These crashes, despite having the potential to be serious, are often made light of, being called “fender-benders” and dismissed by insurance adjusters as minor and insignificant.
But rear-end collisions aren’t always slight parking lot crashes; sometimes, rear-end collisions happen at high speeds, and when they do, rear-end collision injuries and damages can be significant.
If you have been harmed in a rear-end collision in Mississippi, our car accident lawyers at the Harris Law Firm can help you to understand your rights.
Most Common Rear-End Collision Injuries
The injuries sustained in a rear-end collision can vary depending upon the force involved in the crash, the safety features of a vehicle (i.e. airbags), and whether or not occupants were wearing their seatbelts at the time of impact. Some of the most common injuries from being rear-ended include:
Whiplash
A whiplash injury is the most common injury type that results from a rear-end crash. This type of injury refers to harm to the neck that is caused by the sudden back-and-forth motion, or sideways motion, of the head in a whip-like fashion. Whiplash affects the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that are found within the neck – as such, it is often referred to as a neck sprain or strain injury.
The symptoms of whiplash vary on a case-by-case basis, but might include soreness or stiffness of the neck; pain when moving the neck, shoulders, or arms; headaches; tenderness in the neck, head, shoulders, and arms; dizziness; numbness in the upper body; and fatigue. When a whiplash injury is especially serious, it could also result in blurred vision, sleep disturbances, tinnitus, and even depression.
How a whiplash injury is treated depends on the severity of the injury. Pain management techniques might include rest, an over-the-counter or prescription pain medication or anti-inflammatory drug, exercise, and physical therapy. An injured person may also benefit from the temporary and intermittent use of a foam collar, which will stabilize the neck.
Most of the time, a whiplash injury will heal on its own over time when accompanied by exercises and pain management techniques. In the meantime, though, a whiplash injury can be painful enough to be disabling, preventing an injured person from doing the things they love or returning to work.
Concussion
Another common rear-end collision injury is that of a concussion, which is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI). A concussion occurs when the head is hit with a blunt object, or when the force of a crash causes the brain to slam into the wall of the skull, as is possible in a rear-end crash (the force of the snapping back and forth, much like whiplash, can be enough to damage the brain).
The symptoms of a concussion vary based on the severity; most concussions will not cause the occupant to lose consciousness. Symptoms of a concussion include a headache, temporary loss of memory, dizziness, fatigue, ringing in the ears, confusion, and nausea. Sometimes, a concussion can also result in emotional disorders, including moodiness, crying, trouble controlling one’s emotions, and even angry outbursts.
The long-term consequences of a concussion have the potential to be limiting, and include the potential of vertigo, headaches, thinking and cognitive difficulties, and more.
Facial Injuries
A vehicle that is equipped with proper safety features, and is functioning as intended, will typically deploy its airbags in the event that a rear-end crash occurs. While airbags can be life-saving, they can also cause facial and other injuries, including rib fracture injuries, to those who are seated in the front driver or passenger seat of a motor vehicle. A face may be impacted with severe force, resulting in fractured facial bones, eye injuries, severe bruising, and lacerations.
If a person is not wearing a seatbelt at the time of a rear-end collision, injuries may be even more severe. Indeed, a person could hit or go through the vehicle’s windshield, resulting in traumatic brain injuries, lacerations, bone fractures, internal injuries, and even death. Rear-end collisions have the potential to be fatal.
Call Our Law Firm for Your Free Consultation Today
Rear-end collision injuries aren’t always minor – even a whiplash injury can be debilitating, painful, and expensive to remedy. If you have suffered rear-end collision injuries, you should call our experienced Mississippi car accident lawyers at the Harris Law Firm today. Common injuries from being rear-ended have the potential to be serious, and when they are, our lawyers will fight for your right to recover your full value of economic and noneconomic losses.
To schedule a free consultation with our law office to discuss your car accident, your damages, and the remedies available to you, please send us a message or call us today. We work on a contingency fee basis, and never charge you upfront fees for our services.
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