Common rear end car collision injuries include whiplash, facial injuries, fractures and sprains, and brain and spinal cord injuries. However, any injuries caused by someone else in a car accident in Boca Raton could warrant compensation, whether common or uncommon.
A rear end collision lawyer can go to bat for you to seek damages for your accident-related losses. On top of paying for your medical attention, compensation from a car accident claim or suit could cover the other costs of getting rear ended like missed income and pain and suffering.
The Most Common Injuries Suffered in Rear End Collisions
The injuries you sustain in a rear end accident depend on a lot of factors, like if you were at a stop when you were hit, how fast the other car was going, and the angle of impact. Even your own body and how it responds to the impact can make a difference. While the following are the most common injuries suffered in this type of collision, your case could be different.
Moreover, since no two car accidents are the same, don’t make any assumptions about your health, your bills, or your grounds for legal action until you’ve talked to a doctor and a lawyer.
Whiplash
This is the injury most associated with getting rear ended. Whiplash is caused when the head snaps forward and back, injuring the small tissues in the neck, shoulders, and back. Whiplash can cause severe pain and limited mobility, and it has even been linked by BMC Public Health to lower quality of life years after an accident.
You may feel fine for as long as several days after getting rear ended, as whiplash is infamous for taking time to set in. Since it is so linked to this type of crash, get checked out as soon as possible to get on top of the pain and treatment.
Facial and Dental Injuries
Getting struck from behind can thrust your head forward, causing you to hit the steering wheel or dashboard. Debris or objects in your car, like a phone or water bottle, can strike your face. Even airbags can cause injuries to your face. As a result, you could have suffered broken facial bones, lacerations, burns, or dental trauma from a rear end crash.
Sprains and Strains
Soft tissue injuries like sprains or strained muscles are common in this type of car accident. Some are severe enough to require surgery or keep you out of action for enough time to lose income.
Broken Bones
In addition to causing facial fractures, getting struck from behind in an auto accident can cause broken bones in your:
- Fingers
- Hands
- Wrists
- Arms
- Collarbone
- Ribs
- Skull
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
These can occur when the head is shaken hard enough or when directly hit. Symptoms and severity vary widely depending on the person, but TBIs are known to cost more and take longer to treat and recover from compared to other injuries, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
You also may not notice a problem until hours or days after the accident, so get checked out if you hit your head.
Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
Whiplash is just one type of neck and back injury possible from a rear end car accident. You could also suffer from:
- Injured muscles
- Herniated discs
- Spinal stenosis
- Vertebrae fractures
- Injured spinal cord
Some of these could cause lifelong symptoms and problems, including chronic nerve pain, limited range of motion, or partial or full paralysis.
Internal Injuries
Some rear end collisions are violent enough to cause internal injuries and organ damage. These types of injuries may require serious medical intervention like surgery.
Compensation You Deserve for Common Rear End Accident Injuries
Auto accident lawyers, like the ones from our firm, can help you identify which injury-related losses are eligible for compensation. Generally, you can seek compensation for the following losses if they resulted from getting rear ended:
- Medical bills – Initial expenses, physical therapy, mental health therapy bills, and long-term prescriptions or equipment.
- Lost income – Missed work during your recovery and future income losses due to a reduced ability to earn.
- Non-economic damages – Physical and psychological pain and loss of independence, hobbies, or quality of life.
Since there are so many possible rear end accident injuries, there are a lot of possible forms of rear end accident compensation. Our lawyers work with you and an insurer or other liable party to hammer out the specifics of what your injuries demand.
How to Recover Damages for Rear End Collision Injuries
In addition to determining your recoverable damages, a lawyer can advise you on your legal options to recover compensation. Depending on the location and circumstances of your crash, you could either seek damages through your own insurance company, the other driver’s insurer, or a personal injury lawsuit.
Insurance Coverage for Rear End Accidents
In places with no-fault insurance laws, you can initially file for benefits under your personal injury protection (PIP) to cover some medical bills and lost income. However, PIP does not include compensation for pain and suffering.
If you suffered serious injuries, a personal injury lawyer could file a claim with the other party’s insurer. Many rear end collision injuries qualify as severe—broken bones, injuries that cause scarring, brain and spinal cord injuries, and internal injuries. These claims can allow you to recover damages, including pain and suffering, but only up to the policy limits.
Even if you should be covered by your own PIP policy or have the grounds to file with the negligent driver’s insurance, settlement negotiations could stall. Insurers sometimes act in bad faith. Other times, you might end up in a dispute over whether your injuries qualify as serious. Our rear end accident lawyers can then file a lawsuit.
Lawsuits for Personal Injury Compensation
Filing a personal injury lawsuit could allow you to recover all your damages. Filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver is also an option if the driver who hit you was uninsured or underinsured.
Most cases settle out of court, but that doesn’t mean you won’t file a lawsuit. Instead, it means your personal injury attorney may file for you but continue negotiating to reach a fair settlement.
Get Help Fighting for Damages for Rear End Accident Injuries
Contact Ged Lawyers today if you suffered any rear end collision injuries. Our auto accident attorneys can determine your options for recovering compensation to pay for your property damage, medical care, and more.
Your initial consultation is always free, we don’t charge you anything until we win, and we follow every possible avenue to pursue compensation. Reach out now to begin your case with our motor vehicle accident team.
