Rear-End Collisions Pose Variety of Injuries

Rear-end collisions occur when the front of a trailing vehicle strikes the back end of the vehicle in front of it. Rear-end collisions are among the most common types of automobile accidents. In most cases, these accidents occur because the trailing vehicle is not allowing proper time and space to brake. But in some cases, such as chain reaction accidents on highways, there is little the trailing vehicle can do to avoid a collision.

Though any type of injury can occur in a rear end accident, whiplash injuries are very common, and occur when the head of the body jerks forward and then is pulled violently backwards, causing muscles and tendons to stretch or tear. This motion results in a variety of injuries, including:

• Spinal injuries, including paralysis
• Concussions, from the brain slamming against the inside of the skull from the violent motion
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Though rear end collisions can occur at any time, certain factors make them significantly more likely. Bad weather, including fog and rain that limit visibility, and ice which makes braking more difficult, are associated with an increase in rear-end accidents. Speeding is also a common factor in these incidents, as is a driver following too closely behind other vehicles.

If you have been injured, or know of someone who has been injured in a rear-end collision, you will soon discover that building a comprehensive model of the accident can be difficult. Determining who did what and when, and whether or not people were driving safely considering the conditions, can be overwhelming. Please consider consulting with a qualified attorney about your case. An experienced attorney has evaluated hundreds of rear-end collisions over their career, and can help you determine whether or not other drivers were being safe.