If you get rear-ended, you should stop your vehicle and contact law enforcement. Then, call for medical help if needed, document the scene as much as you can, and collect information from the other driver involved in the collision.
You’ll also want to report the collision to your insurance company. However, you should not try to represent yourself or speak with other parties involved in the incident on your own. Instead, reach out to a Charlotte rear-end car accident lawyer who can handle your case.
The First Two Minutes After Impact: Safety, Position, and Reality
Rear-end crashes can compound into multi-car pile-ups if the crash interrupts the flow of traffic. To prevent further damage or additional injuries, try to get out of the way of other vehicles if it’s safe to do so.
If your vehicle is in a dangerous position but you can move it without putting yourself in harm’s way, pulling onto the shoulder or parking it in a nearby parking lot can lower the risk of a second collision. If it can’t be moved, turn on your hazard lights so other drivers can see your car.
Why Calling Law Enforcement Can Change the Entire Trajectory of Your Legal Claim
Rear-end crashes often turn into insurance disputes faster than people expect. Thankfully, law enforcement will put together a report that creates an objective record at the scene. That way, you have documented proof of what happened before stories change or details are blurred.
Here’s the type of information that a crash report can preserve:
- The other driver’s identity and insurance information
- An official account of how the collision occurred
- Witness names and contact details
- Observations about speed, distraction, or impairment
Police body camera footage can also be helpful because it captures what drivers say in the immediate aftermath of a collision before they’ve had time to come up with excuses or rehearse explanations. Statements like “I looked down” or “I didn’t see you stop” can matter later.
Why Rear-End Crashes Aren’t Automatically the Rear Driver’s Fault in North Carolina
Many people assume rear-end crashes are clear-cut. However, insurance companies don’t treat them that way—especially in North Carolina, where the state uses a contributory negligence law.
With this rule in mind, if someone who’s hurt in an accident is found even slightly at fault for the incident, they might not be able to recover any compensation in their case.
Insurers often raise the following arguments when attempting to shift blame onto victims:
- “They stopped for no reason.”
- “Their brake lights didn’t work.”
- “They got too close and slammed on the brakes.”
- “They rolled backward.”
- “They were distracted, too.”
Some of these defenses might apply in rare situations, but the majority of them are brought up simply to undermine victims and poke holes in arguments. Either way, rear-end claims quickly become evidence-driven, and an attorney can protect you from these predatory practices.
Why Rear-End Injuries Happen Even When the Damage Looks Minor
In rear-end crashes, injuries come from the force of motion, not the visible damage. Your body is pushed forward, snapped back, and forced to stabilize itself in milliseconds.
As a result, victims often sustain these types of injuries:
- Neck sprain and strain with tightness that spreads into the shoulders
- Headaches that start behind the eyes or at the base of the skull
- Low back pain that flares when you sit, stand, or climb stairs
- Tingling in hands or arms from nerve irritation
- Jaw pain from clenching during impact
- Dizziness, nausea, or light sensitivity tied to concussion symptoms
- Bruising from seatbelts or the steering wheel
Your lawyer will push for compensation that covers the full extent of your injuries. That way, you can focus on healing and recovering while your attorney handles legal matters on your behalf.
Settlement Talks Start Early, Even When You’re Still Healing
Rear-end crash victims often receive settlement calls early. Fast offers usually benefit the insurer far more than they consider what’s right for you as the injured party.
Pain and suffering damages are often one of the biggest losses in a rear-end crash, especially when your daily life changes overnight. These damages take time to apply a monetary value to, and you deserve time to calculate the extent of this type of damage in your case.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to value pain and suffering when you still don’t know if your symptoms will settle down in two weeks or turn into six months’ worth of therapy and headaches.
Contact CR Legal Team for Legal Advice on What You Should Do if You Get Rear-Ended
The moment another driver rear-ends your car is only the beginning. From there, many people experience the onset of painful injuries, delayed symptoms, and insurance disputes, all of which can slowly turn a seemingly simple incident into a complicated legal matter.
Many people think the crash was minor, only to later find themselves dealing with worsening neck, back, or head pain days—if not weeks—later. Meanwhile, the at-fault person’s insurance company will likely push for a fast process while extending a low settlement offer.
CR Legal Team wants you to know that you do not have to face the other party alone. Let us represent you in the aftermath of the crash.
With over 100 years of combined legal experience, we have helped more than 200,000 people. You can count on us to Stand Up For You®.
