Far from being mere fender benders, rear-end crashes are not only one of the most common types of accidents on our roads but also one of the most dangerous. In addition to being closely associated with serious injuries, rear-end accidents can seriously damage or total your vehicle. If another driver leaves you injured in a rear-end accident, don’t wait to reach out for the professional legal guidance of an experienced Atlanta car accident attorney.
Rear-End Accidents: The Statistics
Consider the following statistics related to rear-end accidents in the United States:
- In 2020, rear-end accidents accounted for 2,428 deaths and 6.8 percent of all fatal traffic accidents, which is second only to head-on collisions – according to the Insurance Information Institute (III).
- Overall, rear-end accidents are the most common form of car accident, and they account for 29 percent of all traffic crashes while leading to many serious injuries – according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Rear-end accidents are serious accidents that can do serious damage.
Damage to Your Vehicle
If you are hit from behind, it can obviously cause serious body damage to your vehicle’s rear. The fact is, however, that the impact can also lead to frame damage, which – when severe – can damage your transmission – and which puts excess stress on your vehicle’s suspension system. All told, such damage can total even a new vehicle. In other words, the property damage to your vehicle caused by a rear-end accident can be considerable.
Your Personal Injuries
While the damage to your vehicle can be immense, it can’t compare to the physical injuries you can sustain in a rear-end accident. While you can suffer almost any kind of injury in such an accident, some are more common than others.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that is caused by the head whipping one way and then the other on the neck, and this type of movement is common to rear-end accidents. Whiplash is often an exceptionally painful injury that can also be exceptionally unpredictable. For instance, the pain can come and go, can be slow to present, and can become chronic. Because many of our bodily movements involve the head and neck, a serious whiplash injury can lead to a seriously diminished range of motion.
Broken Bones
The forward thrust of a rear-end accident can slam you forward, and the resulting impact can lead to broken bones – especially in the hand, foot, calf, or spine (in the course of bracing for impact). Broken bones tend to take a long time to heal, can lead to serious complications that include physical disability and chronic pain when they fail to heal correctly, and are exceptionally painful injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Concussions and other forms of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common to rear-end accidents. As your head is thrust forward and then bounced back, your brain takes a beating, and the results are as dangerous as they are unpredictable. TBIs are often as emotionally devastating as they are physically.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The same whipping motion that can leave you with whiplash can lead to spinal cord injuries, which are closely associated with chronic pain and severe decreases in range of motion. Spinal cord injuries can occur anywhere on the spinal cord and can include injuries such as a ruptured disc or a broken, compressed, or dislocated vertebra. When the spinal cord itself is severed or seriously injured, it can lead to permanent paralysis and a lifetime of healthcare needs.
Your Losses
The covered losses – or legal damages – you suffer as a result of a negligent motorist who rear-ends your vehicle break down into three primary categories – in addition to the property damage to your car.
Medical Costs
The medical costs you face after a rear-end accident can include all the following:
- Emergency care and transportation
- Hospitalization, including care and treatment
- Medical testing, treatments, and procedures
- Care from doctors, therapists, and other medical professionals
- Rehabilitation, physical therapy, and occupational therapy
- Prescription medications
- Pain management
The injuries you sustain in a rear-end accident can lead to long-term health care needs related to ongoing concerns, secondary health issues, and health complications, and carefully assessing your medical needs in their entirety is critical to your ability to achieve your most complete recovery.
Your Lost Income
You’ve been injured by another driver’s negligence, and while you’re healing, you’re likely to experience decreased wages. If your earning potential is affected or your career is sent off course, the financial losses you suffer will be even more challenging. Because our jobs are so integral to our lives and sense of self, significant career losses can be emotional as well as financial.
Your Physical and Emotional Pain and Suffering
The physical and emotional pain and suffering you experience as a result of a rear-end collision can rival your other losses. Being injured in a violent and terrifying accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence can lead to psychological challenges, including:
- Fear of getting back behind the wheel
- Severe mood swings
- Increased anxiety and depression
- Sleep disturbances
- Difficulty concentrating
Obtaining fair compensation for your complete losses can provide you with the resources you need to regain your health and well-being.
Discuss Your Claim with an Experienced Atlanta Car Accident Attorney Today
If another driver’s negligence leaves you injured in a rear-end collision, you are facing considerable losses, and may not know where to turn for the help you need. The accomplished Atlanta car accident attorneys at Spaulding Injury Law take great pride in their proven track record of successfully guiding challenging claims like yours toward advantageous outcomes that support the best interests of our clients and allow them to achieve their fullest recoveries.
Our skilled legal team is on your side and here to help, so please don’t put off contacting us online or calling us at 770-744-0890 for more information about what we can do to help you today. We handle all types of car crash claims, including rear-end collisions.
