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Car Accidents

Rear-End Car Accident at Stoplight: Was the Other Driver Distracted?

Posted Aug 15, 2022 by Matt Boulton

Attorney Matt Boulton has been investigating and helping victims of rear-end car accidents since he began practicing law, 25+ years ago.

In most cases, he represented the driver of a car or truck that was hit from behind by a distracted driver. And as technology has increased the number of distractions in vehicles, the number of these cases have risen over the years.

However, it’s not always technology that is the culprit behind a rear-end car accident. Matt has witnessed crashes across Indiana that were caused by distractions that were less obvious, such as:

  • Drivers looking at surroundings instead of the road.
  • An unsecured animal, e.g., dog, in the vehicle or on driver’s lap.
  • Applying make-up.
  • Eating food or drinking a beverage.
  • Swatting at an insect in the vehicle.
  • Loud passengers, music, conversations, etc.

The list of distractions that cause Indiana car accidents throughout truly knows no limits, such as a rear-end collision that occurred at a stoplight in Indianapolis:

Rear-End Car Accident at Indianapolis Stoplight

Matt was contacted by an accident victim who reported that he and his passenger had been rear-ended by a distracted driver while they were sitting at a stoplight.

While liability seemed clear based on the victim’s version of events, a copy of the Indiana accident report would be required to verify the claims of all participants.

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According to the narrative in the crash report filed by Indianapolis Metro Police Department (IMPD), the accident occurred at the intersection stoplight of Rockville Road and Transfer.

Per the report, Driver #1 (defendant) was traveling eastbound in the left-hand lane of Rockville Road, approaching the Transfer Drive intersection. The defendant told the officer he “had debris in his shoe while driving, and he kicked off his shoe to remove the debris.” After he kicked off his shoe, he saw Vehicle #2 (clients) stopped in front of him.

The defendant then stated he, “hit his break pedal but his shoe was under the brake pedal and he could not apply the brakes.”

As illustrated in the report diagram below, the defendant then tried to swerve but was unable to, causing the left-front corner of his vehicle to strike the right-rear corner of the client’s vehicle.

Due to the injuries sustained by the occupants of the rear-ended vehicle, the officer was unable to gather their statement, however, evidence at the scene supported the defendant’s account.

Rear-End Car Accident Caused by Distracted Driving

Do Rear-End Car Accidents Require an Attorney?

When someone is rear-ended, the chances are high that they will share little to no liability for the accident, especially when the accident report places liability on the driver who struck the victim from behind. In cases like this, you may question whether it’s necessary to hire an Indianapolis personal injury attorney?

As is the case in the majority of car accidents, liability is Step #1 in Indiana’s personal injury claims process. The majority of the important work involved in rear-end cases is spent proving the value of the damages.

In this above incident, the occupants of Vehicle #2 decided it would be in their best interest to have an experienced car accident attorney evaluate the claim and handle the defendant’s insurance company.

Boulton Law Group’s Approach to Car Accident Cases

Matt has settled a variety of car accident claims throughout the state of Indiana, and no matter the size, type, or injuries involved, he approaches each case with a goal of recovering maximum compensation and delivering exceptional client service.

Once liability has been established in his client’s car accident claim, the next order of business is for Matt to evaluate the client’s injuries and medical treatment.

Depending on the injuries, clients can spend various amounts of time in treatment before being released by their doctors. It’s not until a client’s doctor has stated that they have reached their maximum recovery that Matt will order official records and bills related to their treatment.

Once all the records and bill shave been received, Matt will develop a custom demand package that clearly lays out the client’s experience related to the car accident and a corresponding demand for compensation.

Indiana’s personal injury law allows for car accident victims to recover for various types of compensation, which often include:

  • Medical bills – Can be related to past and/or ongoing care required due to the accident.
  • Lost wages – If your doctor excuses you from work, you have the right to seek reimbursement for missed hours.
  • Pain and suffering – This portion of a claim is not only unique to each person, but it often accounts for the most valuable portion of your case.

Matt always provides his clients with a claim value estimate before he settles the case.

Questions About a Distracted Driving Accident?

If you’ve been involved in an accident with a distracted driver, be sure to understand your rights before you accept the insurance company’s offer.

Attorney Matt Boulton offers a Zero Fee Guarantee to all injured Hoosiers. This promise helps to ensure that everyone has access to award-winning legal representation without any upfront costs. The only time Boulton Law Group receives payment for its services is if the firm is hired and wins a case on your behalf.

Matt Boulton

Author Matt Boulton

Attorney Matt Boulton is an award-winning personal injury attorney with more than 25 years of experience helping seriously injured people throughout Indiana. He designed his firm for the client who expects exceptional service and passionate, successful legal representation.

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