What Are The Common Types of Injuries in a Rear-End Collision in Tampa?

There are many types of injuries after a rear-end collision including neck and back pain, but it is always best to seek medical attention (within the 14-days after the accident to qualify for the full benefits you paid for) as soon as possible after any kind of collision since doctors can perform diagnostic testing and begin treatment immediately for conditions.  The most common types of injuries are:

1. Neck injuries. Whiplash is the most commonly reported injury after a rear-end collision. The impact from behind causes a victim’s head to “whip” backward and then forward in a rapid fashion. This quick, back-and-forth stretches tendons, vertebrae, and nerves in the neck. Whiplash victims may suffer severe headaches, an inability to move their heads, or tingling in the arms and legs.
2. Head injuries. A victim’s head may be thrown back into the headrest, forward into the steering wheel or airbag, or even sideways into the window in a rear-end collision. Any trauma to the head could result in traumatic brain injury, causing concussion, vision changes, tinnitus, memory loss, or impaired cognitive function.
3. Back injuries. A victim’s spine may twist or stretch unnaturally due to the force of impact, damaging the material that cushions the individual discs of the spine. These bulge outward, resulting in a herniated disc—an extremely painful condition that often causes permanent movement and lifting restrictions.
4. Facial trauma. Cuts and facial lacerations from broken glass may cause permanent scarring or disfigurement, while contact with a deployed airbag can result in burns, broken noses, and eye injuries.  The burns are caused by the gunpowder being discharged in the airbags.  
5. Broken bones. Any car accident can break bones, but rear-end collisions are especially likely to cause broken ribs and pelvises as a result of tightening seat belts or fractures of the feet and hands as passengers brace for impact.
6. Spinal cord injury. Severe back trauma may damage or sever the spinal cord, resulting in an inability to move the legs (paraplegia), inability to move the arms and the legs (quadriplegia), or total paralysis of the body.
7. Seat Belt Injuries: There is no denying that seat belts save lives. However, seat belts are known to injure people in rear-end car accidents. If your car is rear-ended, your seat belt tightens automatically to prevent you from hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield. As a result, if you’re thrown backwards and then forward in a rear-collision, the seat belt may slash your skin. Seat belts most commonly cause chest, neck, and torso injuries.
8. Crushed legs: Crashing into an oncoming vehicle or the back of another vehicle is possible when there is a serious car collision. In severe rear-end collisions, the legs might be crushed or mutilated. In some cases, the patient may choose between saving or amputating the limb in question or their leg might be missing or completely crushed.
9. Paralysis: A spinal injury can render a victim partially or entirely paralyzed in any of these scenarios. Spinal injuries might be irreversible or necessitate months or even years of therapy and recovery.

Why Are Rear-End Collisions So Common in Tampa, FL?

The majority of rear-end crash cases, the driver following is the one who’s at fault, since he has the most control over preventing a collision. People are expected to keep a safe distance from other vehicles to allow for sudden braking, and failure to maintain a “cushion” is the primary cause of a rear-end crash. Anywhere from minor dents and bruises to a destroyed automobile can result in common car accident injuries and damages from a rear-end collision (when the front of one vehicle collides with the back of another).

Who is At-Fault in a Rear-End Collision in Tampa, FL?

Quite often, the person behind is at fault, but it is not always that simple as the person in front may have stopped short.  Believe it or not, the data recorder on the vehicle may be some of the best evidence in a “he-said/she-said” scenario.

Is a Rear-End Collision Worse than a T-Bone Collision in a Car Accident in Tampa, FL?

Of course speed and the severity of the accident are huge variables, but typically, all things being even, a t-bone accident is worse.  Read more here.

What Factors Increase the Risk of a Rear-end Accident in Tampa, FL?

Factors that increase the risk of a rear-end accident include:

• Distractions. A driver on a cellphone may not realize that traffic is slowing down until they crash into the stopped car ahead of them.
• Speeding. A speeding motorist needs at least three or four car lengths to brake if traffic suddenly comes to a halt.
• Tailgating. A driver following another vehicle too closely is likely to strike the vehicle ahead if the person in front taps their brakes.

What Are Some Interesting Rear End Collision Facts?

Here are some interesting rear end collision facts:

• Approximately 75% of all rear end collisions are less than 10 mph.
• 56% of all rear end crashes are straight on.
• Only 14.2% of rear-end collisions will miss your receiver hitch entirely.
• 48% of the people that hit you in the rear – are not slowing down.
• It is better to have under-ride than over-ride. Under-ride will give lower acceleration in the first part of the crash.
• Low speed rear end collisions (less than 10 mph) accentuate the whiplash more than high speed ones.
• 80% of all rear end collisions are caused by driver inattention.
• The acceleration of the occupant when hit from the rear is 2.5 times or more then that of the bullet vehicle.
• 94% of all rear end collisions occur on straight roads.
• Women are twice as likely to end up with a whiplash injury as a man.
• 32.1% of all fleet injuries are caused by the rear end collision.

What Is A Rear-End Collision Accident?

Crashing into another car from behind is a “rear-end collision”. It’s common for this to happen if the vehicle behind you follows too closely or drives too fast. 

It is common for people to underestimate how severe their injuries are and how much medical attention and treatment they need. Regardless of how insignificant the damage appears to be, you must treat any accident carefully.

What Percentage of Auto Accidents Are Rear-End Collisions?

Rear-end collisions account for approximately 29% of car accidents resulting in injuries or fatalities each year. Some of the common injuries from being rear-ended will be discussed below.