All About Back and Neck Injuries From Rear-End Collisions In Kansas City, MO

Rear-end collisions can happen in an instant, but the injuries resulting from these accidents can have lasting effects on your physical well-being. The back and neck are most often affected in rear-end accidents, causing severe pain, discomfort, and long-term consequences.

When another driver’s negligence causes your rear-end collision injuries, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance from a car accident attorney. A lawyer can represent you throughout your claim and work diligently to get you fair compensation for your injuries and losses.

Rear-End Collisions: What They Are and How They Happen

As the name indicates, a rear-end collision involves a driver colliding with the back of the vehicle in front of them. While these car accidents might not seem like anything too serious, they can actually cause extensive property damage and injury.

Certain factors can contribute to the severity of a rear-end accident. Speeding is one of the common causes of many types of vehicular collisions. Speeding has several consequences, including increased stopping time and distance and greater impact and crash severity.

Other causes of rear-end collisions include:

Distracted driving
Driving under the influence
Tailgating
Aggressive driving
Fatigued driving

Rear-end collisions are often caused by the rear driver. However, under certain circumstances, the driver in the front could be at fault, including when brake checking is involved. Liability for rear-end collisions can be tricky, but a car accident attorney can investigate and help prove fault.

Back and Neck Rear-End Collision Injuries

Rear-end accidents can result in a variety of injuries, but injuries involving the back and neck are the most common of all. Unfortunately, recovery from these injuries can take some time and require extensive medical care. Additionally, depending on the severity of your rear-end collision injuries, you may face long-term effects.

Rear-End Collision Back Injuries

When you’re rear-ended, the impact is most felt on your back, as the collision occurs to the rear of your vehicle. The back can suffer multiple types of injuries, including soft tissue injuries and those affecting the discs and spinal cord.

Back Strains And Sprains

Back pain after being rear-ended is especially common. Back strains and sprains are often to blame.

A back strain is a soft-tissue injury, as it affects the muscles and tendons. Usually, a back strain means the muscles and/or tendons have been pulled, twisted, or torn.

A back sprain is similar to a back strain, except it affects the ligaments. Ligaments are connective tissues that hold together bones and joints. Spraining your back means the ligaments have been stretched or torn, causing pain and difficulty moving.

Spinal Fracture

A spinal fracture occurs when you fracture any of the 33 vertebrae in your spine. There are several types of spinal fractures, including compression fractures and burst fractures.

Suffering a fracture along your spine is not only painful, but it can affect your ability to move and walk. Severe fractures can affect the spinal cord and cause permanent damage.

Slipped or Herniated Discs

Along your vertebrae, you’ll find vertebral discs that act like cushions between the bones in the spine. Discs have a soft center encased in a rubbery shell. A slipped or herniated disc means there has been a tear in the disc, and the substance in the center comes out. This affects the way the discs function.

Herniated discs don’t usually require surgery, but they could if severe enough. Some of the common signs of herniation include pain, numbness, and tingling.

Rear-End Collision Neck Injuries

Along with the back, the neck is often severely affected in a rear-end accident. The impact of the collision can cause the neck to move in a way that causes injury, which regularly results in pain, discomfort, and limited range of motion.

Whiplash

Whiplash is one of the neck injuries that accident victims most often suffer. The injury gets its name because the neck moves in a way that resembles the crack of a whip. During impact, the neck rapidly moves back and forth, causing injury.

Common symptoms of whiplash include pain, stiffness, and loss of range of motion. Treatment for whiplash usually involves rest, pain management, and physical therapy.

Neck Sprain or Strain

Like the back, you can also suffer sprains and strains in the neck. Neck sprains usually involve torn ligaments in the neck, while strains include injury to the facet joints, muscles, and tendons in the area.

Pinched Nerve

Certain neck injuries, like sprains and strains, can contribute to pinched nerves. When you suffer a neck injury, the muscles, tendons, or other tissues can shift and put pressure on nearby nerves. This can result in severe pain, numbness, and tingling that’s particularly uncomfortable.

Neck Fracture

A fracture in your cervical spine — also referred to as a broken neck — is dangerous and requires prompt medical attention. A broken neck means one or more bones in the neck have suffered fractures, which could cause further damage and spinal cord injury. A broken neck can even result in paralysis.

The Importance of Seeking Medical Attention After a Rear-End Accident

A neck or back injury after being rear-ended can be serious and, in some cases, even life-threatening. Therefore, it’s critical to seek medical care immediately after your rear-end accident to minimize the risk of complications.

When you receive medical treatment, it helps you recover from your injuries and positively impacts your case. Medical records and bills are used as evidence for your claim, helping you get the compensation you need and deserve.

Taking Legal Action After You’ve Been Rear-Ended

Following a rear-end collision, you’ll have to face your physical recovery and the financial burdens of your medical expenses and other losses. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone.

A local car accident attorney can fight for your right to fair monetary recovery. They can represent your best interests throughout your case and work toward obtaining a favorable case result on your behalf.