Most Common Rear-End Collision Injuries
Some of the most common injuries that rear-end car accident victims suffer from are whiplash, back injuries, airbag injuries, spinal cord injuries and brain injuries.
Whiplash
This is the most commonly-cited injury from a rear-end collision. This makes sense since the soft tissue damage of whiplash is caused by a violent, sudden movement of the neck and head. When caught unaware, the driver's injuries are usually more severe. This is because there is no chance to brace for impact and muscles are left in a relaxed state rather than a contracted one. This allows the head, neck, and back to move more violently, increasing the chances of serious injury. According to the National Safety Council, 80% of people who suffer a whiplash injury experience pain and soreness lasting longer than a week, and 50% have pain and soreness that lasts more than a year.
Back Injuries
Even accidents that occur at low speeds can cause serious back injuries. The force of impact can result in compression of the spine and the discs in the lower spinal column. The force of the crash exerts extraordinary pressure on the vertebrae. This will most likely result in soreness and even excruciating low back pain.
Airbag Injuries
It is usually the case the airbags only deploy in accidents that occur over the speed of 20 miles per hour. When the airbags in your vehicle do deploy, they can burn your face or scalp. The force of an airbag can also cause broken bones, such as your nose or ribs, depending on the area it hits the hardest.
Spinal Cord Paralysis
When a brain or spinal injury is severe enough, it can leave the victim completely or partially paralyzed. Usually, the degree of paralysis depends on the areas affected in the crash and how severe the injuries to those areas are. When spinal discs are injured, or specific parts of the brain, the greater the chances of the rear-end collision victim becoming paralyzed.
Head and Brain Injuries
No matter the speed of the vehicles when a rear-end collision takes place, injuries to the head should always be taken extremely seriously. Even when airbags deploy properly, the head can still be struck or impaled. This can result in a concussion, loss of consciousness, lacerations, swelling, bruising, and much more. According to data cited by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury each year, and of that amount, 52,000 die. Like whiplash, the initial warning signs of traumatic brain injury may not be readily apparent, and it could take days or weeks for the effects of the injury to fully manifest.
Common symptoms of a traumatic brain injury include:
- Loss of Consciousness
- Dizziness
- Chronic Fatigue
- Abnormal Changes in Behavior
- Impaired Speech
- Reduced Cognitive Performance
Facial Disfigurement
Rear-end collisions that cause facial disfigurement and scarring pose a greater threat than just cosmetic problems. If your face strikes an object in the car, you may be faced with long-term medical problems and require extensive treatment and surgeries. These types of injuries can even include a broken nose, cheek bone, or jaw, and detached retina.
Wrist and Arm Injuries
When an impact occurs, the driver most likely has their hands on the steering wheel. If the driver saw a car approaching behind them and prepared for impact, they most likely braced themselves by gripping the steering wheel tightly. Although this is most people's initial reaction, it can actually cause serious injury to the hand, wrist, and arm. The most common injuries the driver suffers are a broken or sprained wrist and a dislocated shoulder.
Seat Belt Injuries
Seat belts save lives, there is no doubt about it. However, when someone is involved in a rear-end car accident, seat belts have also been known to cause injuries. When your car is struck from behind, your seat belt immediately tightens in order to hold your body firmly in place and prevent it from striking the steering wheel, dashboard, and windshield. When this happens, the seat belt has the potential to cut your skin when your body is thrust forward. The most common seat belt injuries are bruising or lacerations to the chest, neck, and torso.
See a Doctor Immediately After You Are Injured in a Rear-End Accident
One of the greatest dangers of a rear-end crash injury, like whiplash, is that they are rarely immediately noticeable. These types of injuries can take hours, days, and even weeks before the full extent of the injury's symptoms are present. Therefore, our law firm recommends you see a doctor immediately following a rear-end collision regardless of if symptoms of an injury are apparent. Your first priority should be your health and having a professional treat you.
Next, if the accident was not your fault, you need to have your injuries evaluated so if you choose to pursue a personal injury case against the negligent driver you have evidence of the injuries you sustained. If you wait too long to visit your doctor, the insurance company can deny your claim and you will forgo your opportunity to file a claim and pursue a case for your medical bills, property loss, and pain and suffering. Even if the fender bender did not seriously damage the cars, you could still have suffered from serious bodily injury, so see a doctor and contact the experienced car accident attorneys at The Roth Firm, LLC.
Contact a Car Accident Injury Attorney Today if a Negligent Driver Hit the Back of Your Car
If you were injured in a rear-end collision, it is important to take steps immediately. We want to increase your chances of a full medical recovery while minimizing your out-of-pocket expenses. The first step in this process is choosing a trusted lawyer to take care of the legal process. This will allow you to focus all of your time and energy on recovering, while your attorney fights for your right to compensation.
The attorneys at The Roth Firm, LLC have the resources and knowledge to represent and help you recover what you deserve after a rear-end car wreck. If negotiations with the insurance company fail and an agreement cannot be reached, your attorney will prepare your case for trial, where a judge or jury will determine the amount of compensation that you are eligible to receive.
If you have been injured in a rear-end collision, call (404) 777-4899 to speak to a personal injury attorney at The Roth Firm, LLC today. We have the resources and experience to help win your case.
