Rear-End Accidents Frequently Fatal 

 Posted on November 18, 2022 in Personal Injury Lawsuits

A WGN-TV story from Halloween day was a frightening reminder of how deadly rear-end collisions can become. Two people were killed and two more were seriously hurt when a Lexus SUV traveling eastbound on Empire Road struck the rear of a Lily Lake Elementary School bus between Burlington Road and Illinois Route 47. A 19-year-old male passenger and 20-year-old female passenger were both pronounced dead at the scene while the 18-year-old male driver and a 17-year-old female passenger were transported to Delnor Hospital before being airlifted to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago with life-threatening injuries. Central Community Unit School District 301 said no students were harmed in the collision and all were released and reunited with their families.

Anybody who suffers injuries in a rear-end accident should quickly contact a Waukegan rear-end collision attorney for help investigating the accident. Compensation for medical bills, lost income, vehicle repairs, and other damages may be available. 

Rear-End Accidents 

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that rear-end crashes are the most frequently occurring type of collision, accounting for approximately 29 percent of all crashes. The Washington Post reported a few years ago that there are currently 1.7 million rear-end collisions a year in the United States.

The bus crash mentioned above demonstrates how fatalities are often far more likely in rear-end accidents for the trailing vehicle, which is the motor vehicle striking the other vehicle, known as the leading vehicle. People in trailing vehicles are often going much faster than leading vehicles, which may not be moving at all.

While people being killed is more likely in the cars usually causing rear-end accidents (and make no mistake, the vehicle striking another vehicle is usually at fault in a rear-end collision), the people in the leading vehicles can often suffer a wide range of possible injuries. Some of the kinds of injuries can include traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) people suffer from being thrown and having heads collide with glass or other objects, broken bones, or spinal cord injuries.

There are several common causes of rear-end collisions, which include:

• Speeding

• Tailgating

• Distracted driving

• Drunk driving

• Drowsy driving

• Inclement weather

Contact a Lake County Car Accident Lawyer

The winter season is going to mean a lot more opportunities for rear-end collisions, so make sure you get legal help if you might have an injury claim for your crash. You can work with a Waukegan rear-end collision attorney from Salvi & Maher, LLP who can thoroughly represent you and serve your best interests. 

Our firm has more than 85 years of combined legal experience. You can call 847-662-3303 or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation. 

Sources: 

https://wgntv.com/news/deadly-crash-involving-school-bus-in-kane-county-authorities-say/

https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/analyses20of20rear-end20crashes20and20near-crashes2028dot20hs208102084629.pdf

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2015/06/08/there-are-about-1-7-million-rear-end-collisions-on-u-s-roads-each-year-heres-how-to-stop-them/