Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of auto accidents in the country. While it may seem that getting hit from behind would be a “safer” kind of accident and one that wouldn’t cause many injuries, the exact opposite is true. Even low-speed crashes can result in serious injuries and fatalities.
Here are three of the most serious injuries that can be suffered in a rear-end car accident:
- Whiplash: If you see a rear-collision coming, the body’s natural reaction is to tense up to protect itself. Most of the time, unfortunately, you don’t see a hit from behind before it happens. If your body is not contracted, the sudden movement of your head, neck, and back will be far more violent. This soft tissue damage is known as whiplash.
- Traumatic Brain Injury: Any severe head movement in a rear-end collision can jolt the brain in the skull, causing a traumatic brain injury. Non-penetrating brain injuries can be difficult to diagnose, as the signs of a TBI may not make themselves immediately apparent. It could take days or weeks for symptoms like dizziness, vision problems, behavioral changes, and poor cognitive performance to appear.
- Spinal Injury: Rear-end auto accident victims who don’t have a chance to brace for impact put their spine in jeopardy. Without an opportunity to stabilize itself, the spine can hyperextend over the headrest. The position of your head at the time of impact will also influence just how much and what kind of damage is done to your spine.
Dozens of Rear-End Collision Injuries
There are, of course, dozens of injuries that can occur in a rear-end collision, not only to the victim in the accident and any passengers in their vehicle, but also to the at-fault driver. Broken bones, particularly ribs and hands, aren’t uncommon. Facial injuries are very likely and, as a result, permanent scarring, whether you hit your head on steering wheel, small into the dashboard, or suffer damage from a deploying airbag.
Factors That Affect Severity of Car Accident Injuries
As with all vehicle accidents, you can be the most careful and safe driver on the highway, but you have no control over the actions of others. Smartphone use has contributed to the rise in rear-end collisions. Too many drivers take the opportunity, when slowing at a red light or stop sign, to pick up their phone and check it, if it isn’t already in their hand. Driver distraction in general is frequently a factor in a rear-end accident, whether the driver is on their phone, daydreaming, reaching for something in the vehicle, tired, or otherwise.
Most often, the vehicle that is hit from behind is stopped at the time of the crash. This full impact is brutal, and injuries often depend on the type of the vehicles involved. For example, a high-sitting SUV slamming into a sedan creates a different kind of impact than a smart car smashing into an SUV. Speed is a factor in resulting injuries, whether seatbelts were worn, the angle of the seat and the height of the head rest.
Get Compensation for Your Rear-End Collision Injuries
Rear-end collisions cost Americans millions of dollars in medical care, therapy, rehabilitation, and lost wages, not to mention the emotional and mental suffering. The fallout from a car accident can even be detrimental to personal relationships because the accident victim has been so severely affected, whether physically or cognitively.
If you have been the victim of a rear-end accident, contact Thurswell Law for a free consultation. Our vehicle accident attorneys have the experience to get you the compensation you deserve. We do not charge any fees unless you collect. Call (248) 354-2222 today to schedule your consultation.
