Dangers of Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end accidents are one of the most common types of collisions across the United States. With a dramatic recent increase in distracted driving, rear-end collisions are a huge concern for drivers. As the driver who is hit in a rear-end collision, there is very little, if anything, they can do to avoid the accident. This realization can be very frustrating, especially when a car accident victim must deal with medical bills, lost wages, and more after the accident. In those situations, you may need to speak with a Marietta personal injury attorney to learn more about your legal options and assert your rights.
How Frequently Do Rear-End Crashes Occur?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicates that rear-end collisions cause roughly 950,000 injuries and kill more than 1,700 people each year. Rear-end collisions are the most common type of accident that occurs on the road today.
Although many rear-end crashes happen at low speeds, as drivers are pulling up to a traffic signal or putting their vehicles in gear again after being stopped in traffic, you may be surprised how many accidents occur at higher speeds simply because another driver was not paying attention to what was going on in front of them. Distracted driving can be extremely dangerous because it can lead to severe accidents.
What Kind of Injuries Are Common in a Rear-End Accident?
Every case is different, but rear-end collisions happen so frequently that some of the same types of injuries occur over and over again. Below are some of the most common injuries caused by rear-end crashes.
Whiplash: John Hopkins Medicine explains that whiplash is a poorly understood condition frequently resulting from sudden, forcible forward-and-back motion. Whiplash can often be a serious injury that leaves many car accident victims sore and with restricted movement. Whiplash may even lead to chronic neck and upper back pain for years to come.
Whiplash is by far the most common injury that occurs as a result of a rear-end collision. This injury is caused by over-stretching and then rapidly contracting muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck, shoulders, and upper back. In rear-end accidents, that action is often quick and violent, which may lead to long-term damage.
Back Injuries: The spine is a complex system of cartilage, bone, and nerves fibers. Whenever anything disrupts that web of systems, it can be excruciating. The force of impact in a rear-end accident can cause discs in the back to compress, resulting in bulging discs and herniation. Soreness, back pain, and trouble with movement are often the result.
Back injuries are very common after any type of car accident, but many people are surprised to learn that they can be caused by even slow-moving accidents. Rear-end crashes could result in chronic back problems even if the crash itself was relatively minor. The force of the impact often compresses the spine toward the lower part of the back. This pressure may simply cause some soreness, or it could bother you for years into the future.
Head and Brain Injuries: Head injuries are common in rear-end collisions because the force of the crash pushes the entire body forward, which often means that the person’s head hits whatever is in front of it—the steering wheel, the dashboard, or the back of the front seat if the person is seated in the back of the car. Even airbags can cause head injuries.
When the head is propelled forward, impact on other objects within the vehicle can cause cuts and scrapes, and may also lead to more severe head trauma, including internal bleeding. Remember that not all head injuries are obvious. For instance, not every serious head injury will result in a loss of consciousness. Instead, if you suspect a head injury because of pain, confusion, bleeding, or other issues, then seek out medical treatment as soon as possible. Catching head injuries early can help prevent long-term damage and even death.
Other Soft Tissue Injuries: A soft tissue injury is damage that does not result in a visible problem to bones or internal organs. Some of the most common soft tissue injuries after a rear-end accident are:
- Sprains
- Strains
- Bruising (contusions)
- Soreness and swelling
Any damage that affects the muscles, tendons, and ligaments but does not result in a visible tear or break is a soft tissue injury. For example, whiplash is a combination of several soft-tissue injuries. Sudden trauma, like blows to the body from a car accident, will often result in soft tissue injuries. Although this type of damage is hard to see, it is certainly easy to feel.
What To Do After a Rear-End Collision
In most cases, Georgia residents have two years from the date of rear-end collisions or any similar highway accidents to file a lawsuit. However, car accident victims may wish to consider speaking with an attorney long before that deadline to ensure that any attorney they choose as their legal representative has time to investigate the claim and undertake some preliminary negotiation on the injured party’s behalf. Take action if you have been involved in a car accident in Marietta, Georgia, or the surrounding area.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney for Help Today
A car crash, even a seemingly minor one, can cause more property damage and bodily injuries than many people might think. Auto insurance providers look for ways to reduce or eliminate payouts, and memories may change significantly in the aftermath of a collision. Therefore, one way for drivers to protect themselves and their passengers is to report every collision to the local police and allow them to investigate and complete an accident report. If you have questions about reporting minor car accidents or recovering losses, talk to an experienced car accident lawyer in Atlanta which serves Decatur, LaGrange, Marietta, Riverdale, and Chattanooga – Hall & Lampros, LLP can help protect your rights and seek the maximum available compensation. Contact us today.
Chris has successfully represented numerous clients in catastrophic personal injury, employment law matters, class action, consumer protection, business tort, and legislative matters involving multi-million-dollar damages.