Sustaining a Neck or Back Injury in a Rear-End Collision

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as many as 30 percent of all car accidents take the form of rear-end collisions. Unfortunately, injuries in these kinds of accidents are relatively common and often affect the occupant’s neck and back. Rear-end accidents are almost always the result of driver negligence and in most cases, unless the parties can prove otherwise, the driver who collided with the car in front of them will be presumed at fault for the crash. Determining fault can end up being a crucial part of rear-end cases, as claimants often incur significant medical bills for neck or back injuries.

Neck Injuries 

Because of the angle of impact, certain injuries are more common in rear-end collisions than others. When struck from behind, for instance, the force of the crash often causes the head to snap forward and backward at a high rate of speed. This can cause a range of serious neck injuries, including:

• Whiplash, which occurs when the ligaments and muscles in the neck are extended beyond their typical range of motion and can result in significant pain and limited mobility;
• Herniated discs in the cervical spine, when the compression of the vertebrae places pressure on the nerves in the spinal column; and
• Neck fractures, which occur when one or more of the seven vertebrae in the upper (cervical) spine crack or fracture upon impact.

These are only a few of the types of neck injuries that rear-end accident victims can sustain. There are many more, all of which range in severity and type of treatment. All, however, can be expensive and physically debilitating.

Back Injuries

The cervical vertebrae, which make up the neck, are not the only bones in the spine that are often injured in rear-end collisions. In fact, the upper back, which is made up of the thoracic vertebrae, as well as the lower back (lumbar vertebrae) are also at risk of injury. These vertebrae can be fractured upon impact, causing not only pain, but potential paralysis if the broken bone damages the spinal cord in any way. Sprains and strains, while less serious, can still have an impact on a victim’s day-to-day life, causing pain and limited mobility. There is no way to know the severity of a back injury without seeking a diagnosis, which is why all accident victims who suffer from back pain, muscle spasms, limited mobility, or numbness are encouraged to seek medical attention as soon as possible after a rear-end crash.

Contact Our Legal Team by Phone or Online Message 

Neck and back pain resulting from a rear-end collision can range in severity from minor to debilitating. For some unlucky victims, an injury sustained in such a crash could end up plaguing them for years to come. Negligent parties who cause these kinds of injuries can and should be held liable for the victim’s medical bills and other losses. To speak with one of the experienced Tampa auto accident attorneys at Anderson & Anderson about your own recovery options following a rear-end crash, please call our office at 813-251-0072 today.

Sources:

 crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/809540

hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/whiplash-injury