Rear end car collisions are the most frequent type of accident, and numerous injuries associated with these collisions can cost you millions each year in medical fees, rehabilitation, and ongoing recovery. In fact, according to the Washington Post, there are about 1.7 million rear end collisions in the U.S. every year. Due to that, significant portions of these injuries are neck and back related due to forces involved in rear-end collisions that place a significant strain on the head, neck, and back. Several injuries that are common in rear-end collisions include:
Whiplash – Rear End Collisions
Whiplash is a common injury that affects the neck and shoulders and is caused by the transfer of force from the vehicles crashing into each other. Whiplash can signal torn ligaments, dislocations, and other injuries. Symptoms include reduced range of motion in your neck, blurry vision, spells of dizziness, neck pain, shoulder/arm pain, stiff neck, and headaches. If left untreated, whiplash can leave you susceptible to long-term chronic pain.
Back Injuries
Damage to the spinal tissue and nerves may require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation, as you may suffer from herniated disks or paralysis. Several kinds of spine damage can happen in an accident, including compression fractures, Spondylolisthesis (when a vertebra moves out of alignment), herniated discs, and spinal cord injury. When it comes to spinal cord injuries, depending on the severity, symptoms include reduced strength, muscle control or spasms, acute pain, poor balance, loss of bladder or bowel control, and in extreme circumstances, paralysis.
Head Injuries – Rear End Collisions
While head injuries are more common with lower speed collisions, due to the deployment of the airbag (when accidents involve the vehicle exceeding twenty miles per hour), you may still suffer from broken bones, nose damage, bruised eyes, and headaches.
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often a result of a blow to the head, such as hitting your head against the steering wheel. TBI happens where you can’t see it, inside the skull, that is why it’s essential to pay attention to behaviors after a rear-end accident. Some things to pay attention to include memory lapses, inability to stay focused, slurring of speech, headaches, and seizures. While TBI resolves itself with some rest and time, more severe TBI often requires a lot of medical care and can include anything from medications to surgery to reduce the long-term damage.
Bodily Injury – Rear End Collisions
Other injuries may include damage to your hands, wrists, and arms, as the force of the collision may cause you to strike the dashboard or become tangled with the steering wheel or seatbelt. Physical injury to the hands, wrists, and arms can severely limit your ability to perform daily activities.
Rear End Collisions and How These Injuries May Affect You
Personal injury due to rear end collisions should not be taken lightly even when you are not showing any significant symptoms. The result of the crash may take several days to show up. Timely treatment can often reduce or prevent some of the worst long-term problems. You also want to seek treatment as soon as possible so you have an accurate record of your injuries.