To many people, rear-end collisions are essentially synonymous with whiplash. Soft tissue injuries are common when one vehicle strikes another from behind. However, an assortment of other serious injuries as well.
Rear-end crashes are responsible for approximately 17% of all two-vehicle collision fatalities. They can also easily put people in the hospital. If vehicle occupants sustain any of the three types of injuries briefly described below in a rear-end crash, they may incur medical expenses and lost wages that make insurance coverage alone insufficient.
1. Broken bones
Many people brace before impact if they notice the car approaching rapidly from behind. Even if they do not, the force of impact can easily break bones. Treatment costs and lost wages caused by fractures can add up to a substantial financial setback after a rear-end crash.
2. Traumatic brain injuries
Many people hit their heads on the steering column or the dashboard during a rear-end crash. The blunt-force trauma sustained during the incident can cause inflammation or bleeding inside the skull. Brain injuries range from concussions that may heal over time to more serious injuries that permanently change the structure of the brain.
3. Spinal cord injuries
The abrupt back-and-forth movement of a vehicle in a rear-end crash scenario could pinch, tear or even sever a person’s spinal cord. They may then experience mobility impairment or a total loss of function and sensation below the injury site.
Even though people may not think of rear-end crashes as especially severe, they can result in devastating consequences. Working with the lawyer to address the aftermath of a rear-end car crash can help people limit the financial hardship caused by a wreck accordingly.