Rear-End Collision Injuries and How You Can Recover
A rear-end collision can look minor and still cause serious injuries. When one motor vehicle hits another from behind, it causes a sudden and violent forward-and-back movement of the occupants’ heads. The impact can be more severe for people in the front car if that car stops or travels slower than the rear vehicle.
According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, around 29 percent of all auto accidents that cause serious injury are rear-end collision accidents. Rear-end collision injuries can be more serious than victims first realize.
Common Rear-End Collision Injuries
Many factors influence how severe an injury may be. Body position within the vehicle, the size and health of the individual, and safety belt use are some of the considerations.
Traumatic Brain Injury
A rear-end accident could cause the driver or a passenger to hit their head against a hard surface. This type of trauma could lead to a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Head injuries are classified as either penetrating or non-penetrating. Penetrating wounds involve a sharp object cutting through the skull and potentially piercing the brain. Non-penetrating wounds are the result of impact on the head. TBIs can lead to cognitive and physical disabilities, paralysis, coma, or death.
Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
The impact of a rear-end accident can cause violent, sudden motion in the lower or middle back. This unexpected movement can damage the spinal cord and alter the spine’s natural curve. Depending on the location of the injury, the person could be partially or completely paralyzed.
Other injuries, like herniated discs or neck fractures, can cause chronic pain and may require one or more surgeries to repair.
Whiplash
Whiplash injuries are the most common injury associated with car accidents. The violent “whipping” head motion that occurs during a rear-end collision can lead to whiplash. When the head is thrown back and forth on top of the spine, it can cause muscle and tendon damage, concussion, and spinal and nerve damage.
The symptoms of whiplash don’t always appear immediately. Sufferers may not notice them for several hours or even days after the accident.
Neck and Shoulder Injuries
A sudden jolt from behind can make the neck and shoulders snap forward with intensity. This type of sudden movement could damage muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues in the shoulder and neck area. Anti-whiplash technologies like special headrests can reduce the risk of neck and shoulder injuries, but they can’t prevent them 100 percent of the time.
Fractured Bones
Any bone in the body could be broken (fractured) in a rear-end accident. You could break a large bone, such as a femur, or small bones in your fingers, wrists, or feet. Simple fractures, where the bone breaks but is not exposed, typically heal within a few months. Compound fractures that involve the bone breaking through the skin are more serious and require surgery.
Amputations
If the impacting vehicle is much larger or traveling at a very high rate of speed, it could cause the vehicle to “crunch.” The sharp edges of a damaged vehicle can result in body parts being crushed or severely damaged, requiring that they be amputated.
Face and Eye Injuries
Broken glass, debris from a damaged dashboard, or the airbag can cause lacerations and other injuries to the face and eyes. Injuries can be severe enough to cause permanent disfigurement, scarring, and changes in vision. These types of injuries could require multiple surgeries.
Soft Tissue Damage
The non-bony parts of the body are referred to as “soft tissue.” This includes nerves, fat, tendons, and muscles. Soft tissue damage can be caused in many ways and may result in sprains, strains, bruises, minor lacerations, and pain. It often goes undiagnosed and may not receive appropriate treatment, which can lead to other complications.
Burns
A rear impact could cause the fuel tank to explode if a spark is present. If someone is trapped in a burning car, they could suffer burns as well as smoke damage to the lungs. Burns can cause extreme pain, disfigurement, and scarring.
Death
Death is more than an injury, but fatalities are possible with a rear-end collision. If the rear vehicle is traveling fast or is much larger than the front vehicle, one or both cars could crumple and crush the inhabitants. Rear-seat passengers are at a higher risk of fatal injuries because they’re close to the impact zone.
Recovering From Rear-End Collision Injuries
Many factors impact the length of recovery and the recommended treatment. Serious injuries can change almost everything about a person’s life. They might require medical care for the rest of their lives or be too disabled to work.
Burns, compound fractures, and some internal injuries could need multiple surgeries. Patients with spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries could need specialized medical equipment to help keep them alive.
Financial recovery from rear-end accidents is another issue that needs consideration. You may be entitled to financial compensation if someone else is liable for the collision. Some of the economic damages you could be compensated for include:
- Doctor’s appointments
- Hospital stays
- Surgeries and follow-up appointments
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Ambulatory aids
- Prescriptions and OTC medications
- Specialized equipment, such as hand controls for a vehicle
- Property damage
- Safety updates to your home, such as wheelchair ramps and handrails
- Nursing home care
- Home health care
- Hospice care
- Lost wages
- Death-related expenses
You may also be entitled to some non-economic damages. They may include things like pain and suffering, loss of bodily function, or disfigurement. Speaking with an experienced auto injury attorney is the best way to learn what your rear-end accident claim could be worth.
Have You Suffered a Rear-End Collision Injury?
Rear-end accidents can cause various types of injuries. Many may appear minor, but if not treated, complications could arise. Serious injuries can have severe life-changing results like permanent brain damage or paralysis.
Recovery can take years and could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. If someone else is liable for your injuries, filing a personal injury claim could provide you with the financial stability needed to ensure you get the best possible medical care. Get in touch with an attorney today for a free consultation to learn about your best course of action.
Contact Our Northbrook Car Accident Law Firm Today
If you were injured in an accident in Northbrook, IL, and need legal help, contact our Northbrook car accident lawyers at Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case review today.
Kass & Moses Personal Injury Lawyers
601 Skokie Blvd Suite 401
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 513-9582
