What to Know About Filing a Car Insurance Claim for a Rear-End Accident
Driving on today’s roads has become more interactive. With GPS, ride-sharing, and mobile app technology taking up our collective attention, it’s no wonder that distracted driving is a major reason why avoidable rear-end accidents just aren’t going away anytime soon.
In fact, rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident in the United States, accounting for 30 percent of all traffic accidents every year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. With texting, video chatting, and swiping available at our fingertips, it’s not hard to picture a highway full of distracted drivers.
But even with a goal of cutting down on distracted driving and getting our eyes back on the road, it’s still important to understand what needs to be done when filing an insurance claim from a rear-end collision. Here are some key things to think about when this happens.
Liability for Rear-End Accident
The driver who rear-ends another vehicle is usually the one at fault for the accident, except for a very limited number of scenarios. The driver in the back will more than likely be found negligent and more scrutiny will be put on them as to why they rear-ended the other driver. There are a few rare moments where the driver in front has some sort of liability in the accident, including brake checking, reversing suddenly, not taking care of a broken tail light, or continuing to drive with a mechanical issue or flat tire.
Compensation for Losses
Outside of these very rare scenarios, the accident’s liability is pretty clear cut. Another issue during a rear-end accident has to do with calculating the overall damages from the incident. Getting compensated for vehicle damage following a rear-end collision is usually also straightforward. Liability will be proven and agreed upon and damage to the vehicle is easy to determine. Local insurance providers, like Hartford car insurance company Byrnes Agency, will pay out damage claims to the rear-end accident victim and all should be settled.
However, getting compensated for injuries can be confusing and haphazard in some scenarios. This part of the insurance injury claim process usually sees a lot of back and forth, especially when personal injuries, like whiplash, are involved.
Dealing with Whiplash Cases
This is a common neck injury that is a result of a fender-bender. When someone is on the receiving end of a rear-end collision, it can cause possible injury by whipping their head back quickly, causing problems in their neck, back, and shoulders. These soft tissue injuries come in the form of strains and sprains to muscles and tendons and can sideline someone from their daily life due to discomfort.
The main measure of whiplash injuries is subjective complaints of pain and overall discomfort like headaches, migraines, blurred vision, and neck pain. In this case, this means that drivers who have been rear-ended may try to make a claim bigger than it really is, causing insurance companies to be skeptical of payouts and claims.
Regardless of the claim, it’s important to note that these types of collisions can be avoided through more focus and attention on the road. While these accidents have been around since the beginning of the automobile, it’s no secret that distracted driving has only increased the importance of not only having car insurance but being more cognizant behind the wheel.
Having the right kind of insurance from a Hartford car insurance provider like Byrnes Agency will help to keep drivers protected when it comes to paying out settlements, taking care of damaged cars, and even handling whiplash and other injuries.
About Byrnes Agency
At Byrnes Agency, we offer insurance solutions that can be tailored to meet your specific needs. Whether you’re looking for personal policies or commercial coverage, we have the right coverage for you. To learn more about our products, contact us today at one of our two locations.
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Phone: (860) 774-8549
394 Lake Rd
Dayville, CT 06241
United States
info@byrnesagency.com
Hours of Operation: Monday- Friday 9:00am-5:00pm
Phone: (860) 886-5498
6 Consumers Avenue
Norwich, CT 06360
United States
info@byrnesagency.com
Hours of Operation: Monday- Friday 9:00am-5:00pm
Tags: auto, Auto Insurance, Auto Insurance Claim, Byrnes Agency, car, Car Accident, Car Insurance, CT auto insurance, Filing a Claim, Hartford Car Insurance, personal insurance, Rear-End Collision