Rear End Collisions Can Have Catastrophic Consequences
Rear end collisions are more dangerous than many realize. They often occur at high speeds on highways, and can leave cars facing oncoming traffic, smashed against concrete barriers, or flipped off the road entirely. They are one of the most common types of collision, and may in fact be on the rise with more distracted drivers than ever on the road.
What you should know about rear-end collisions
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, rear-end collisions accounted for 32.9% of in transit collisions in 2012. Of the 1,847,000 rear-end collisions in the United States, almost a full third resulted in injury or death. Statistically, you are more likely injured in a rear-end collision while driving than in almost any other type of collision.
This type of vehicle collision is particularly dangerous because your body is unable to prepare for incoming impact. Your muscles don’t tense, and you are typically in a neutral position when your velocity changes suddenly and drastically. This often leads to neck injuries, but there are a whole host of other injuries that can occur during a high-impact rear-end collision. These include:
- Head injury. For rear seat occupants, even with a safety harness, the head may impact the front seat headrests and cause loss of consciousness and traumatic brain injury.
- Broken bones. With a significant impact, seatbelts can actually function too well and cause excess pressure on the ribcage. Broken ribs are common. Depending on how the occupants were seated at the time of the injury, arms, hands, fingers, legs, and toes are at risk. In severe cases, “whiplash” can crack or rupture a vertebrae leading to permanent injury or death.
- Facial disfigurement. A high impact collision creates a shockwave that deforms metal and shatters glass. Vehicle occupants can experience facial and other lacerations that can result in permanent scarring or disfigurement.
- Permanent paralysis. During high-speed collisions, the spine is at greatest risk. The shock of sudden acceleration or deceleration can have major effects, like severed nerves resulting in permanent paralysis.
Any and all of these conditions require medical attention immediately. For more severe injuries, ongoing therapy or multiple surgeries may be required. All of this medical attention incurs great costs; if you are a victim of a rear end collision you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, or change in lifestyle. Visit our offices in Newark, Seaford, or Wilmington, or contact us today for a free consultation with a dedicated Delaware car accident lawyer.
Attorney Jeffrey S. Friedman joined Silverman, McDonald & Friedman in 2001. He graduated from Widener University School of Law, and is admitted to practice law in Delaware and Pennsylvania, and in several Federal Circuit courts. He areas of concentration include auto accident and workers’ compensation cases. Read more about Attorney Friedman here.