Who Is At-Fault In A Rear-End Collision In Charlotte, NC?

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Who Is At-Fault In A Rear-End Collision In Charlotte, NC?

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A rear-end collision occurs when one car hits the back of another vehicle. Rear-end collisions are usually caused by drivers following too closely or not paying attention to the road or traffic in front of them.

If you were injured in a rear-end accident, it could be challenging to determine who the at-fault driver is. Many people assume that the driver who hit them from behind is automatically at fault, but this is not always the case.

At The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, our Charlotte car accident lawyers have years of experience helping car accident victims get the compensation they deserve. If you have questions about who is at fault in a rear-end crash, contact us today for a free consultation.

Frequency of Rear-End Collisions in Charlotte, N.C.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that rear-end collisions account for around 29% of car accidents that involve severe injuries or fatalities.

Common Causes of Rear-End Accidents

Many different factors can contribute to a rear-end collision, but some of the most common causes include:

  • Distracted Driving – Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents in general, and rear-end collisions are no exception. According to the Annual Traffic Safety Report, in 2016, distracted driving accounted for 28.1% of the total car crashes in Charlotte. Distracted driving can include talking on the phone to eating and drinking while behind the wheel.
  • Speeding – Speeding is another major factor that can contribute to rear-end collisions. When drivers are going over the speed limit, they have less time to react to the car in front of them if they need to stop suddenly.
  • Tailgating – Tailgating, or following too closely behind another car, is also a major cause of rear-end collisions. When the driver in front of you has to brake suddenly and you’re tailgating them, you won’t have enough time to stop yourself in time. Tailgating was the cause of 4.3% of car crashes in Charlotte in 2016.
  • Mechanical Issues – If either car involved in the accident has mechanical issues, such as brake problems, it can lead to a rear-end collision.

What to Do After a Rear-End Car Accident in Charlotte

If you’ve been involved in a rear-end collision, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention, even if you don’t think you’re injured. Sometimes injuries from car accidents don’t show up right away, so it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Once you’ve seen a doctor, you should contact an attorney.

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor attorneys have years of experience dealing with car accidents and can help you determine who is at fault in your collision. We offer free consultations to discuss your case with an experienced lawyer and find out what your options are.

Common Rear-End Collision Injuries

Rear-end collisions can cause various injuries, some of which may not show up right away. Some common injuries that rear-end collisions can cause include:

  • Whiplash – Whiplash is one of the most common injuries caused by car accidents. It occurs when the head and neck are suddenly jerked forward and back again.
  • Concussions – Concussions are also common injuries caused by a rear-end crash. A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that occurs when the brain is hit or shaken hard enough to cause it to bounce around inside the skull.
  • Back injuries – Back injuries are another common injury caused by car accidents. Back injuries can range from mild to severe, and in some cases, they can even be permanent.
  • Neck injuries – Neck injuries are also common in car accidents, especially rear-end collisions. Neck injuries can range from mild to severe and sometimes lead to long-term problems.

If you’ve been injured in a rear-end collision, contact an experienced attorney today to see if we can help.

Determining Fault in Rear-End Collision Cases

In most cases, the driver who rear-ends the car in front is at fault for the collision. This is because they usually didn’t have enough time to stop and hit the car in front of them. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule.

When the Lead Driver is At-Fault in a Rear-End Collision

There are times when the driver who is in front may be at fault for the rear-end collision. This usually happens when the driver in front was driving recklessly or caused the accident on purpose.

For example, If the lead car stopped suddenly for no reason, the driver who rear-ended them may not be at fault. If the vehicle in front was driving erratically or swerving in and out of lanes, the driver who hit them from behind might not be at fault either. In these cases, the driver who hit them from behind may be able to file a claim against the driver in front.

Contributory Negligence in North Carolina

In North Carolina, a doctrine called contributory negligence is used in car accident cases. This doctrine says that if the victim of an accident was even partially at fault for the collision, they are completely barred fromrecovering any compensation from the other driver.

How to Prove Fault in a Rear-End Collision

To prove that the driver who hit them from behind was at fault for the collision, the accident victim will need to provide evidence. This evidence can include:

  • Photographs of the accident scene and damage to the vehicles
  • Police reports
  • Witness statements
  • Medical records

If you’ve been injured in a rear-end collision, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor. We can help you gather the evidence you need to prove fault and get the compensation you deserve.

Recover Compensation in a Rear-End Accident Claim

If you’ve been injured in a rear-end collision, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages. This compensation can include:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering

Statute of Limitations for Rear-End Car Accidents in Charlotte, North Carolina?

In North Carolina, you typically have three years from the date of the accident to settle your personal injury claim or file a lawsuit to preserve the statute of limitations. If you don’t file your claim within this time frame, you will be barred from recovering any compensation for your injuries.

rear end car accident involving two cars on a city street

Contact a Charlotte Car Accident Attorney Today

If you have been injured in a rear-end accident due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you deserve fair compensation for your injuries.

Our auto accident attorneys have experience with all types of personal injury cases, including car accidents. We are not afraid to take on insurance companies to help you obtain fair compensation. We value the attorney-client relationship and will work tirelessly to protect your rights.

Contact today for your free initial consultation and learn more about what we can do to help you. We will answer your questions and explain your legal options.

301 S McDowell St #1016
Charlotte, NC 28204

Phone: (704) 676-1093
Toll Free: (800) 351-3008

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Charlotte, NC 28204

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Updated March 28, 2025

The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor is providing notice of an event that may affect certain individuals’ information. Although we have no indication of identity theft or fraud in relation to this event, we are providing information about the event, our response, and additional measures individuals can take to help protect their information, should they feel it appropriate to do so.

What Happened? On October 28, 2024, The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor identified suspicious activity related to our email system. We quickly took steps to investigate and determined that an unknown actor may have accessed certain emails within our email system between August 7 and November 7, 2024. We then conducted a comprehensive review of the potentially affected emails and attachments to determine what information was contained therein and to whom the information related, which was completed on February 25, 2025. Unfortunately, we were unable to verify the addresses of certain affected individuals, so we are providing this notice to ensure potentially affected individuals receive information about the event.

What Information Was Involved? The information affected may include individuals’ Social Security number, driver’s license and state ID information, financial account number, and health information.

What We Are Doing. We are notifying individuals about this matter and providing guidance about free resources that are available to assist with monitoring relevant accounts, credit reports, and how to place a fraud alert or security freeze on one’s credit file. Further, as with our typical security practices, we will continue to evaluate our policies, procedures, staff training, and technical security measures to reduce the likelihood of an event like this reoccurring.

What Individuals Can Do. We encourage you to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud by reviewing your account statements and monitoring your free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors. We also recommend you review the below “Steps Individuals Can Take To Help Protect Personal Information”.

For More Information. If individuals have questions about this matter, we have a dedicated assistance line with agents ready to answer their questions. Please contact our toll-free dedicated assistance line at 1-800-939-4170, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. through 9 p.m., excluding holidays. You may also write to us at The Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, Attn: Compliance, P.O. Box 2688, Hickory, NC 28603.

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STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT PERSONAL INFORMATION

Monitor Your Accounts

Under U.S. law, a consumer is entitled to one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. To order a free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call, toll-free, 1-877-322-8228. Consumers may also directly contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below to request a free copy of their credit report.

Consumers have the right to place an initial or extended “fraud alert” on a credit file at no cost. An initial fraud alert is a 1-year alert that is placed on a consumer’s credit file. Upon seeing a fraud alert display on a consumer’s credit file, a business is required to take steps to verify the consumer’s identity before extending new credit. If consumers are the victim of identity theft, they are entitled to an extended fraud alert, which is a fraud alert lasting seven years. Should consumers wish to place a fraud alert, please contact any of the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below.

As an alternative to a fraud alert, consumers have the right to place a “credit freeze” on a credit report, which will prohibit a credit bureau from releasing information in the credit report without the consumer’s express authorization. The credit freeze is designed to prevent credit, loans, and services from being approved in a consumer’s name without consent. However, consumers should be aware that using a credit freeze to take control over who gets access to the personal and financial information in their credit report may delay, interfere with, or prohibit the timely approval of any subsequent request or application they make regarding a new loan, credit, mortgage, or any other account involving the extension of credit. Pursuant to federal law, consumers cannot be charged to place or lift a credit freeze on their credit report. To request a credit freeze, individuals may need to provide some or all of the following information:

1. Full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.);
2. Social Security number;
3. Date of birth;
4. Addresses for the prior two to five years;
5. Proof of current address, such as a current utility bill or telephone bill;
6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver’s license or ID card, etc.); and
7. A copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft if they are a victim of identity theft.

Should consumers wish to place a credit freeze or fraud alert, please contact the three major credit reporting bureaus listed below:

Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/ https://www.experian.com/help/

https://www.transunion.com/credit-help
1-888-298-0045 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
Equifax Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 105069 Atlanta, GA 30348-5069 Experian Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Fraud Alert, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016
Equifax Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 Experian Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013 TransUnion Credit Freeze, P.O. Box 160, Woodlyn, PA 19094

Additional Information

Consumers may further educate themselves regarding identity theft, fraud alerts, credit freezes, and the steps they can take to protect their personal information by contacting the consumer reporting bureaus, the Federal Trade Commission, or their state attorney general. The Federal Trade Commission may be reached at: 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580; www.identitytheft.gov; 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); and TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The Federal Trade Commission also encourages those who discover that their information has been misused to file a complaint with them. Consumers can obtain further information on how to file such a complaint by way of the contact information listed above. Consumers have the right to file a police report if they ever experience identity theft or fraud. Please note that in order to file a report with law enforcement for identity theft, consumers will likely need to provide some proof that they have been a victim. Instances of known or suspected identity theft should also be reported to law enforcement and the relevant state attorney general. This notice has not been delayed by law enforcement.

For District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia Attorney General may be contacted at: 400 6th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001; 1-202-442-9828; and oag.dc.gov.

For Maryland residents, the Maryland Attorney General may be contacted at: 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; and https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/.

For New Mexico residents, consumers have rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, such as the right to be told if information in their credit file has been used against them, the right to know what is in their credit file, the right to ask for their credit score, and the right to dispute incomplete or inaccurate information. Further, pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the consumer reporting bureaus must correct or delete inaccurate, incomplete, or unverifiable information; consumer reporting agencies may not report outdated negative information; access to consumers’ files is limited; consumers must give consent for credit reports to be provided to employers; consumers may limit “prescreened” offers of credit and insurance based on information in their credit report; and consumers may seek damages from violators. Consumers may have additional rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act not summarized here. Identity theft victims and active-duty military personnel have specific additional rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act. We encourage consumers to review their rights pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by visiting www.consumerfinance.gov/f/201504_cfpb_summary_your-rights-under-fcra.pdf, or by writing Consumer Response Center, Room 130-A, Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20580.

For New York residents, the New York Attorney General may be contacted at: Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341; 1-800-771-7755; or https://ag.ny.gov.

For North Carolina residents, the North Carolina Attorney General may be contacted at: 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-9001; 1-877-566-7226 or 1-919-716-6000; and www.ncdoj.gov.

For Rhode Island residents, the Rhode Island Attorney General may be reached at: 150 South Main Street, Providence, RI 02903; 1-401-274-4400; and www.riag.ri.gov. Under Rhode Island law, individuals have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this event.
STEPS INDIVIDUALS CAN TAKE TO HELP PROTECT A MINOR DEPENDENT’S PERSONAL INFORMATION

Typically, credit reporting agencies do not have a credit report in a minor’s name. To find out if a minor has a credit report or to request a manual search for a minor’s Social Security number each credit bureau has its own process. To learn more about these processes or request these services, consumers may contact the credit bureaus by phone, writing, or online:
Equifax Experian TransUnion
https://www.equifax.com/personal/help/article-list/-/h/a/request-child-credit-report/
https://www.experian.com/help/minor-request.html
https://www.transunion.com/fraud-victim-resources/child-identity-theft

1-800-685-1111 1-888-397-3742 1-800-916-8800
P.O. Box 105788
Atlanta, GA 30348-5788 P.O. Box 9554
Allen, TX 75013 P.O. Box 2000
Chester, PA 19016

To request information about the existence of a credit file in a minor’s name, search for a minor’s Social Security number, place a security freeze or fraud alert on a minor’s credit report (if one exists), or request a copy of a minor’s credit report consumers may be required to provide the following information:
● A copy of their driver’s license or another government issued identification card, such as a state identification card, etc.;
● Proof of address, such as a copy of a bank statement, utility bill, insurance statement, etc.;
● A copy of the minor’s birth certificate;
● A copy of the minor’s Social Security card;
● The minor’s full name, including middle initial and generation, such as JR, SR, II, III, etc.;
● The minor’s date of birth; and
● The minor’s previous addresses for the past two years.

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