It’s a common experience—you may be waiting at a stoplight, parked in a parking lot or driving normally when suddenly another car strikes your rear bumper. You’ve experienced a rear-end collision. These accidents can range from less-damaging fender-benders to catastrophic accidents, ad it is important for drivers to know the long-lasting damage that they can do.
Rear-end collisions are very common.
The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration has reported that there were more than 2 million rear-end collisions in 2017 and that more than 2 thousand of those crashes resulted in fatal injuries. Rear-end collisions accounted for one-third of all car crashes and 10 percent of car crash fatalities, making them the most common type of crash.
Rear-end collisions can cause a variety of injuries.
Neck and back injuries are common in the aftermath of a rear-end collision. Because the impact can cause the driver’s head to snap forward, whiplash is especially common; The Mayo Clinic notes that car accidents are a top cause of whiplash. These injuries can cause pain, loss of range of motion and a variety of other symptoms that could make it difficult for you to go about your daily life.
Because a rear-end collision can cause a driver’s head to hit the steering wheel or dashboard of their vehicle, head trauma is another common injury. Even a minor concussion can cause headaches or drowsiness, and more severe impacts can result in loss of consciousness, nausea and possibly internal bleeding.
Because drivers often have their hands on the steering wheel when another car strikes them, the impact may cause damage to their hands, wrists or arms. Any wrist or arm pain after an accident could be a sign that there are hairline fractures to these bones.
The true impact of a rear-end collision may not be immediately apparent.
If you have been injured in a collision, you may not understand the full extent of your injuries right away. The symptoms of your injuries may appear immediately, or they may take days or even weeks to become apparent. Worse, that time left untreated may make the damage worse.
If you or a loved one has been harmed in a rear-end collision, get help immediately. Seeking immediate medical care and having the damage to your car assessed will help you understand the scope of the damage and to prevent future issues.