A car accident can leave you with painful and debilitating injuries that could impact your ability to live your life as you did before the crash. You may find that you are not able to live and work as you did before the crash, and you may struggle with ongoing pain and limitations. This can happen in any type of accident, including a rear-end collision. Rear-end accidents are a common type of motor vehicle crash, but they can cause serious harm to victims.
In a rear-end accident, you could suffer physical harm and find yourself left with significant damage to your personal property. The types of injuries you could suffer may affect your personal and professional life, and it can take weeks or months to recover. Even if your accident took place at a low rate of speed, you could still experience serious effects.
The range of injuries you could experience
A rear-end accident could leave you with injuries that range from minor bruising to permanently disabling physical damage. These types of crashes are common, especially at intersections, exit ramps and other areas where vehicles are slowing down or coming to a stop. They are often the result of speeding, distraction or following too closely. Some of the most common rear-end accident injuries include:
- Seat belt injuries — In a crash, the seatbelt could lock, resulting in serious bruising, collarbone injuries and other damage from the force of the impact.
- Whiplash — Whiplash is a common type of car accident injury caused by the rapid forward and backward motion of the head that occurs during a sudden impact.
- Spine injuries — Spinal cord injuries can leave you with limited range of motion or even permanent paralysis, depending on the location of the injury.
- Head injuries — Due to the force of an impact from behind, a victim’s head could strike the steering wheel or dashboard, resulting in head damage.
These are only a few ways that a rear-end accident could impact you. This may be a common type of motor vehicle collision, but that does not minimize the ways that the crash affects you mentally, emotionally, physically and financially. In many cases, rear-end accidents are the result of the negligent or reckless actions of another person. If you are suffering after a rear-end crash, you may benefit from an explanation of the legal options available to you, including the possibility of seeking compensation through a civil claim.