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Personal Injury Blog No matter what challenge you’re up against, we help you put the right stone in your sling to defeat your Goliath. We’re ready to hear from you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, because we know that accidents can take place at any time, and we’re passionate about helping those who have suffered injuries at the hands of other people.

Rear-End Collision Injuries

Rear-End Collision Injuries

There are roughly 1.7 million rear-end accidents in the U.S. each year. Contrary to popular belief, however, not all of these accidents are minor fender-benders. About 1,700 people are killed annually by rear-end accidents, and half a million suffer injuries. If you were injured due to a rear-end accident, a car accident lawyer can seek compensation for your injury.

Common Injuries Resulting from Rear-End Accidents

While whiplash is the most common injury resulting from a rear-end accident, traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries are among the most serious—and they have a high likelihood of resulting in permanent disabilities. Here is a look at four injuries commonly sustained in rear-end accidents.

#1. Whiplash

Whiplash is an injury affecting the soft tissues of the neck after the head snaps back and forth, similar to the motion of a lashing whip. The injury presents with neck pain and stiffness that worsens with movement, headaches that start at the base of the skull, tenderness in the shoulder, upper back, or arms, tingling or numbness, and dizziness.

While many people recover from whiplash through mild medical treatment, rest, and relaxation, some individuals will incur chronic pain due to the injury. The risk of this complication is highest for older people, those who have suffered a whiplash injury before, have existing low back or neck pain, or were injured in a more forceful high-speed accident.

#2. Spinal Cord Injuries

Around 17,000 new spinal cord injuries are diagnosed in the U.S. each year, and car accidents are one of the leading causes of this type of injury. When a rear-end accident occurs, the individual in the lead car often suffers a violent back and forth motion of their body. While this can cause whiplash in the neck, severe impacts can also damage the spinal cord in the neck or back.

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that extends from the base of the skull to the waist and serves as a messenger system between the brain and the rest of the body. Spinal cord injuries generally result in a loss of function and sensation beneath the injury site, known as paralysis. A complete injury leaves no remaining sensation or function. However, an incomplete injury can leave some sensation and ability to use the affected parts of the body.

#3. Other Neck and Back Injuries

Rear-end accidents can also result in other types of neck and back injuries, including:

#4. Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries involve damage to the brain due to a sudden jolt or blow to the body. The jolt experienced in a rear-end accident can result in this type of injury. The brain is responsible for sending impulses to the body to control functions and involuntary responses.

Several functional segments of the brain, known as lobes, control different areas of the body. When damage occurs to any of these lobes, it often results in permanent loss or impairment of the functions that particular lobe controls.

Common types of disabilities due to traumatic brain injuries include:

Rear-End Accidents Can Impact Your Entire Life

Suffering a serious injury, including those listed above, can result in impacts to your entire life, such as:

Individuals who were rear-ended may seek compensation for their injury’s financial and psychological impacts.

Rear-End Accident? A Car Accident Attorney Can Help

Suppose a rear-end accident injured you due to someone else’s negligence. In that case, a car accident lawyer can talk to you about how to seek the most compensation available for your injury.