The surprising impact of rear-end collisions

Like many motorists, you may understand the dangers of head-on collisions, T-bone collisions and rollovers. Yet, if another driver rear-ended you, you may downplay the accident’s impact, especially if you walked away from the scene without a scratch. But injuries caused by rear-end collisions often take time to appear. Once they do, they can be quite serious.

The potential for whiplash

The most common injury rear-end collisions cause is whiplash. Whiplash may occur if, upon impact, your head moved back quickly before snapping forward. While you might have felt fine at the accident scene, you might have developed symptoms 24 hours to several days later. These symptoms may include neck pain, headaches and a limited range of motion in your neck. No matter when they arose, it is crucial to visit a doctor as soon as possible, since 25% of whiplash victims endure long-term pain.

The potential for other injuries

Rear-end collisions can lead to injuries besides whiplash. These injuries may occur due to the force of impact of the vehicle that hit you, especially if it caused your head to hit a surface inside your vehicle. Or, they may occur if you were holding your steering wheel when the accident happened. Other common injuries caused by rear-end collisions include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Back injuries
• Arm and wrist injuries

Because rear-end collisions often lead to delayed injuries, you may consider yourself unharmed at first. Yet, acting right away can help you detect any injuries you received and prevent them from having lasting effects. An attorney with personal injury experience can help you achieve the recourse you deserve.