Even a Minor Rear-End Crash Can Cause Major Injuries

 Posted on August 03, 2022 in Car Accidents

Rear-end crashes are one of the most common car accidents that occur. Although many of these types of crashes are considered “minor,” the reality is that the injuries that victims suffer in these accidents can result in long-term or even permanent medical issues.

Common Causes of Rear-End Crashes

In the majority of rear-end accidents, the incidents were preventable and would not have occurred if the driver in the rear had not engaged in some kind of negligent or reckless driving behavior. The most common acts include:

• Distracted driving, including texting or talking on the phone, setting the GPS, fiddling with the radio, talking to a passenger, or eating and drinking

• Driver fatigue

• Speeding

• Tailgating

• Aggressive or reckless driving

• Disobeying traffic rules

Common Injuries Victims Suffer in Rear-End Crashes

Even a rear-end accident that occurs at low speed can result in long-term or even permanent disabilities. Many of the rear-end accident victims our firm represents have sustained the following:

• Whiplash – When the rear vehicle slams into the vehicle in front of them, the occupants in the front vehicle typically suffer a jerking of their head and neck. This jerking motion is similar to what a whip looks like when someone cracks it. The jerking causes the muscles and ligaments in the neck to twist and stretch. A person who is suffering from whiplash can have headaches, dizziness, shoulder and back pain, and stiff muscles. Many people do not realize how serious a whiplash injury can be. Although the injury is usually a temporary one, some people are left dealing with memory loss, concentration issues, nerve damage, and other chronic health issues.

• Sciatica – Known as the largest nerve of the body, each sciatic nerve travels from the lower back all the way down the leg. Sciatic injury is one of the most common injuries rear-end accident victims suffer. The pain from a sciatic nerve injury can be significant, spreading across the lower back, down the buttocks, and down the leg. Many people also suffer from leg numbness, tingling in their feet, or chronic pain.

• Hamstring injuries – In the seconds before the impact, a rear-end car accident victim may hear the squealing of the brakes as the other driver tries to stop from slamming into them. Aware they are about to get hit, their body tenses up as they brace for the impact. This contraction of the muscles, along with the jerking from the slamming of the vehicle, often causes injury to the hamstring muscles that run along the back of the thighs.

Contact a Northbrook, IL Personal Injury Attorney

If you have been injured in a rear-end collision, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Call Gruzmark Law, Ltd. at 847-729-7660 to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a dedicated Glenview, IL car accident attorney.

Sources:

https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/whiplash

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7619#treatments

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hamstring-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20372985