Common Causes of Rear-End Accidents

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We’re all busy people relying on our cars to quickly get us from one destination to another. Unfortunately, rear-end accidents are a common occurrence and can happen for a number of reasons. If you’ve been rear-ended on any of our busy Atlanta-area roads, our dedicated team at Ross Moore Law is here for you.

Keep reading to learn more about rear-end accidents and how we can help. 

The Basics of Rear-End Accidents     

Rear-end collisions occur when a vehicle collides with the rear end of the vehicle in front of them. These accidents range from being very minor to extremely serious. A rear-end accident can be caused by a number of different factors, including:

–       Distracted driving

–       Tailgating

–       Icy or wet roads

–       Quick stops from the vehicle in front

–       Speeding

–       Not obeying other traffic laws

–       Reckless driving

–       Driver error

If you’ve been rear-ended, typically the fault falls on the driver who hit the rear of your vehicle. This is the case in most rear-end collisions, but there can be some exceptions depending on the case. It is a driver’s duty to maintain proper following distance while on the road, and if they fail to do that, a rear-end accident can be the consequence of their negligence.  

Injuries Resulting from Rear-End Accidents     

Injuries from a rear-end collision can be very minor or very serious depending on the severity of your accident. Here are some of the most common injuries that are a result of a rear-end accident:

Whiplash

Whiplash occurs when your head gets thrust forward then immediately backward. It can cause nerve, tendon, muscle, and spinal damage, as well as a concussion. Sometimes whiplash symptoms take a few days to show up, and you may experience symptoms such as headaches, shoulder, arm, or upper back pain, numbness or tingling in your arms, loss of range of motion in your neck, or pain and stiffness in your neck.

Back and spinal injuries

A rear-end collision can cause back strains, sprains, herniated discs, or spinal fractures. Back strains are typically a pulled, twisted, or torn muscle or tendon, whereas a back sprain is an overstretched or torn ligament. Herniated discs are caused by the force of the collision causing a spinal disc to become compressed or dislocated. Spinal fractures are the more severe outcome and are typically treated by wearing a brace or surgery. 

Head injuries

A rear-end collision can also cause minor head injuries or traumatic brain injuries. A concussion can occur from being struck by unsecured objects, airbags, or by hitting your head on any part of your vehicle. You may experience loss of consciousness, lacerations, bruising, or swelling. If you do get a concussion, you may have symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, memory loss, extreme fatigue, or impaired cognitive function. Symptoms of a concussion may not show up immediately.

Fractured limbs

Broken bones are also common in rear-end accidents. Toes, wrists, hands, feet, arms, legs, ribs, and even hips can become fractured in a rear-end collision, depending on the severity of your accident. 

Facial or eye injuries

Being rear-ended can result in your head striking your steering wheel, enduring the impact of your airbags, or being cut or scratched by fragmented or broken glass. Any of these scenarios can result in a face or eye injury. 

Burns

Airbag deployment can cause burns on your arms or face from the impact. A dangerous rear-end accident could also end in a fire caused by fuel or other flammable liquids from any vehicle involved.

How to Avoid Rear-End Accidents       

When traveling on the road, stay alert. Be aware of what the vehicle in front of you is doing and keep an eye out for changes in traffic like a lane ending or traffic merging into one lane due to an accident. Always watch out for brake lights and traffic slowing, and gently apply your brakes when stopping to help vehicles behind you anticipate what is going to happen. 

One of the top causes of rear-end accidents is following too close. Be sure to leave ample distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to make sure you have plenty of time to stop. You’ll want to have enough room to safely stop your vehicle in the event that you have to quickly brake in traffic.

It’s important to use your signals correctly to communicate your next move and allow other drivers to anticipate your movement. Also, make sure your turn signals, headlights, and brake lights are in working order to keep yourself and other drivers safe. 

Avoid getting boxed in by other drivers and always have an escape route to be able to move your vehicle if the car behind you fails to stop. To do this, keep from driving “with the pack” if you can help it. Do your best to anticipate the moves of other drivers by having your mirrors in the right spot so you can check them frequently and stay aware of your surroundings.

Contact Ross Moore Law Today! 

Rear-end accidents are common, especially with the fast pace at which we move through our metro-Atlanta roads. If you or a loved one has been in a rear-end accident, call on the trusted Atlanta-area legal team at Ross Moore Law today!

Looking for a local personal injury attorney to handle your case? Our team at Ross Moore Law is eager to put our experience to work for you. Call us today or book a free consultation online! 

Conveniently located in the heart of Atlanta, GA, we are proud to serve clients throughout the surrounding areas of Athens, Alpharetta, Peachtree Corners, Marietta and more! In addition to Georgia clients, we welcome Tennessee clients as well! Get in touch today.

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