Rear-end crashes may not initially seem especially severe. When compared with the catastrophic vehicle damages and major injuries caused by head-on or side-impact collisions, the consequences of a rear-end crash may not seem as serious. However, rear-end crashes can lead to people in either vehicle dying. They also have a strong association with injuries that trigger medical expenses and diminish the income of the injured party.
All three of the injuries below have a strong association with rear-end crashes and may justify a claim for compensation after another driver causes a wreck.
1. Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries
People don’t give whiplash the respect it deserves. While whiplash does eventually improve over time, it can cause painful symptoms that persist for months in some cases. People in a variety of professions may be unable to work with whiplash, and they may incur significant medical expenses while managing their symptoms.
2. Broken bones
People can easily sustain fractures in rear-end crash scenarios. Fractures can leave people unable to work for weeks. In more extreme cases, they may require surgical intervention. Broken bones often cost more than people expect after a wreck.
3. Traumatic brain injuries
The abrupt motions of vehicles during rear-end crashes can lead to people hitting their heads on steering wheels or other parts of the vehicle. Blunt-force trauma to the head can cause bleeding or inflammation inside the skull. Without treatment, that pressure inside the skull can cause changes to the structure of the brain and permanent brain injury symptoms.
People injured in rear-end car crashes can potentially hold the driver at fault accountable for both their medical expenses and their lost income. Reviewing crash reports and medical records with a skilled legal team can help people evaluate their options for covering collision costs.