Most Common Injuries from Rear-End Accidents

Whether you’re driving down the street, sitting at a stop light, or you’re properly parked and minding your own business, rear end accidents can lead to serious injuries. Rear end collisions are an example of energy being transferred from a moving object to another object. The speed the moving object is traveling will dictate the force the other object absorbs. When a person is sitting inside that absorbing object, he or she gets thrown forward, then snapped back, in quick order. Bodies are not designed to move that way without consequences, which is how we become injured. The harder the impact, the worse the injuries will be.

The injuries are you most likely to experience when hit from behind

Sometimes injuries from rear end car crashes are temporary, and can be repaired over time with physical therapy and rest. More severe injuries can cause a lifetime of chronic pain and varying levels of disability that may require additional and long-term care. This can cause a significant financial burden on the crash victim. Among the most common injuries of rear-end crashes are:

• Whiplash. When your neck is quickly forced back and forth, it generally causes short-term damage that involves moderate pain and stiffness from your neck to your shoulders, difficulty turning your head in different directions, headaches and maybe some lightheadedness. More serious symptoms can cause insomnia, trouble with concentration and other cognitive-related functions.
• Back strain. This injury tends to be related to muscles or tendons pulled in your back. You may experience pain and limited range of motion. Something as simple as lifting your leg can engage the strained muscle causing discomfort or inability to move the way you intended. Back strains frequently cause victims to overcompensate by using other parts of their bodies, which can put stress on joints and muscles in other ways posing a risk of further injury.
• Spinal cord damage. Being hit from behind causes a violent jerk to your body that can cause trauma to your spinal cord affecting your ability to walk, sit, or stand for long periods or at all. It can be caused by shock to the nerves that control your movements, or in the worst cases, you could experience a severed or crushed spinal cord.
• Air bag injuries. These bags pack a punch designed to prevent your head and body from slamming into something much harder causing internal organ damage or a traumatic brain injury. Additionally, you could suffer friction burns or lung irritation from air bag deployment.
• Broken bones. Even if your air bag deploys, the force could result in a broken nose or other bone. If your air bag malfunctions or your vehicle is older and doesn’t have one, a high impact rear collision could send your head into your steering wheel or dashboard. Depending upon the position you’re sitting at the time, the force of the impact could enough tension that other bones may break such as a leg or arm.

Other symptoms to look for include:

• Pain or stiffness in the shoulders or neck
• Numbness anywhere in your body
• Abdominal swelling or pain
• Emotional changes or mood swings

Being in a car accident where you don’t instantly feel injured does not mean you are not injured; the delayed onset of pain or a disability can last months or years. It interrupts your life and the stress takes a toll on your mental state. The Savannah and Atlanta accident attorneys at Harris Lowry Manton LLP understand the importance of leaving behind the life that’s been forced on you and return to the life you planned as quickly as possible. If you have been injured by a careless driver, schedule your free case evaluation by calling our Savannah office at 912-417-3774, our Atlanta office at 404-998-8847, or we invite you to reach out to us through our contact page to tell us your story.