Rear-end collisions are relatively common. Especially given the increase in distracted driving in recent years, drivers stopped at intersections are at risk of others hitting them from behind.
Many people understand that rear-end crashes can cause whiplash, which can be painful and may affect their ability to work. Contrary to what many people might assume, soft tissue injuries are far from the only concern in a rear-end collision.
Just under one in five traffic fatalities related to two-vehicle collisions occurred due to rear-end collisions. There are also several very serious injuries that people could sustain from a rear-end crash.
What are the risks in a rear-end car wreck?
Bones can easily break in a rear-end crash scenario. Fractures may not be catastrophic in most cases, but they can cause significant medical expenses and can reduce an individual’s income for months.
People can also sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The violent motion of the vehicle may result in them striking their heads, causing bleeding and inflammation inside the skull that can lead to permanent medical issues.
A rear-end crash could potentially also cause a spinal cord injury. The back-and-forth motions of the head in a rear-end crash could pinch or tear the spinal cord. At high speeds or in cases involving medically vulnerable vehicle occupants, a complete spinal cord injury that causes paralysis below the injury site could be possible.
Those hurt in rear-end crashes may need help proving who was at fault and pursuing compensation. Reviewing the crash circumstances with a personal injury lawyer could help those with rear-end crash injuries recover some of their financial losses.