Rear-end Collisions Attorneys in Boston

Rear-end accidents in Boston are a common occurrence, as they are throughout Massachusetts and New England. Congested roads, older roads not built for high traffic volume, and the presence of red light cameras or other traffic control devices have all increased your risk of being involved in a rear-end collision.

The Boston car accident attorneys at the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers are dedicated to helping accident victims recover losses through personal injury and wrongful death litigation. Rear-end collisions are often derided as whiplash claims. The fact of the matter is that they can lead to very serious, debilitating injuries.

With many types of accidents, a driver has some warning, and may even be able to take evasive action to avoid some of a collision's blunt force. With a rear-end collision, a vehicle's occupants typically have no such warning. Common causes of rear-end crashes in Massachusetts include:

• Panic Stopping
• Tailgating
• Sudden stop by the first car
• Rapid acceleration by the second car
• Red-light cameras or other intersection technologies
• Congested streets

In many cases, the risk of serious or fatal injury is compounded by the size of the vehicles. Being struck from behind by a larger vehicle can be devastating, and may even force you into the vehicle in front of you. Conversely, hitting the rear of a larger vehicle, particularly a large truck, can result in an underride accident, in which your car is forced beneath the leading vehicle.

The rear driver is typically cited in such accidents. A 2011 investigation by the Hingham Police Department found tailgating was the leading cause of injury crashes in the city - sending more people to the hospital than drunk driving or speeding.

In some cases, a defective vehicle claim may arise from a rear-end collision. There have been any number of claims over the years of defective gas tanks or structural defects that exacerbate a crash. In other cases, large commercial trucks without override guards or other protective equipment can result in a higher chance of serious or fatal injury.

Whiplash is not a medical term. And unfortunately, it has become synonymous with injury lawsuits. Whiplash is used to describe "Cervical Acceleration-Deceleration" injuries, which is the rapid movement of the neck. These injuries have been around since the dawn of motorized travel; they were called "railroad spine" before motor vehicles, when the most common cause was a train collision.

The truth of the matter is that the neck is a very delicate structure of tendon and bone. Neck, back, or shoulder injury as a result of a rear-end collision may include headaches, pain in the arms and legs and numbness. A whiplash injury may be the result of the stretching of the spine's anterior longitudinal ligament, which stretches or tears as the head snaps forward and then back.

Similar injuries can be caused on amusement park rides, particularly roller coasters, and in certain sporting accidents. Certain injuries associated with shaken baby syndrome are essentially whiplash injuries. And rear-end collisions can cause very serious neck and back injuries, which should not be dismissed and should not be taken lightly. Victims, too, should understand the long-term implications of such injuries. And should take such information into account when determining whether to pursue a personal injury claim against an at-fault driver.

If your family is dealing with a Massachusetts car accident, contact the Boston personal injury lawyers and wrongful death attorneys at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers today for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

Boston Injury Lawyer - (617) 777-7777 -- Free Consultation