What is the right action to take in a rear-end collision?
In a Rear-End Collision, Don't Panic.
Just get into a safe area and assess your injuries. Make sure you have all of your injuries treated and file an accident report with the local authorities. If you can not move your vehicle, call 911 from your car, or have someone else do it for you.
Strains and Sprains: Back strains and sprains are very common after being rear-ended in a car crash. Most strains and sprains can cause muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the lower back to tear or overstretch. This can cause acute low back pain, muscle spasms, and muscle tightness.
Whiplash. The most commonly cited injury after a rear-end collision is whiplash, in which the soft tissues surround the neck and head tear due to the sudden movement brought on by the impact.
- Check for injuries and call for medical assistance if needed.
- Call the police and file a police report.
- Take photos and ask for witness statements.
- Report the accident to your insurance.
- Remain at the Scene of the Accident. ...
- Gather Information at the Scene. ...
- Obtain Witness Information. ...
- Seek Medical Treatment. ...
- Report the Accident to Your Insurance Carrier. ...
- Keep All of Your Bills. ...
- Keep a Record of Your Injuries and Recovery. ...
- Keep Going to Your Doctor.
Many people who have been rear-ended feel pain and soreness after the accident. Your body will likely experience some level of trauma and injury due to the collision that will cause you to feel pain, soreness, or stiffness. Some people feel no pain or soreness at all immediately following a rear-end accident.
Sometimes you won't feel any pain until hours, days, or even weeks after the accident. That's why it's important to be mindful of any symptoms that may develop after the accident. Here is a list of seven symptoms to pay attention to after you've been involved in an accident.
Airbag Injuries
Even if you are stopped when you are rear-ended, if the force of the vehicle hitting you from behind brings your speed up to 20 miles per hour and that vehicle pushes you into another car or object, the airbags may deploy.
Common causes include tailgating, wed roads, and applying the brakes too late. Rear end collisions are usually caused by distracted or speeding drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that almost 30 percent of all vehicle collisions in the United States are rear-end collisions.
On average in 2020, fatal car crashes were more frequent on weekends, peaking on Saturday. The number of nonfatal crashes tended to be higher on weekdays, peaking on Friday.
Why are rear-end collisions so common?
A report from the National Transportation Safety Board found that 87 percent of rear-end collisions happened because of a distracted driver. Driver distraction is by far the leading cause of this type of crash, as a driver does not notice the vehicle in front of them in time to slow down or stop to avoid a collision.
If a driver is holding the steering wheel at the time of a rear-end collision, their arms and wrists often absorb some of the impact. This can cause injuries like sprained wrists, stress fractures in the arm, dislocated shoulders, and tendon damage.
Signs and symptoms of whiplash usually develop within days of the injury, and may include: Neck pain and stiffness. Worsening of pain with neck movement. Loss of range of motion in the neck.
Other possible injuries from being rear-ended include traumatic brain injuries (including concussions), fractured ribs, bruised lungs, and other conditions. Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of injuries and fatalities in the United States.