Personal Injury | May 23, 2025 by JOSHUA D. ANDERSON

What to Know About Getting Rear-Ended While Stopped

Getting rear-ended while stopped is scary. It’s unlikely you saw the accident coming, and the sound of squealing tires was the only indication something was about to happen. In the immediate aftermath, you may think the only damage was to your car, but in the days and weeks following, you may discover you suffered physical and emotional injuries.

You have the right to seek compensation for your damages after a rear-end collision, and you could try to deal with the insurance company and other driver on your own. But having an experienced car accident lawyer by your side can help you navigate the complexities of negotiating a settlement.

Common Causes of Rear-End Collisions

A 2021 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that of all car accidents that year, 29% were rear-end crashes, making them one of the more common types of car accidents. Rear-end collisions are often caused by:

• Speeding. Driving over the speed limit means a driver may not have enough time to stop when traffic has slowed.
• Weather. Rainy, icy, and snowy conditions make it harder to brake, and fog reduces visibility.
• Distracted driving. Texting, talking on the phone or to a passenger, and even adjusting the controls diverts the driver’s attention, and they may not realize they need to stop until it’s too late.
• Traffic. Congested roads make it hard to maneuver. While leaving space between cars is a good idea, someone in a hurry may fill it up, increasing the odds of a rear-end collision.
• Brake failure. No matter how defensively or carefully someone drives, problems with the brakes can cause a rear-end accident.

Who Is at Fault in a Rear-End Collision?

In most cases, the driver who rear-ended the stopped car is at fault for the car accident. However, in some rare cases, the driver who stopped is at fault or partially at fault for a rear-end accident. For example, when a driver stops quickly and unreasonably they may create an unsafe situation for the following driver. Although there are exceptions, rear-end collisions are one of the most clear-cut examples of liability, oftentimes resulting in an immediate acceptance of fault by the at-fault driver and insurance company.

What’s the Average Settlement for a Rear-End Collision?

Like all car accident settlements, the average settlement amount for a rear-end collision that happened while you were stopped varies. A number of factors, from the severity of your injuries to your role in the accident, impact your final settlement figure.

Your Role in the Rear-End Collision

In Washington State, you can pursue a settlement for rear-end crashes even if you’re partially at fault for the accident. The State uses “comparative fault” to assign a percentage of fault to you, which reduces your final settlement amount by that percentage.

Lost Wages

Depending on the severity of your accident and injuries, you may not be able to return to work after your rear-end crash. In that case, you may be compensated for your lost wages as well as recover compensation for any vacation, personal, or sick days you used. You may also be able to pursue damages for penalties and late fees from late or missing payments on your mortgage or credit card bills.

Medical Bills and Related Expenses

Your settlement can also cover any medical bills you received immediately following the rear-end accident, as well as ongoing and future medical bills and care you will need. The more severe or permanent your injuries, the larger your settlement may be.

Other Damages

The settlement amount also varies depending on:

• Pain and suffering
• Scarring and/or disfigurement
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Out-of-pocket expenses
• Significance of injuries
• Duration of treatment
• Diagnoses
• Frequency of medical visits
• Witness verification of damages suffered
• Permanency of injuries
• Future treatment required

Common Injuries in Rear-End Collisions

Another significant factor that can influence the final settlement amount is the nature and extent of your injuries. More significant injuries often require more intense care than minor injuries, and some injuries cause long-term, permanent damage that requires extensive follow-up care and support.

Whiplash

Whiplash is the most common injury caused by a rear-end collision. It describes a type of neck strain or sprain that happens when your head and neck are forced back and forth, just like cracking a whip.

When you’re rear-ended while stopped, the force of the collision is transferred to and through your body, propelling your head backward then forward. The weight of your skull combined with the relative fragility of your neck creates an intense strain on the muscles and ligaments, leading to neck and upper back pain.

While whiplash is considered a minor injury, it can cause stiffness, headaches, and dizziness in the short term and lead to chronic pain and other long-term medical issues if not treated properly.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Many people think a traumatic brain injury (TBI) means extensive and incapacitating brain damage. While this is true in some cases, traumatic brain injuries can also appear as headaches, memory problems, and mood or behavioral changes.

Fractures

Another common injury from a rear-end accident is bone fractures. While legs and arms are common places to fracture bones, you can also fracture your:

• Spinal vertebrae (back bones)
• Clavicle (the bone that runs across your rib cage)
• Pelvic bones
• Skull
• Facial bones (nose, cheek, jaws, eye)
• Sternum (breastbone)

While fractures are more likely to happen when someone isn’t wearing a seatbelt and is ejected from the car, being rear-ended means your airbag may go off, and the resulting impact can cause injuries. Likewise, the force of being pushed against the seatbelt that locks in place can cause enough force to break bones.

Back Injuries

Rear-end collisions are also likely to cause a back injury. Spraining and straining the back muscles and tendons can be mild but cause pain and swelling, and limit your range of motion for some time. More severe back injuries, like a herniated disc, can cause more severe back pain, numbness, and even weakness in the arm, leg, and foot.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Though your spinal cord is in your back, spinal cord injuries are different from back injuries. An injury to your spinal cord can result in long-term weakness, numbness, or nerve pain. Severe spinal cord injuries can lead to paralysis. 

Will My Insurance Company Raise My Rates if I’m Rear Ended While Stopped?

If you were rear-ended while stopped and the accident was not your fault, Washington State law suggests the insurance company should not be able to raise your rates. However, if you are partially at fault for the car accident, your insurance company may be able to raise your rates. This rate change must be linked to your degree of fault. 

Rear Ended While Stopped? We Can Help

Pursuing a settlement for a rear-end crash when you were stopped seems straightforward. But if you were partially at fault or suffered severe injuries, consulting with a rear-end accident lawyer can help you better understand what compensation you may be entitled to and how to pursue it.

The team at Anderson Law Injury Attorneys has over 50 years of experience as personal injury attorneys. We can help you negotiate with your or the other driver’s insurance company to receive fair compensation for your injuries, emotional distress, and personal damages from the accident. Contact us today and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. There’s no fee unless you win.

The information contained on this website is intended for informational purposes only, and is not legal advice. Nothing in this website establishes an attorney-client relationship between us. Different facts can dramatically affect a legal opinion. You should consult an attorney for legal advice that pertains to your personal situation.