Ohio Rear-End Accident Lawyers

In a rear-end accident case, proving the other side’s negligence is rarely an issue. The driver may try, but it is difficult to find an excuse for running into the back of another vehicle. More likely, the driver was sending text messages or was too distracted to notice that traffic had stopped. Distracted driving accidents and other rear-end collisions are clear acts of negligence, and negligent drivers need to be held accountable.

At Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima, our Ohio rear-end collision injury attorneys have more than 200 years of combined experience holding negligent drivers accountable. They have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for clients across southwestern Ohio and northwestern Kentucky. You can count on them. Contact us at 513-496-0134. We’re available 24/7.

Why Choose Our Cincinnati Law Firm For Your Rear-End Collision Case?

When you choose Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima, you are choosing a team dedicated to maximum compensation. We deploy our resources and renowned experience to benefit your claim by:

• Maximizing your recovery: Leveraging our record of multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements, we enter negotiations with the strength to demand the full value of your claim, not just what the insurance company offers.
• Applying meticulous, trial-tested advocacy: Utilizing our extensive trial experience and renowned attention to detail, we thoroughly prepare your case to meet the highest legal standards, providing you with maximum leverage.
• Bringing award-winning authority to your case: Demonstrating the professional excellence you receive through our respected reputation and prestigious accolades, including the Super Lawyers designation and an Avvo 10.0 rating.
• Aggressively protecting your entitlement: Challenging every insurance tactic designed to downplay your injuries or unfairly inflate your percentage of fault.

Choosing our firm means securing dedicated, top-tier legal representation from day one.

Common Injuries Caused By Rear-End Accidents

The sudden, violent force of a rear-end collision, even at low speeds, can violently whip the body, resulting in serious and long-lasting injuries to the neck and spine. These accidents frequently cause a range of traumatic injuries that require extensive medical care:

• Whiplash and neck injuries: The abrupt head movement frequently strains or tears muscles, tendons and ligaments in the cervical spine.
• Back and spinal disc injuries: This includes herniated or bulging discs, pinched nerves and painful vertebral compression fractures.
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI): The head snapping forward or impacting the steering wheel/headrest can cause concussions and more severe brain trauma.
• Bone fractures: Fractures can occur in the arms, legs, ribs or face from bracing for impact or hitting the vehicle’s interior.

While opponents often try to downplay the severity of whiplash, our lawyers know that every person and injury is different. Our attorneys bring in trusted experts to explain the specific, long-term impact of your injury and aggressively pursue the full compensation you need.

Who Is At Fault In An Ohio Rear-End Accident?

It is a common, costly misconception that the rear driver is always 100% liable. While they are usually at fault, Ohio law has critical nuances that affect your right to compensation.

Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 4511.21 establishes the assured clear distance ahead (ACDA) rule. This rule generally presumes that the following driver is negligent if they strike the car ahead. It legally requires drivers to operate at a speed that allows them to stop within their clear line of sight.

Despite the ACDA rule, the lead driver (the victim) may share fault in scenarios that can legally defeat the negligence presumption. These exceptions include:

• Nonfunctioning brake lights or emergency signals on the leading vehicle
• An arbitrary, sudden and unexpected stop in a place where a stop should not be anticipated
• An illegal lane change or merge that cuts off the following driver without proper warning

Gathering evidence of these exceptions is vital to establishing shared or exclusive fault for the lead driver.

Ohio’s Modified Comparative Negligence Rule

Ohio law uses a modified comparative negligence rule to determine financial recovery. This means that if you are found partially at fault, your recovery is limited by your percentage of fault:

• If you are 50% or less at fault, you can still recover damages, but your award will be reduced by your fault percentage.
• If you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you are legally barred from recovering any compensation from the other driver.

Insurance companies aggressively try to shift blame to you to reduce their payout or eliminate it entirely using the 51% bar. Our job is to defend against this.

Contact Us For A Consultation With An Ohio Rear-End Accident Attorney

When you need someone at your side who can not only understand the nature of your charges but also develop a plan to overcome them, contact our Ohio personal injury law firm online or call us at 513-496-0134 for a consultation.