Rear-end Car Accidents and Common Injuries

Different types of car accidents can result in different injuries sustained by those involved.

The case is no different for rear-end car accidents.

You may even be wondering What Doctor Should I see After an Automobile Accident?

In this blog, we discuss rear-end car accidents, the injuries sustained from being rear ended, what factors contribute to this kind of car accident occurring, and more.

Rear-end car wrecks are the most frequent type of accident throughout the states of Georgia and South Carolina, and the various injuries affiliated with these collisions cost injured victims millions each year in medical fees, rehabilitation, and ongoing recovery.

Rear-end accidents happen when the front bumper of one vehicle collides with the back end of another vehicle also known as a “fender bender.”

These types of impacts are considered to be relatively minor car accidents; however, even low-speed crashes when you are rear-ended can result in serious injury.

In fact, rear-end collisions traveling as little as five mph can contribute to significant symptoms leaving 10% of vehicle occupants with whiplash syndrome.

Nevertheless, it’s the extent of the injuries suffered that diversifies from accident to accident; some injuries demand more intensive medical treatment than others, such as in cases where the victim is unaware of the future impact.

Injuries In Rear-end Vehicle Crashes

Car crashes happen in literally one/two eye blinks leaving the head and neck to ensure high amounts of force in a fraction of a second.

The body's spine, muscles, and tendons are physically compelled to brace for impact producing damaging results to the skeletal structure and the surrounding nerves.

This is why whiplash injuries to the spine and its curvature are by far the most common injury associated with rear-end traffic accidents.

Studies show the most significant rear-end auto accident injuries occur when the driver or passenger in the vehicle do not have time to react to an impending wreck because your spine doesn’t have a chance to stabilize and protect itself from severe harm. It can cause damage to the spinal cord, whiplash injuries, and in severe cases brain injury.

Serious spinal damage and injury can take months to recover from, if not longer, and requires medical attention from an Auto Injury Doctor that specializes in car accident and soft tissue injury treatment.

It’s important to know injuries sustained from a common car accident like, rear-end collisions, may not be immediately apparent, and may instead take 24 hours or even days to produce any pain or distressing symptoms following your accident.

That’s why it’s imperative to seek medical treatment immediately after being hit in a rear-end impact; the sooner you seek professional medical help, the more likely you will gain a complete recovery and protect your claim if you decide to seek legal compensation.

The most common injuries reported after rear-end accidents include:

• Whiplash. Whiplash, or neck strain, is very common, and most people are aware of whiplash. Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs as the head is suddenly thrown forward and then backward in a rear-end collision. What people may not realize is that these neck injuries can cause muscle damage, stretching of the tendons, spinal injury, concussion, and nerve damage, making the injury far from minor. Although not immediately apparent, neck pain is the most common symptom of whiplash.

• Head trauma. A person’s head may strike the headrest, window, steering wheel, or the airbag of their car in a rear-end collision, putting him or her at risk of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). There are several degrees of a traumatic brain injury, and like whiplash, it can take days for the full effects of the injury to become apparent. Symptoms of TBI may include loss of consciousness, fatigue, dizziness, mood swings, slurred speech, memory loss, or impaired cognitive function. These injuries take time and careful treatment to heal, and some effects may be permanent.

• Facial scarring or disfigurement. A victim’s face may collide with an airbag or be lacerated by broken glass or dashboard fragments during a car accident, resulting in deep cuts or burns that cause permanent scarring and disfigurement.

• Fractures. Broken bones are one of the most common injuries suffered in car accidents. In rear-end car accidents, drivers and passengers often suffer breaks in their fingers, feet, hands, or even their back or neck as they brace for an impact, as well as in their spine or ribcage as a result of being held in place by seat belts.

• Paralysis. Severe trauma to the back, neck, and spine carries the risk of partial or total paralysis. An injury to the cervical spine (immediately below the neck) during a car accident can often result in quadriplegia, the inability to move the arms and the legs.

• Back Injuries. When a rear-end crash occurs, bodies in the car move back and forth quickly during impact. This motion coupled with a body’s interaction with the seatback is a large part of why back injuries occur. The impact of a rear-end collision also causes your middle and lower back to move back and forth, which disrupts the natural curve of the spine and flattens them. Along with whiplash, back injuries are one of the most common injuries to happen during a rear-end collision.

Important Factors That Contribute To Rear-End Accidents

• Vehicles Involved

• Speed Differential

• Vehicle Weight

• Location of Impact

• Direction of Impact
  Head Restraint Location

• Seat failure

• Seat Back Angle

• Seat Back Height

It is shown that headrests are the best protection in rear-end collisions, but if the headrest is set too low, the head can roll over the top of the headrest, producing even more hyperextension.

Another influence on the severity of the car accident injury is the position of the head at the moment of impact. If the head is turned, the damage will be greater on the side it is set to.

Also, a surprise collision will usually cause more injury because the ligaments will be injured more than the muscles.

Therefore, when a person knows they are going to be struck, they will tense up the muscles creating injury to the tissue first.

Research shows in a car accident up to 15mph the right front seat passenger faces a greater potential of injury than does the driver because the driver can brace himself/herself to some extent by holding the steering wheel.

What To Look Out For After A Rear-End Collision

Sometimes, rear-end collisions can cause much more damage than it first seems to you and your car. Here are a few things you should look out for in your car after a rear-end accident.

Hidden Auto Collision Damage. After a rear-end accident, it may appear that your vehicle has had a lucky escape. However, even if it appears that there is no visible auto collision damage, it is important to remember that there could be hidden damage beneath the surface. One commonly missed type of auto collision damage sustained during a rear-end accident involves the bumper cover. In many vehicles, the bumper is plastic and doesn’t provide a great deal of protection. During a rear-end accident, even a minor bump can cause damage to the frame behind the bumper. This is just one example of possible hidden damage, so it is always a good idea to get your vehicle checked out thoroughly after an accident.

Trunk Damage. Another common form of auto collision damage caused by rear end collisions s damage to the trunk. While this may not affect the ability to drive the vehicle, it can present a safety issue and will undoubtedly reduce the value of the car. The trunk needs to open and close smoothly, and it should lock securely. A damaged trunk may pop open on the highway and obstruct the rear view. If you notice anything unusual about the trunk following an accident, it is time to seek out an auto collision repair specialist.

Alignment Problems. Following a rear-end collision, it is not unusual to notice a difference in the way a vehicle handles. This is usually due to an alignment problem – another example of auto collision damage that might not be instantly noticeable. Common warning signs of improper alignment include uneven driving, wobbly steering or unusual vibrations.

Choose Arrowhead Clinic for Your Auto Accident Injury Treatments

We offer patients affordable cash payment plans and free consultations to best accommodate our patient's specific needs during their journey to recovery.

If your auto injury was due to the carelessness of another driver, we can refer you a qualified personal injury attorney who would go after the at-fault party's insurance, so you don't have to represent your interests in court and help gain the compensation you deserve for your injuries, property damage, and treatment involved with your rear-end car collisions.

If you were involved in a rear-end collision and have sustained injuries in the accident, visit one of our Arrowhead Chiropractic Clinic locations today.

Our auto injury doctors offer the best care for rear-end car accident injuries.