Whether it happens while you are stopped at a traffic light, at high speed on the interstate, or anywhere else, being rear-ended by a negligent driver can be both physically and emotionally traumatizing. Even worse, car insurance alone will not always pay for all of the injuries and damages you have sustained because of a wreck like this, especially if there is any question—and more often than you might expect, there is—about who was actually at fault for the crash in the first place.

Regardless of how badly you have been hurt or what specific “damages” you need to seek restitution for as a result, you should strongly consider seeking help from one of our experienced car accident attorneys before trying to pursue a claim like this on your own. Rear-end car accidents in Findlay can cause serious and long-lasting injuries, and you will want support from a dependable legal professional if you want to minimize the effects your wreck has on your life in the long term.

Getting Paid Fairly for Short-Term and Long-Term Losses

In the best-case scenario, a rear-end car crash in Findlay will just be a “fender bender” that causes only minor damage to the vehicles involved without any person involved getting injured at all. Unfortunately, this scenario is not as common as the ones where one driver’s reckless or careless actions behind the wheel lead to another person sustaining injuries like whiplash, soft-tissue damage, broken bones, or even permanent and debilitating trauma to the brain or spinal cord.

Because of this, filing suit effectively over this sort of incident often requires identifying and then estimating a fair value for losses that will not fully come to pass until years after the legal process has ended, including things like:

• Long-term costs of medical and rehabilitative care,
• Physical discomfort and pain,
• Out-of-pocket expenses for things like wheelchairs and home/vehicle modifications,
• Mental anguish and suffering,
• Lost work earnings due to long-term disability, and/or
• Lost overall quality of life.

Among other things, a seasoned lawyer from our team can provide vital assistance with building a strong civil claim against the driver who rear-ended you that accounts for all the “damages” their actions will cause you.

Is the Rearmost Driver Always at Fault for a Rear-End Wreck?

You would be forgiven for assuming that someone who drives into the back of another vehicle is always the one legally “at fault” for causing that wreck. While it is true that most rear-end wrecks in Findlay happen because of negligence by the rearmost driver, courts and insurance companies will not just assume that is the case in every situation. It will fall to you as the injured person to prove that you were injured because of a specific traffic offense or other irresponsible act committed by the “defendant” you are suing.

You may also need to prove that you were not at fault for causing your accident—for instance, because you slammed on your brakes suddenly for no reason, or were driving with non-functioning taillights. Otherwise, Ohio Revised Code §2315.33 could allow a court to reduce the total compensation you can win through your claim, or even throw the case out entirely if you hold most of the fault for your accident.

Consider Working With a Findlay Attorney on Your Rear-End Car Accident Claim

Getting hurt in a rear-end car accident in Findlay can interfere with every part of your personal and professional life, especially if your injuries will continue harming you for years and decades to come. Fortunately, you have a right to demand fair financial recovery from anyone who played a role in injuring you and help from seasoned legal counsel in enforcing that right.

Working closely with our team here at Charles E. Boyk Law Offices will dramatically improve your chances of getting the positive case result you want. Call today for a free and confidential consultation.