West Virginia car accidents happen for many reasons, such as distracted driving, speeding, and intoxication, every year. However, some of these accidents also take place due to sudden stopping. When a driver suddenly slams on their brakes for reasons that are not always apparent, a driver who is behind them might be forced to slam into the rear of their car or will swerve out of the way, both of which can be incredibly dangerous in nature.
Sudden stop accidents can be injurious or deadly, especially when they happen on the high speeds of a highway. They might also lead to chain-reaction crashes, as one vehicle might not be able to stop, which could cause one vehicle after another to pile up into them. If you have been injured in one of these accidents and you are unsure of where to turn, our experienced personal injury attorneys in West Virginia want you to know that you are not alone.
The Reasons Why Sudden Stop Accidents Occur on Our Roads
Sudden stop accidents take place when one driver suddenly stops and the vehicle behind them rear-ends them, which can happen for many reasons. The thing that you must understand is that not all of these accidents happen for negligent reasons. For instance, a driver might come upon debris in the road or an animal and will not be able to get out of the way, which means that they might slam on their brakes. These types of accidents can lead to severe results, including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, soft tissue injuries, and even death in the worst-case scenario.
In other cases, a driver might be engaging in the reckless act of speeding, drunk driving, distracted driving, or many other factors that cause them to slam on their brakes or otherwise lose control of their vehicle. All drivers in West Virginia owe a standard duty of care that states that they must act in a way that does not endanger other motorists on the road. If you believe that another driver has acted in a negligent way, you might be able to bring a claim for compensation after you have been caused harm unexpectedly.
Many of these accidents are considered rear-end accidents. One thing that you might know about rear-end accidents is that the vehicle in the back is almost always presumed to be at fault for an accident. However, if the driver in front comes to a sudden and unexpected stop, this might not be the case. This is especially true in cases where back brake lights are not working and a driver in the back doesn’t know that the front driver is stopping in time.
Establishing Negligence and Bringing a Personal Injury Claim
Our West Virginia accident attorneys understand that this might be one of the most challenging things that you have ever faced, as injuries can cause havoc in your life when they happen so unexpectedly. If you are able to show that another party has acted in a reckless manner and this contributed to your accident, you might be able to obtain medical expenses and other damages for your losses. However, you will have to show that the driver in front of you actually came to a sudden stop for reasons that were no fault of your own.
At Katz, Kantor, Stonestreet & Buckner, our experienced personal injury attorneys have handled many different types of West Virginia car accident claims and are fully committed to helping you bring a claim against a party who has acted in a careless fashion. We are dedicated to helping you through every aspect so that you are not alone. Please reach out to us at (304) 713-2014 to find out how we can assist you.