Any type of motor vehicle collision can be dangerous, but some crashes naturally frighten people more than others. People are largely aware that head-on collisions can have life-altering or fatal consequences. Rear-end crashes, on the other hand, do not necessarily receive the respect that they should.
People often think of rear-end crashes as minor fender-benders that may produce minimal property damage and treatable injuries. Contrary to what many people assume, rear-end crashes have the potential to be devastating.
How dangerous are rear-end crashes?
Rear-end crashes don’t just cause injuries and property damage. They can also lead to people dying. According to an analysis of crashes performed by the National Safety Council, 17% of traffic deaths in two-car collisions involve rear-end crashes.
Additionally, rear-end crashes can easily produce injuries that affect a person’s health, quality of life and ability to work. Whiplash and similar soft tissue injuries can cause pain that lasts for months. They may require pain management, treatment and physical therapy to fully recover.
Professionals may not be able to work until their symptoms subside. Rear-end crashes can also produce fractures, including extreme fractures that may lead to amputations. People can also sustain blunt-force trauma to their heads in rear-end crashes, resulting in traumatic brain injuries. At high speeds, rear-end crashes could even cause spinal cord injuries.
People involved in rear-end crashes often need to see a doctor. They may also need to consult with an attorney about their options for pursuing compensation. Holding a driver at fault for a rear-end crash accountable can help people limit negative economic impacts that being a crash victim can inspire.