Rear-End Collision Injuries: How Can You Recover?

Rear-end collision injuries have the potential to completely alter your life. One moment, you’re stopped at an intersection. The next, a reckless driver collides with the back of your car. 

You might feel your head whip back and snap forward, causing a sharp pain in your neck. Then, your day goes from average to catastrophic out of nowhere. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. 

Unfortunately, rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of car accidents. Moreover, they often lead to serious injuries even at low speeds. 

Any injury has the potential to lead to extensive damages. Often, they leave people in pain wondering what to do next. Your best bet is to seek immediate medical attention to address your injuries and learn the extent of them. 

Then, you need to contact a car accident attorney. An attorney is your advocate. They fight to help you recover from the accident, physically and financially. Below, we look at how people can attain the compensation they deserve and protect their futures. 

How Do Rear-End Collisions Happen?

We all know how impactful rear-end collision injuries are. However, to understand why we have to look at the physics of a wreck. First, visualize what happens when one car hits another from behind. 

The car in the back is traveling faster than the car in front. Oftentimes, the car in front is at a complete stop, whether at a red light or parked somewhere. 

In the impact, the force from the back car transfers into the front car. Once they “link,” they both move forward. Typically, how far they move depends on the speed of both in the moment of impact. 

At times, the force is enough to push the front car into another or into a different lane. It’s quite simple for a seemingly minor accident to become a pile-up. 

Still, the lead vehicles face an abrupt acceleration while the rear vehicles experience a sudden stop. It’s possible for people in both vehicles to experience injuries. However, the risk is far greater for anyone in the lead vehicle. 

This is because cars generally have safety features to protect against sudden stops. However, there are far fewer features to protect against a sudden forward movement. 

When you take all this into consideration, it’s no surprise that rear-end collision injuries occur even at low speeds. If you sustain an injury in a car accident, an attorney can assist you in holding the negligent driver accountable. 

Common Rear-End Collision Injuries

Now that you understand how these accidents happen, it’s important to understand the dangers. Even in a minor accident, you can sustain injuries throughout your body. Over time, seemingly minor injuries even develop into severe conditions. 

Soft Tissue Damage

Soft tissue damage is one of the most common injuries in car accidents. However, not everyone really understands what this term means. 

As your torso shifts below your head, the force moves up your spine through each disc. This causes your spine to make a C shape as your head is thrown back. This all happens in the blink of an eye. 

Moreover, this entire motion is unnatural for a person’s spine. Typically, our torsos stay relatively still while our heads move. In this instance, the opposite occurs. 

Next, there’s an inverse motion as you rebound from the movement. This causes ‘whiplash,” as your head moves forward and your torso back. 

In any car accident, soft tissue stretches far beyond its typical range of motion. Often, these strains are painful issues. However, they also lead to other systems such as headaches or discomfort. 

Unfortunately, when it comes to recovering damages for rear-end collision injuries, insurance companies try to downplay whiplash. A true advocate fights for what you deserve. 

Brain Trauma or TBI

With the whiplash you experience, it’s common for your brain to sustain some level of trauma as well. In a sudden jolt, the brain can sustain tissue damage from unnatural motion within the cranium. 

From there, swelling or bruising can result in a concussion. Often, these cause immediate trouble with your motor functions, cognitive abilities, and emotions. While some concussions heal over time, others result in complications that last for months or years. 

Additionally, more severe damage can lead to traumatic brain injuries. Unfortunately, these have the potential to result in permanent impairment. 

Because brain trauma is a complex condition, it can be challenging to claim damages. That’s why legal representation is essential when dealing with rear-end collision injuries. 

Cuts, Burns, Fractures, and More

Fractures, cuts, and burns are other common rear-end collision injuries. However, they aren’t the only other injuries. A car accident can lead to a fire or explosion that results in severe burns and scarring. 

Moreover, shattering glass flies around the occupants of vehicles as metal twists to create sharp injuries. Both of these can cause deep cuts. Additionally, lacerations have the potential to result in massive blood loss or lasting nerve damage. 

Rear-end accidents also cause the frame of the car to crumple and bend. This can compress your limbs, leading to fractures and more severe injuries. 

Truly, the list goes on with only worse scenarios. Unfortunately, some accidents result in the death of a loved one. When you have the right legal representation on your side, you hold negligent drivers accountable and attain damages that help you move on with your life. 

Rear-End Collision Injuries: How You Can Recover

As you can see, rear-end collisions have deadly potential. The powerful force impacts the body and moves it in unnatural ways. If you experience a rear-end accident, seek medical assistance immediately. 

Often, injuries pop up days later, leaving you at greater risk with delayed treatment. Next, contact a car accident lawyer to help you recover and move forward with your life. 

When a negligent driver causes you harm, you deserve compensation. With the right representation, you have an advocate to hold them accountable.