Mark Casto | December 7, 2023 | Car Accidents
Car accidents can happen in many different ways, and rear-end collisions are some of the most common. While these accidents may not seem like anything significant, they can cause serious physical harm and damage. Rear-end collision injuries can seriously impact your health in both the short and long term.
You may not know what to expect after being rear-ended and how to recover from your injuries. Following a collision, do not hesitate to seek legal guidance from a qualified car accident attorney. A lawyer can provide representation to help you recover monetarily for your injuries and losses.
What Is a Rear-End Collision?
You’ve likely heard of rear-end accidents, but what does “rear-ended” mean?
When you’re rear-ended, it means the car directly behind you has collided with the back of your vehicle. These collisions happen for many reasons, but they are often due to driver negligence. When a driver engages in negligent driving behaviors, they increase the risk of crashing into others.
Negligent driving behaviors include:
- Aggressive driving
- Reckless driving
- Unsafe lane changes
- Distracted driving
- Road rage
- Fatigued driving
- Drunk driving
Speeding is a large contributing factor to rear-end accidents. Speeding results in consequences, including a greater stop time and distance and increased impact in the event of a collision. This is one of the primary reasons rear-ended car crashes are so dangerous.
Typically, fault lies with the driver in the rear who collides with the vehicle in front of them. Although rear drivers and their negligent actions are most frequently to blame for these accidents, you must still take steps to establish liability to recover for your collision-related losses.
What Happens To Your Body in a Rear-End Collision?
Getting rear-ended can result in a wide variety of injuries. Still, some injuries are more common based on the location of the crash and the way the body reacts to the impact.
The following are just some of the injuries rear-end crash victims most frequently suffer.
Head and Brain Injuries
In a rear-end collision, the head is accelerated. Therefore, head injuries are common.
More specifically, head injuries can affect the brain, leading to any of the following brain injuries:
- Concussions
- Contusions
- Hemorrhages
- Diffuse axonal injuries
It’s possible to recover from a head or brain injury, but these injuries can be serious and lead to other health complications that affect cognition and regular brain functions. A severe brain injury can affect your health and well-being in the long term.
Neck Injuries
Neck injuries happen quite often in rear-end crashes. The unexpected impact regularly causes the neck to move in a way that results in damage. Because of this movement, whiplash is one of the more common types of neck injuries.
Neck strains and sprains are also common. Neck strains affect the muscles in the neck, while neck sprains affect the tendons, ligaments, and facet joints. A neck injury can cause pain and loss of range of motion.
Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
In a typical rear-end collision, the victim’s back is affected in some way. You can sustain strains affecting the muscles and strains injuring the ligaments and tendons.
In more serious cases, back injuries can affect the spine, causing damage to the bones and discs along the spine. When these injuries are severe enough, they could result in spinal cord injuries, which are especially dangerous. A spinal cord injury can have serious repercussions, including paralysis.
Facial Injuries
A rear-ended car accident can even result in facial injuries. It’s not uncommon for the body to thrust forward upon impact, causing you to hit your face against the steering wheel. This could cause lacerations, fractured facial bones in the cheeks and nose, or broken teeth.
Recovering For Your Rear-End Accident Injuries and Losses
Suffering injuries in a rear-end car crash prompts the need for medical care, sometimes even in the long term. Medical expenses can quickly pile up, and you may experience financial strain as a result. For this reason, pursuing fair compensation is important.
Taking action means seeking damages for your injuries and related losses.
Depending on the specifics of your case, you may have the opportunity to obtain both economic and non-economic damages, including, but not limited to:
- Medical expenses for past and future treatment
- Therapy and rehabilitation costs
- Lost earnings
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
Multiple factors influence the value of your claim, including the type of injuries you sustain, the severity of your injuries, and how your injuries affect your health, lifestyle, and well-being. It’s essential to evaluate your claim to help ensure you’re getting the full and fair compensation you deserve for your losses.
Filing a Car Accident Claim
Your path toward financial recovery is based on the circumstances, including who’s at fault. If another driver is at fault, you’ll likely begin by filing a collision claim with their insurer for compensation. If your claim is approved and the insurance company is willing to settle for a favorable amount, you don’t need to take further legal action.
If the insurance company isn’t willing to settle fairly, you can proceed with filing a personal injury lawsuit. By filing your legal claim, you’ll continue your pursuit of compensation, whether it results in a settlement or judgment.
How a Georgia Car Accident Attorney Can Help After a Rear-End Crash
Rear-end car accident claims can be challenging to handle, and insurance companies can make the process an absolute nightmare. An experienced car accident lawyer can take on your case and provide quality representation to get you the best possible case result.
An attorney can take on every case-related task, including establishing fault, calculating your damages, and gathering evidence to build a strong case on your behalf. Regardless of whether your case settles or goes to trial, you can rely on your lawyer to remain steadfast in their commitment to you and your case.
Hiring a car accident lawyer gives you the best chance of recovering from your rear-end collision injuries and relieving your financial burdens.
Contact the Columbus Car Accident Lawyers at Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm Today For More Help
If you were injured in an accident in Columbus, Georgia, and need legal help, contact our Columbus car accident lawyers at Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm to schedule a free case review today.
We serve in Muscogee County and its surrounding areas:
Mark Casto Personal Injury Law Firm
233 12th St #808, Columbus, GA 31901
Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm
(706) 940-4030