Rear-end collisions are the most common car crashes in the United States. Every year, thousands of people are killed and thousands more hospitalized as a result of rear-end collisions. Even a low-speed rear-end collision can lead to debilitating and painful injuries. Damage to the neck or back can be especially damaging. Below, we discuss several of the more common neck and back injuries victims of rear-end collisions experience. If you’ve been hurt in a rear-end crash in New York, call a seasoned NYC rear-end collision lawyer at the Kohn Law Firm for advice and assistance.
Whiplash Injury
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries suffered by victims of rear-end collisions. Whiplash is a neck injury caused by the head and neck rapidly swinging back and forth, causing the head to snap about in a whip-like motion. The sudden hyperextension and hyperflexion of the neck can lead to sprains, sprains, and tears, as well as accompanying neurological issues. Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness; limited range of motion; headaches; pain or tenderness in the neck, upper back, shoulders and arms; fatigue; blurry vision; mood changes; depression; difficulty sleeping; and memory problems. The symptoms can take hours or days to arise after an accident, and they can last for a considerable amount of time.
Whiplash injury is likely to result from any rear-end collision. Due to the nature of the whip-crack motion, the victim’s head can swing about at a much higher rate of speed than the vehicles involved in the collision. Even a low-speed fender-bender at 10mph or 5mph in a parking garage can cause whiplash. If you’ve been in a rear-end collision, see a doctor about potential whiplash injury.
Sprains and Strains
Sprains and strains are forms of soft tissue injury. Soft tissue injuries concern the muscles, tendons and ligaments. Strains involve damage to the tendons in the neck or back, which affect the connections between muscle and bone. Sprains involve injury to the ligaments, which connect bones to bones or bones to joints. Rear-end collisions can cause all manner of pulling, twisting, and other jarring motions, damaging the soft tissue of the neck and back. Strains and sprains can be painful, debilitating, and long-lasting.
Disc Injury
The spinal column is made up of several discs, gel-filled structures situated between vertebrae that serve multiple functions and help the spine to properly function. Rear-end collision victims may suffer from disc herniation, which occurs when the exterior of the disc is ruptured and the gel-like interior partially escapes. The exposed interior can put pressure on nearby nerves, limiting one’s range of motion and causing severe pain.
Spinal Cord Injury
A serious rear-end collision can cause the body to experience all sorts of unnatural contortions, twists, and traumatic impacts. These impacts or movements can lead to all manner of damage to the nerves or spinal vertebrae. A spinal fracture or severed spinal nerve can cause serious problems, ranging from pain and numbness to full paralysis.
If the spinal cord is severely damaged or severed, it impacts the brain’s ability to communicate with the rest of the body on the other side of the spot where the injury is located. Severe damage to the lower spine can lead to limited functionality in the lower extremities or full paraplegia, as well as incontinence and other issues. Damage to higher areas of the spine can impact proper organ function or cause total paralysis (quadriplegia). In severe cases, spinal cord damage can lead to coma and death.
Trusted Advice and Skilled Representation for Your Bronx Car Accident Claims
If you or someone you love has been hurt in a rear-ender in New York, find out if you’re entitled to money damages for your injuries by contacting the zealous and successful New York car crash injury lawyers at the Bronx offices of the Kohn Law Firm for a free consultation at 718-409-1200.