Waterbury Car Accident Attorney Dan Petroskey Explains Injuries and Liability in Rear-End Collisions

WATERBURY, CT - Rear-end collisions remain among the most common types of motor vehicle crashes in Waterbury and throughout New Haven County, frequently causing serious injuries even at low speeds. Waterbury car accident attorney Dan Petroskey of DeFronzo & Petroskey, P.C. (https://www.defronzolawfirm.com/waterbury-car-accident-attorney/rear-end-collisions/) explains the injuries these crashes cause, who bears liability, and how Connecticut law protects victims seeking compensation.

According to Waterbury car accident attorney Dan Petroskey, rear-end crashes generate significant force that causes both immediate and delayed injuries requiring different types of medical treatment. The sudden impact forces the body forward while the head snaps back, straining muscles, ligaments, and discs throughout the neck and spine. Even collisions at relatively low speeds can generate enough force to tear soft tissue and damage spinal structures.

Waterbury car accident attorney Dan Petroskey emphasizes that whiplash is the most common rear-end collision injury, occurring when the neck hyperextends backward and then flexes forward rapidly during impact. This motion stretches or tears the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck, causing symptoms including neck pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating. Medical research published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that between 15% and 40% of whiplash patients develop chronic symptoms lasting months or years.

"Many people walk away from rear-end crashes feeling fine, only to wake up the next morning unable to turn their head," explains Petroskey. "This delayed onset makes documentation critical. You must see a doctor within 24 to 48 hours of the crash, even if you feel okay initially."

Common rear-end collision injuries include cervical strain and whiplash, herniated or bulged discs where spinal discs compress or rupture from impact force, traumatic brain injuries including concussions, fractured vertebrae, shoulder injuries, facial injuries from airbag deployment, and psychological trauma. Herniated discs often require surgery, extensive physical therapy, or ongoing pain management. When a disc in the cervical or lumbar spine ruptures, the inner material pushes out and compresses nearby nerves, causing radiating pain down the arms or legs, numbness, tingling, and weakness.

Attorney Petroskey notes that distracted driving causes more rear-end crashes in Waterbury than any other factor. Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 14-296aa, drivers cannot hold a phone or use handheld electronic devices while driving. Police can stop and ticket drivers solely for this violation, and fines increase with each offense. When a rear-end crash follows a cell phone violation, the citation provides strong evidence of negligence.

Drivers rear-end other vehicles because they are texting, checking GPS, adjusting dashboard controls, eating, or simply not paying attention to traffic ahead. It takes only two to three seconds of distraction for a vehicle traveling 40 miles per hour to cover the length of a football field. Following too closely removes the buffer zone drivers need to react safely, and when drivers tailgate, they cannot stop in time if the vehicle ahead brakes suddenly.

Connecticut law presumes the rear driver caused a rear-end collision because drivers must maintain enough distance to stop safely if traffic ahead slows or stops. Connecticut General Statutes Section 14-240 requires drivers to maintain a reasonable and safe following distance based on speed, traffic, and road conditions. This presumption is strong but not absolute, and insurance companies investigate whether the lead driver contributed to the crash through sudden or improper actions.

"Connecticut presumes the rear driver caused the collision, but you can still recover damages even if you're found partially at fault, as long as your fault is less than 51%," notes Petroskey. Connecticut follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-572h, which allows victims to recover damages even if partially at fault, but compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault.

Connecticut law allows rear-end collision victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages compensate for measurable financial losses like medical bills and lost wages, while non-economic damages compensate intangible losses like pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life. Medical expenses include emergency room treatment, doctor visits, diagnostic tests, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, medical equipment, and future treatment costs.

Treatment for herniated disc injuries can be expensive, with surgery often costing tens of thousands of dollars, physical therapy requiring multiple sessions over months, and ongoing pain management involving repeated injections or other procedures. The firm works with medical providers to document these costs and project future expenses. Lost income covers wages missed due to injury-related medical appointments, recovery time, or permanent disability, and Connecticut law also compensates lost earning capacity if injuries prevent returning to previous occupation.

Connecticut law gives victims two years from the date of the rear-end collision to file a personal injury lawsuit under Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-584. This statute of limitations is strict, and missing the deadline results in case dismissal regardless of injury severity or fault clarity. Insurance companies use these deadlines strategically, often delaying settlement negotiations as deadlines approach in hopes that victims will accept low offers.

"Insurance companies know these deadlines and use them strategically," advises Petroskey. "As your deadline approaches, they delay settlement negotiations, hoping you'll accept a low offer rather than risk getting nothing."

Special rules apply if a municipal employee caused the crash. Claims against the City of Waterbury, Connecticut Department of Transportation employees, or other government entities require filing a notice of claim within six months under Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-465. If a Waterbury garbage truck, school bus, or other municipal vehicle caused the rear-end collision, proper notice must be filed with the city within six months or the right to sue is lost.

DeFronzo & Petroskey, P.C., has represented injured people throughout Waterbury and New Haven County since 1961, handling rear-end collision cases on a contingency fee basis. Clients pay no attorney fees unless the firm recovers compensation through settlement or trial verdict. The firm has recovered millions of dollars for rear-end collision victims, with recent settlements including substantial recoveries for clients requiring surgery and those with injuries requiring extensive treatment.

For those facing injuries from rear-end collisions in Waterbury or throughout New Haven County, contacting an experienced car accident attorney may provide guidance on protecting legal rights and pursuing full compensation. To schedule a free consultation, contact DeFronzo & Petroskey, P.C., at (203) 756-7408.

About DeFronzo & Petroskey, P.C.:

DeFronzo & Petroskey, P.C., is a Waterbury-based law firm dedicated to personal injury representation with a focus on motor vehicle collisions. Led by attorney Dan Petroskey, the firm represents clients throughout New Haven County and all of Connecticut. For consultations, call (203) 756-7408.

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