Rear-end collisions often happen quickly—when you’re stopped at a red light, waiting to turn at an intersection, or parked at the curb. Suddenly, you’re jolted from behind, and the impact snaps your head back and forth with rapid force and strains every part of your body.
Many people assume that a rear-end collision is nothing more than a fender-bender, with vehicle passengers sustaining minor injuries. However, this isn’t always true. In 2023, the National Safety Council (NSC) reported that 3,300 deaths occurred in the U.S. due to rear-end collisions. These crashes can cause serious injuries that may have temporary or long-term consequences on your life.
The rear-end accident attorneys at Peterson Law Firm understand that rear-end crashes are rarely simple fender benders, and you may suffer significant, life-changing injuries when you’ve been back-ended by another car. Here, we discuss the common causes of rear-end car accidents, common injuries suffered by passengers, and how we can help you receive fair compensation for your losses.
Who’s at Fault: Negligent Driving Behavior That Causes Rear-End Collisions
Most people assume that the trailing driver, or driver in the back, is at fault for a rear-end crash, and this is often the case. However, there are times when the lead car may be responsible for causing the accident. A driver with a broken taillight or brake light, for example, could bear some of the blame for a rear-end crash, or a driver that brakes suddenly because they weren’t paying attention may be at fault.
The attorneys at Peterson Law Firm know that in most cases, rear-end crashes are caused by negligence on the part of the driver in back. Some of the most frequent contributing factors in rear-end accidents include the following types of negligent driving behaviors:
- Distracted driving. Statistics show that distracted driving is a leading cause of rear-end collisions. When a driver takes their eyes off the road to text, adjust the radio or GPS, attend to passengers or a pet, or even take a sip of coffee, they may not notice that traffic ahead has slowed or stopped. If you remove your hands from the wheel, divert your attention, or even think about other things while driving, it’s considered distracted driving.
- Tailgating. When you follow too closely to the car in front of you, you’re tailgating. This leaves you will insufficient time and space to stop safely if traffic slows unexpectedly and the lead car has to stop or brake quickly. The rear driver has a responsibility to maintain a safe following distance based on traffic, weather, and road conditions.
- Speeding. Any driver who exceeds the speed limit or drives too fast for road or weather conditions has less time to react to slowing or stopped traffic. Speeding increases the risk of a rear-end crash and often leads to more severe injuries due to the increased force of impact.
- Impaired driving. If you drive under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or certain prescription medications, you will likely have slower reflexes and impaired judgment. An impaired driver may not notice or be able to respond to stopped traffic ahead until it's too late to avoid a crash.
- Fatigued driving. The National Sleep Foundation reports that drowsy driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. A driver who’s fatigued may nod off behind the wheel, be unable to give adequate attention to the road, or fail to respond properly when traffic slows. It’s possible for a fatigued driver to crash into the back of another vehicle without ever applying the brakes.
Rear-End Collisions: Possible Injuries
There are many factors that influence the type of injuries you may suffer in a rear-end collision. The speed of the car that hits you, the body position you’re in when the crash occurs, and whether or not you were wearing a seat belt or your airbag deployed will affect the severity of your injuries. You may suffer only minor cuts and bruises; however, it’s possible to sustain serious injuries. Some of the most common rear-end accident injuries include the following:
- Whiplash and soft tissue injuries. Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when your head is “whipped” back and forth suddenly. When this happens, the soft tissues in the neck can be stretched too far, and sometimes they tear. This can cause headaches, dizziness, pain, stiffness, and numbness or a tingling sensation in your arms. Many cases of whiplash resolve on their own over time, but others can be quite serious and require physical therapy and possible chiropractic intervention.
- Injuries to the back and neck. You may suffer neck and back injuries due to the sudden and violent forward-and-backward motion of your head and neck in a rear-end crash. These injuries can include sprains and strains of the muscles and ligaments, as well as more serious damage to the vertebrae, discs, and nerves. You may also experience chronic pain, stiffness, reduced range of motion, and even paralysis if the injury is severe.
- Herniated discs. The sudden force of a rear-end crash can negatively impact your spinal cord. This type of accident can cause the spongy discs that cushion the vertebrae in your spine to herniate or rupture. When this happens, the gel-like inner material of the disc can leak out, causing pain, weakness, and numbness that can radiate into the arms or legs. Severe herniated discs may require surgery to repair.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions. Even if your head doesn’t strike the steering wheel or dashboard, the quick back-and-forth shaking of the brain inside the skull can cause a concussion. This is a type of mild TBI, and you may suffer dizziness, headaches, confusion, and memory problems. More severe TBIs can result in long-term cognitive, emotional, and behavioral impairments.
- Broken bones. When your car is hit from behind, passengers are often thrown forward into the steering wheel or dashboard. The impact of a this type of a rear-end collision can cause broken bones, especially to the wrists, arms, and legs. It’s also common to suffer broken ribs if, during the accident, your chest is compressed by your seatbelt.
- Spinal cord injuries. If the rear-end collision occurs at high speed, the intensity of the force can cause damage to your spine, with a fracture or dislocation. Spinal cord injuries can lead to partial or total paralysis below the site of the injury, as well as loss of sensation, difficulty breathing, and other serious complications. These catastrophic injuries often require lifelong medical care and assistance.
- Injuries due to seatbelts and airbags. Seatbelts and airbags are protective devices that save countless lives every year. However, they can also cause injuries to vehicle passengers. When a seatbelt pulls you back against the seat or an airbag deploys, the force of either device can cause bruising, lacerations, and even internal organ damage. Airbags in particular can deploy with such great force, they can cause injuries such as burns, broken noses, and facial lacerations.
You may not feel injuries from a rear-end crash right away, and symptoms may not present for days. Many injury victims try to ‘tough it out” after this type of accident because there may have been no significant damage to the vehicles, and the crash seemed minor. However, it’s important to seek medical care quickly after an accident, not only to get treatment for your injuries but to have documentation linking your injuries to the accident.
Potential Damages: What You May Recover After a Rear-End Crash
The Peterson Law Firm is committed to defending the rights of Missouri automobile accident victims, especially those injured in rear-end collisions. If you were rear-ended by a negligent driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and other losses, including the following.
- Past, current, and future medical expenses related to the accident
- Lost wages from time missed at work
- Reduced future earning capacity, if you are unable to work
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Our experienced rear-end accident lawyers will thoroughly document your losses and demand maximum compensation from the at-fault party's insurance company. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, your attorney may recommend filing a personal injury lawsuit.
After a Rear-End Collision: What You Should Do
The steps you take after a rear-end collision can have a significant impact on your health, well-being, and ability to recover fair compensation for your losses. After you call the police, be sure to:
- Check yourself and your passengers for obvious signs of injury. Call 911 if anyone needs emergency medical attention. Some rear-end crash injuries, such as whiplash, may not present immediately, so even if you feel okay, you should be seen by a doctor.
- Document the accident site. If you can, take photos and videos of the damaged vehicles, your visible injuries, skid marks, traffic controls, and any other relevant details. Collect contact and insurance information from the other driver, but avoid discussing fault.
- Get a medical evaluation. If you are not taken to the hospital from the crash scene, see a doctor as soon as possible after the accident, and get a full medical evaluation. Tell your provider you were rear-ended and describe any symptoms you have. Follow your doctor's treatment plan and attend all follow-up appointments.
- Call your insurance company. Contact your insurance company to report that you were involved in a rear-end collision. Provide the basic facts of what happened, but do not agree to give a recorded statement before speaking with our Kansas City car accident attorneys. If the other driver's insurance company contacts you, don’t give a recorded statement to them, either.
Contact Our Kansas City Car Accident Attorney
When a rear-end crash upends your life, you need our experienced rear-end car accident lawyers. Our team will be a strong legal advocate for you and will communicate with the insurance company on your behalf, gather evidence to support your claim, and work to secure full and fair compensation for your losses. Read our case results to see how we’ve helped other clients after a rear-end collision.
