[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/what-to-do-after-you-have-been-rear-ended-in-georgia\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/what-to-do-after-you-have-been-rear-ended-in-georgia\/","headline":"What to Do After You Have Been Rear-Ended in GA","name":"What to Do After You Have Been Rear-Ended in GA","description":"A serious rear-end car accident can have a serious impact on your life. Georgia rear-end accidents can cause severe injuries, requiring costly long-term medical care. Victims often suffer emotional trauma from these rear-end collisions, as well. If you have been injured in a rear-ender that was the fault...","datePublished":"2025-07-10","dateModified":"2025-11-06","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/author\/kenbernard\/#Person","name":"Ken Bernard","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/author\/kenbernard\/","identifier":7,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2c8989e3a6ded75e4fe0fae6e90fc6dfec65eaf7676e8cefa113ad6e8e2d6c66?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2c8989e3a6ded75e4fe0fae6e90fc6dfec65eaf7676e8cefa113ad6e8e2d6c66?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Sherrod & Bernard, P.C.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/SB-Logo-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/SB-Logo-1.png","width":300,"height":109}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rear-ended-accident.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rear-ended-accident.jpg","height":667,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/what-to-do-after-you-have-been-rear-ended-in-georgia\/","video":[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tqUpr-AwI1c#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=tqUpr-AwI1c","name":"How Is Fault Determined After a Georgia Car Accident? - Sherrod & Bernard, P.C.","description":"For more about car accident cases, visit: https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/how-is-fault-determined-after-a-georgia-car-accident\/\n__________________________________\nSherrod & Bernard, P.C. - Personal Injury Lawyers in Douglasville\n8470 Price Ave \nDouglasville, GA 30134\nPhone: (770) 920 - 8350\nwww.sherrodandbernard.com","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/tqUpr-AwI1c\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/tqUpr-AwI1c\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/tqUpr-AwI1c\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/tqUpr-AwI1c\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/tqUpr-AwI1c\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2025-07-10T18:31:15+00:00","duration":"PT2M50S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tqUpr-AwI1c","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w","name":"Sherrod and Bernard","description":"When you are in a legal bind, you need an experienced attorney you can count on to provide you with skilled representation and sound legal counsel. 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These simple precautions will help you avoid them.\n\nStep 1: Maintain your vehicle\nCheck your brakes, tires, and suspension each year. Besides working brakes, your car needs good tire traction and a tight suspension to stop properly.\n\nStep 2: Look ahead\nLook ahead to anticipate traffic slowdowns and stops. Watch for brake lights, and look beyond the cars directly in front of you. \n\nStep 3: Look behind\nKeep an eye on traffic behind you, too. Lose tailgaters by changing lanes or slowly decelerating until they pass.\n\nTip\nBefore you begin driving, adjust your rearview mirrors for a clear view.\n\nStep 4: Keep pace\nKeep pace with traffic. Avoid driving much slower or faster than the other cars on the road.\n\nStep 5: Follow the two-second rule\nLeave enough room ahead for a sudden stop. Notice when the car in front passes a fixed object, such as a road sign. If you reach the same point before you can count to two slowly, you are following too closely. \n\nTip\nStopping distance includes reaction time plus braking time. At 60 miles per hour, you will travel 60 feet before you even hit the brake, and will need another 180 feet to stop.\n\nStep 6: Signal and brake early\nGive the drivers behind you plenty of notice before you turn, change lanes, or slow down. When traffic ahead slows, tap your brakes to alert the cars behind. Then brake gently and smoothly. Don't slam on the brakes.\n\nStep 7: Look for escape routes\nLook for escape routes as you drive. Know where you could go if you had to swerve to avoid a collision.\n\nTip\nThe best way to avoid an accident is to pay attention to the road! Don't talk on your cell phone, put on makeup, eat or drink, or fiddle with the radio as you drive.\n\nStep 8: Stay out of blind spots\nStay out of other drivers' blind spots. If a car cuts you off changing lanes because the driver doesn't see you, you may have to slam on your brakes to avoid it. \n\nDid You Know?\nDid you know? Studies have shown that talking on a cell phone while driving slows driver reaction times by 18 percent.","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/XPYs-5GH-pM\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/XPYs-5GH-pM\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/XPYs-5GH-pM\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/XPYs-5GH-pM\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/XPYs-5GH-pM\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2010-02-04T13:07:46+00:00","duration":"PT2M10S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XPYs-5GH-pM","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCSpVHeDGr9UbREhRca0qwsA#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCSpVHeDGr9UbREhRca0qwsA","name":"Howcast","description":"Emphasizing high-quality instructional video production, Howcast brings you leading experts and accurate, reliable information on topics ranging from makeup tutorials, cute hairstyles, and nail art designs to soccer tricks, parkour, and skateboarding, plus how to dougie, how to kiss, and much, much more. 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Georgia rear-end accidents can cause severe injuries, requiring costly long-term medical care. Victims often suffer emotional trauma from these rear-end collisions, as well.If you have been injured in a rear-ender that was the fault of another motorist, you may be entitled to financial compensation.In most\u00a0rear-end accidents, the driver who gets rear-ended is not found to be at fault.\u00a0If you are stopped in traffic, for instance, and someone strikes your vehicle from behind, they are typically liable for your injuries. In fact,\u00a0Georgia law presumes fault\u00a0on the part of the motorist who rear-ends another vehicle. That means the driver must show evidence of negligence on someone else\u2019s part to avoid responsibility for the crash.It is always advisable to consult with a skilled and experienced car accident lawyer following a rear-end accident to establish liability and calculate the full extent of damages. Even if an insurer accepts liability for the\u00a0rear-end collision, you can count on them to attempt to underpay your losses.If you have been injured in a rear-end accident, contact the\u00a0Georgia car accident attorneys\u00a0at\u00a0Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., at (678) 905 7854 for a free and confidential consultation.\ufeffWhat Should You Do Immediately After a Rear-End Accident in Georgia?Being rear-ended can be a stressful and traumatic experience. You may feel overwhelmed about what to do after a rear-end accident. You are not alone.If you\u2019ve been involved in a rear-end accident in Georgia, we strongly recommend taking the following steps:Check for injuries.\u00a0Check to see if you or your\u00a0passengers are injured. Even if it seems like your\u00a0injuries are minor, you should still seek medical attention. Sometimes the adrenaline rush following an accident can mask\u00a0injury symptoms. You may feel OK, but then hours or even days later, you experience symptoms.Call the police. Call the police and report the rear-end accident. The police report could be essential when establishing liability. Without an official police report, it\u2019s simply your word against the other party\u2019s. Remember though that the police do not have the final say on fault for a crash. That\u2019s ultimately the court\u2019s job if the parties and insurers can\u2019t reach an agreement. When the police arrive, do not admit fault and don\u2019t speculate about things you don\u2019t know for a fact. Answer their questions and allow them to document the scene.\u00a0Make sure you keep a police report for your records and have another copy sent to your insurer.Get medical treatment.\u00a0See a doctor immediately following the accident. Some injuries, such as\u00a0whiplash\u00a0or a\u00a0brain injury, could go unnoticed for days or even weeks. If you wait that long to see a physician, however, it could harm not only your health but also your\u00a0claim for compensation.\u00a0Insurance companies\u00a0will often argue that a delay in seeking treatment is evidence that you were not seriously injured.Document evidence.\u00a0Take photos with your phone at the accident scene. Photos are valuable evidence when you\u00a0file an injury claim. Be sure to get the name, address, phone number, driver\u2019s license information, and license plate number of the driver who struck your vehicle.Do not admit fault.\u00a0Never admit fault, even if you believe you were partially at fault. Resist the urge to apologize too. Apologies could be taken out of context and twisted into an admission of fault. Allow the police and\u00a0insurance companies\u00a0to determine who was at fault. If you disagree with their conclusion, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. A lawyer can see that the liable party is held accountable.Report the accident to your insurer. Contact your insurance company as soon as you can following the rear-end accident to report the incident. Provide only the basic information about who, what, where, and when.Contact a\u00a0lawyer. Call a Georgia car accident\u00a0lawyer as soon as possible following the rear-end accident. An experienced attorney can gather evidence in your case and work on your behalf to seek the compensation you need and deserve. The at-fault party should pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. The sooner you contact an attorney, the more likely you are to get an adequate\u00a0settlement in a timely\u00a0fashion.What Steps Should I Follow After a Rear-End Car Accident in Georgia?At Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., our experienced\u00a0car accident attorneys\u00a0are committed to helping people who have been injured through no fault of their own. We fight tirelessly to protect the rights of\u00a0car accident victims in Georgia, helping them seek the financial compensation they need to get their lives back on track.Follow through on doctor\u2019s orders.\u00a0Always follow all orders from your doctor. When doctor\u2019s orders are not followed, an insurance company could try to argue that your rear-end\u00a0accident injury\u00a0was not as serious as stated.Keep all receipts and documents.\u00a0Make sure you keep all receipts and documents related to the accident. Every doctor\u2019s appointment, prescription, and any\u00a0medical bill\u00a0should be kept. All these receipts and documents should be given to your lawyer. Some costs can be difficult to recover without a receipt. When this evidence is in the hands of an experienced injury attorney, the at-fault party\u2019s insurance company will likely pay up.Write a pain journal.\u00a0Every day following the accident, write down all your symptoms, as well as the challenges you face in your life because of the physical and emotional trauma. Include the date and time in your journal entries. A pain journal can be a powerful form of evidence should you have to file a lawsuit. It\u2019s easy to forget how much an injury affected your life. A journal can help you keep track of all you went through and missed out on due to the crash.Don\u2019t post on social media.\u00a0Never post anything about your accident on social media. If you are injured in a rear-end accident, the value of your case depends on the extent and the nature of your injuries.\u00a0Insurance adjusters\u00a0will be looking for reasons to diminish your claim, and they may even look at your social media accounts. Anything you post on social media about the accident can be used against you.\ufeffIs There a Time Limit on Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit for My Injuries from a Rear-End Accident?Yes, there is. The\u00a0statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit in Georgia\u00a0is two years. You need to be sure to file your lawsuit before that time passes. Should you not file your lawsuit within that two years, you will not be able to have your case heard in court.How To Reduce The Risk Of Rear-End CollisionsInjuries due to\u00a0rear-end collisions\u00a0are common reasons why people seek representation from a\u00a0car accident lawyer near Lithia Springs. These types of collisions can cause whiplash injuries and serious damage to the car. Although you cannot completely eliminate the risk of being involved in this kind of accident, there are steps you can take to reduce your chances. Watch the video below to learn more.When you are driving, keep a close eye on the traffic in front of you, and adjust your speed accordingly. If a car is following you too closely, change lanes or slow down until the car passes you. Avoid slamming on your brakes, and always have an escape route in mind in case you need to swerve suddenly to\u00a0avoid a collision. If you are the victim of a rear-end collision, call a\u00a0car accident lawyer\u00a0right away. Your car accident attorney can help you get compensation for damage to your car and personal injuries.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOur Georgia Rear-End Accident Lawyers Are Ready to Help You NowAt\u00a0Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., our experienced and knowledgeable\u00a0Georgia personal injury lawyers\u00a0understand how difficult the aftermath of a rear-end accident can be for you. Our compassionate Georgia rear-end collision lawyers are ready to work hard to hold the at-fault parties accountable and pursue the maximum compensation for your injuries.Contact the Georgia rear-end accident attorneys at Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., today by phone or online for a free and confidential consultation.Visit Our Georgia Car Accident Injury Law Offices"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What to Do After You Have Been Rear-Ended in GA","item":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/what-to-do-after-you-have-been-rear-ended-in-georgia\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]