There are a number of different types of crashes possible when people travel in motor vehicles. Some people encounter drunk drivers or those too distracted to focus on the road. They may end up involved in head-on collisions. Other times, drivers completing turns end up experiencing angle collisions, such as T-Bone crashes.
People recognize how dangerous both of those types of collisions are. However, they may be more dismissive about rear-end collisions. Quite a few people associate rear-end collisions with minor property damage and short-term injuries. However, research into rear-end collisions makes it clear that they can actually be very serious matters.
Some injuries take time to develop
Rear-end crashes can cause several different concerning injuries. The best-known is probably whiplash. Many people specifically associate rear-end collisions with whiplash and similar soft tissue injuries. It is common for those conditions to have delayed symptom onset. People may go a day or longer before they realize that they have major injuries.
The abrupt motions in a rear-end crash can also lead to traumatic brain injuries. The violent motion of the vehicle can cause the brain to move suddenly inside the skull, resulting in bruising or inflammation. As that pressure worsens, permanent damage to the brain can occur. People may not notice the warning signs of brain injuries until several days after the initial crash.
Rear-end crashes can be fatal
Although people may be dismissive about rear-end crashes, they can actually lead to fatal injuries in some cases. According to the National Safety Council, rear-end crashes can even result in fatalities. They are responsible for roughly 17.3% of reported motor vehicle crash deaths. In some scenarios, brain injuries or internal bleeding may continue worsening after the initial trauma. In the worst cases, they may eventually result in the injured party dying.
Other times, the crash might involve two vehicles of vastly different sizes. When a semi-truck rear-ends a passenger vehicle, the collision that results could be an override collision. Such crashes can cause the absolute destruction of the smaller vehicle and the death of the occupants of that vehicle.
Being proactive about monitoring traffic conditions and responding appropriately when a motor vehicle collision occurs can help people avoid worst-case scenarios and pursue justice. Depending on the circumstances, the driver of either vehicle might potentially be to blame for a rear-end crash. Those who establish fault and estimate the long-term costs of the crash can then pursue justice accordingly.