If you’ve been involved in a rear-end collision, you may face hefty medical bills, missed time at work, and other accident-related expenses. The trailing vehicle is often at fault for crashing into you. While that could make it easier to win a personal injury claim when you’ve been rear-ended, such cases can take months or years to resolve.
Rockpoint Legal Funding helps you bridge the gap. We provide rear-end crash victims with lawsuit loans while their car accident cases are in the process of being finalized. That frees you up to focus on recovery. Plus, you don’t have to repay the personal injury funding if the lawsuit doesn’t go your way.
Rear-End Collisions: The Most Common Type of Accident
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rear-end accidents are the most common type of motor vehicle collision. Rear-end accidents account for around 29% of all crashes, which means they make up nearly one out of every three collisions in the United States.
There are about 1.7 million rear-end accidents on US roadways each year. According to the Insurance Information Institute, there were nearly 3,000 deadly rear-end collisions in 2021, accounting for 7.5% of all fatal accidents in the country.
Five Common Causes of Rear-End Accidents
Most rear-end collisions occur when the vehicle in front stops or moves very slowly. But what causes the vehicle behind to crash into it? While rear-end collisions may be due to anything from brake failure to a medical emergency, these are some of the more common causes:
1. Speeding
Speeding is an important factor in rear-end collisions. The faster you go, the more distance you need to stop. According to the NHTSA, speeding was a factor in 13% of injury crashes and 28% of fatal crashes in 2021. Of course, speeding doesn’t just mean driving over the speed limit. Driving too fast for traffic patterns, road conditions, or inclement weather can also cause rear-end collisions.
2. Tailgating
Another common reason for rear-end accidents is tailgating. The less space you leave between you and the car in front, the less time you have to react. In some cases, aggressive drivers intentionally tailgate the vehicle in front of them. In other cases, people simply fail to maintain a safe distance for the speed of travel — at least three seconds between cars.
3. Distracted Driving
One of the more preventable causes of rear-end collisions is distracted driving. Every year, distracted driving kills about 3,000 people. People take their eyes off the road for many reasons, including eating, drinking, adjusting the radio, and looking at their cell phones. Despite increasing regulations against texting and driving, cell phone use is involved in 12% of car accidents in the United States.
4. Drowsy or Intoxicated Driving
Drowsy and drunk driving kill even more people per year than distracted driving. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says that drowsy driving contributes to about 328,000 crashes, 109,000 injuries, and 6,400 deaths each year. According to the NHTSA, drunk driving kills more than twice that amount, leading to 13,524 fatalities in 2022.
5. Weather Conditions
Inclement weather poses all sorts of safety hazards on the road. Ice and rain can create slippery conditions, causing vehicles to lose traction. Fog and snow can reduce visibility, so drivers can’t see the vehicles in front of them until it’s too late. While drivers can’t control the weather, they often fail to adjust to it by lowering their speed and giving themselves more time to stop.
Common Injuries in Rear-End Accidents
If you’re seeking a personal injury settlement loan, you’re likely aware of the dangers of rear-end collisions. Even when rear-end accidents aren’t fatal, they can cause injuries that affect your life dramatically, such as:
Whiplash
One of the most common injuries in rear-end collisions, whiplash causes a powerful whipping movement of the head and neck. Whiplash can lead to pain, stiffness, headaches, and even concussions. Research suggests that an estimated 85% of the neck injuries sustained in car accidents are from rear-end crashes.
Brain Injuries
Some of the most potentially devastating injuries in rear-end collisions are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). In some accidents, you may suffer only a mild concussion that leaves no permanent damage. A severe brain injury, however, can have all sorts of lasting consequences, such as seizures, cognitive difficulties, and trouble communicating.
Spinal Injuries
Another potentially catastrophic injury is spinal damage. You may suffer anything from a slipped disc to a spinal fracture and even paralysis. Spinal injuries and other severe back problems can make it difficult or impossible to work. In such instances, securing pre-settlement funding may be an even more pressing concern.
Other Injuries
Although often less life-altering than a TBI or spinal damage, musculoskeletal injuries like broken arms or torn ligaments may cause extreme pain or prevent you from performing regular activities. A rear-end collision also sometimes causes permanent scarring, disfigurement, or mental health trauma like PTSD, anxiety, or depression.
How Can Personal Injury Funding Help Me?
You may struggle to make ends meet if you’ve suffered any of these injuries in a rear-end collision. You might feel tempted to settle your case for less than it’s worth because you need the money now.
Litigation funding with Rockpoint Legal Funding may be the answer. When you take out a legal loan, you’ll receive cash fast — no credit checks or application fees. We’ll simply review your case to see whether it qualifies. If it does, you’ll receive your lawsuit funding quickly (possibly as soon as today)!
The best part? You can use your personal injury funding for whatever you need. Pre-settlement loans are commonly used for the following expenses:
- Medical treatment or medical devices
- In-home personal assistance with daily activities
- Groceries
- Rent or mortgage payments
- School tuition
- Vehicle repair, replacement, or maintenance costs
- Utility bills
- Credit card payments
Contact Rockpoint Legal Funding Today
For more information about our litigation funding services, call (855) 725-1187 to schedule a free consultation with Rockpoint Legal Funding. Or apply online right now to start the process today!
