When people describe fender-benders or minor car crashes, rear-end collisions are often what they reference. Especially when compared with head-on collisions or devastating T-bone collisions that occur at high speeds, rear-end crashes may not seem particularly serious.
Despite what people might believe, rear-end crashes can cause significant injuries. They account for almost one in five traffic fatalities. They can also cause very serious injuries, including the three costly injuries briefly outlined below.
1. Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries
Soft tissue injuries can be painful and expensive. They may require medical care, ranging from prescription medication to physical therapy. They can also affect a person’s ability to work, especially if they have a physically-demanding job. Whiplash can even affect the ability to sit at a desk for some people.
2. Traumatic brain injuries
People can hit their heads due to the abrupt back-and-forth motions that occur during rear-end collisions. Blunt-force trauma to the head may produce swelling inside the skull or lead to internal bleeding. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can trigger a variety of very serious symptoms, which can be permanent in many cases.
3. Broken bones
People may brace for impact when a rear-end crash occurs, and they may fracture bones in their arms or legs as a result. They may even break their collarbones and ribs. Fractures generally require weeks to heal.
Even if a rear-end crash initially seems minor, people may develop more serious symptoms as time passes. Reviewing car crash circumstances with a personal injury attorney can help those with rear-end crash injuries calculate their losses and pursue compensation for their lost wages and medical expenses effectively.