys know the medical reality tells a different story. The physics of rear-end impacts create injury mechanisms that damage necks, backs, and brains even in seemingly low-speed crashes. When vehicles stop suddenly but occupants' bodies continue moving, violent forces stress spinal structures beyond their limits. Our car accident lawyers in Austin have represented countless clients whose rear-end collision injuries required extensive treatment, caused chronic pain, and permanently affected their lives—injuries insurance companies tried to minimize until we fought back.
Rear-end collisions subject occupants to rapid acceleration followed by sudden deceleration. The struck vehicle moves forward while occupants' heads momentarily remain stationary due to inertia. This creates whiplash motion that hyperextends and then hyperflexes the cervical spine, damaging muscles, ligaments, discs, and nerves.
Even low-speed rear-end impacts transfer substantial energy. A vehicle struck at just 10 mph subjects occupants to forces capable of causing soft tissue injuries. Higher-speed impacts cause correspondingly more severe trauma.
Whiplash injuries damage cervical spine soft tissues, causing neck pain, headaches, and limited mobility that can persist for months or become chronic. Herniated discs occur when impact forces rupture disc walls, allowing inner material to press on spinal nerves. Concussions result when brains strike skull interiors during rapid head movement. Back injuries affect thoracic and lumbar spine structures stressed during impact. Shoulder injuries occur from seatbelt loading and bracing impacts. Jaw and facial injuries result from heads striking steering wheels or deploying airbags.
Texas law generally holds following drivers responsible for rear-end collisions. Drivers must maintain safe following distances and remain attentive to traffic conditions ahead. When rear-end collisions occur, the following driver typically bears fault for failing these duties.
Rear-end collisions create a presumption that the following driver was negligent. This presumption recognizes that attentive drivers maintaining proper following distance should be able to stop before striking vehicles ahead. While rebuttable, this presumption significantly strengthens victims' claims.
Limited circumstances can shift or share liability away from rear drivers. Lead drivers who reverse suddenly, brake-check aggressively without cause, or have non-functioning brake lights may share responsibility. Multi-vehicle chain-reaction collisions may involve multiple liable parties. However, these exceptions apply rarely, and rear drivers bear full or primary fault in most cases.
Insurance companies sometimes argue lead drivers share fault to reduce claim values. We counter these arguments with evidence showing our clients operated their vehicles properly and the rear driver's negligence caused the collision.
Insurers employ specific tactics to minimize rear-end collision claims. Understanding these strategies helps victims protect their interests.
Adjusters characterize rear-end collision injuries as minor regardless of actual severity. They use terms like "soft tissue" dismissively, ignoring that soft tissue injuries cause severe, lasting pain. They point to vehicle damage—or lack thereof—arguing minimal property damage means minimal injuries, despite medical evidence showing injury severity doesn't correlate directly with vehicle damage.
Insurers blame symptoms on pre-existing conditions, claiming degenerative changes visible on imaging existed before accidents. They exploit delayed symptom onset to argue injuries weren't accident-related. We counter with medical evidence establishing accident causation.
Insurance companies offer fast settlements hoping victims accept before understanding their injuries' full extent. These early offers rarely reflect true damages. We advise clients to understand their conditions completely before settling.
Successful rear-end collision claims require proper documentation and strategic presentation.
Seeking medical care promptly creates documentation linking injuries to accidents. Even when symptoms seem minor initially, medical evaluation identifies injuries and establishes the accident connection insurers later try to dispute.
Following treatment recommendations demonstrates injury seriousness. Gaps in treatment give insurers arguments that injuries weren't significant. Completing prescribed physical therapy, attending follow-up appointments, and following medical advice all strengthen claims.
We gather comprehensive documentation including police reports, medical records, diagnostic imaging, treatment notes, and evidence of economic losses. Thorough documentation counters insurance company minimization.
Rear-end collision victims deserve full compensation for their injuries regardless of insurance company characterizations.
All reasonable treatment costs including emergency care, physician visits, diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, medications, and any necessary surgery.
Income lost during treatment and recovery. When injuries cause permanent work limitations, we pursue lost earning capacity damages.
Physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life deserve compensation beyond economic losses. We fight for non-economic damages reflecting injuries' true impact.
If you've been injured in a rear-end collision in Austin, don't let insurance companies convince you your injuries don't matter. Our Austin car accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw understand rear-end collision injuries and fight for the compensation victims deserve.
Contact us today to discuss your rear-end collision case. We'll evaluate your injuries, explain your options, and fight for full compensation.
