Rear-End Car Accident Injuries: The Facts

Odds are that if you’ve experienced a car crash, it was likely a rear-end collision. In fact, rear-end car accidents account for 23 percent of all auto accidents, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics. But while they may seem less severe and more often just a light “tap,” they can lead to brutal, even permanently debilitating outcomes. From injuries to causes to treatment, our personal injury claims attorney have the facts.

Rear-End Accident Causes

For every kind of car collision, there are typically the same prevalent causes that present themselves time and time again—but that doesn’t make them any less important. When it comes to a rear-end accident, a vehicle strikes the back or bumper of another car. Contributing factors include:

Distracted Driving

Easily the most common cause, distracted driving involves texting, eating, drinking, fiddling with the radio, talking to passengers, and anything that keeps your attention away from the road. It claims the lives of around 3,000 to 3,500 drivers each year.

Tailgating

Tailgating is an obnoxious style of driving where the driver follows too closely (or rides up) the vehicle in front of them, giving them no time to react if the leader stops short.

Sudden Stops

Speaking of stopping short, failure to anticipate and react to the driver in front of them ends in a rear-end.

Speeding 

When speed limits hold no bounds, the driver (and vehicle) pays. Speed limits are enforced for a reason. When negligent drivers ignore them, there’s no doubt a rear-end accident will be their fate.

Weather Conditions 

Sometimes, it can be challenging to navigate unpredictable weather. We’ve all been there. Regardless, it’s always the responsibility of the driver to anticipate the possible before taking the wheel. Slippery roads from rain, snow, or ice can make braking nearly impossible, or worse—spin out your car.

Common Injuries in Rear-End Accidents

Though every accident is unique, getting into a rear-end accident usually leads to similar injuries:

Whiplash

Of course, when your car gets hit from the back, it’s common sense that it will impact your head. That’s whiplash—a sudden jolt to the neck and head that sends your head flying forward or backward. This causes strain on the neck muscles and ligaments. Symptoms include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and dizziness.

Back Injuries

Unfortunately, rear-end auto accidents can severely affect your back, giving you herniated discs, fractures, sprains, or strains. These injuries can result in chronic pain, limited mobility, and lifelong complications.

Head and Brain Injuries

Your head can knock the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield, leading to concussions, contusions, or traumatic brain injuries. These injuries may have long-term effects on cognitive abilities and overall brain function.

Facial Injuries

In severe rear-end accidents, the face can sustain damage from striking the airbag, dashboard, or other objects in the vehicle. This is how fractures, lacerations, and dental damage form.

Psychological Trauma

Mental injuries are just as distressing as physical injuries. This covers any emotional distress, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) inflicted by the accident. Psychologic trauma may manifest immediately after the accident or develop over time, stripping your quality of life as a result.

Treatment

Even if you feel fine after a rear-end accident, you should always play it safe and seek medical attention immediately. Taking the risk of neglecting a serious injury is not worth the pain and suffering. A medical evaluation is imperative to identifying underlying conditions as well as filing insurance claims and legal proceedings. Worry about your health first before any further actions.

Personal Injury Attorney Consultation

Once you have tended to your injuries, hiring a lawyer experienced in rear-end auto accidents is advisable to assist with your personal injury claims. They can guide you through the legal process, protect your rights, and ensure you receive total compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

If you or a loved one is a victim of a rear-end auto accident, Breit Law’s dedicated personal injury claims attorneys can help you get the justice you deserve. Contact us now!