One of the most common types of car accidents in Austin is rear-end collisions. These crashes occur when the front of one vehicle collides with the rear of another. Although many people assume they are minor incidents, rear-end crashes can result in serious injuries.
If you were hurt in a rear-end collision, you may be facing mounting medical bills and missed time from work as you heal. Here’s what you need to know about the common injuries you can sustain in these crashes, what steps you can take to recover your losses, and why it’s essential to act quickly.
Common Injuries from Rear-End Collisions
From bruises to catastrophic injuries like head trauma, you can sustain a wide range of injuries in a Texas rear-end crash:
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries involve damage to your ligaments, muscles, and tendons. The most frequent of these injuries tends to be whiplash, which occurs when your head whips back and forth rapidly. This results in strained muscles that swell, causing pain and stiffness.
There are numerous other types of soft tissue injuries you can sustain, however. For example, rotator cuff tears and even bursitis, which is an inflammation of the sacs that cushion the bones, muscles, and tendons near your joints, can both result from these accidents.
Broken Bones
In speeding crashes or any other types of collisions involving a significant amount of force exerted on you, you can suffer broken bones. Breaking rib bones is relatively common in rear-end collisions because the airbag’s deployment could mean a blow to your chest.
These injuries can be particularly problematic because of the numerous organs in the area that could be punctured. Additionally, broken bones take a long time to heal. Some require surgery, which could leave you unable to live your life normally for months.
Facial Injuries
A crash can cause you to hit your face on the airbag or any other surface in the vehicle. You can sustain eye injuries that impact your sight, as well as cuts that result in scarring. Broken noses and cheekbones are also a potential problem and could call for reconstructive surgery.
Back Injuries
Some of the most severe injuries you can suffer in a rear-end collision are back injuries. These injuries can result in stiffness, pain, and mobility issues. For instance, you can sustain herniated discs, which occur when the inside of the structures that cushion your vertebrae slip out of place or leak, putting pressure on nerves.
Spinal cord injuries can also be devastating. Any damage to the nerves or nerve fibers could cause you to lose motor function and sensation below the injury.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
In severe rear-end collisions, you can hit your head against the airbag, or the force of the impact could be enough to cause your brain to shift or twist. If that occurs, chemical changes in the brain may result in various issues, including memory loss, irritability, and cognitive function problems.
Concussions are the mildest of these injuries, but they can still cause significant symptoms. More serious traumatic brain injuries can be fatal, and some of these injuries can be hard to detect at first.
Psychological Injuries
After a car accident, you can sustain psychological trauma that makes everyday life more difficult. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a frequent problem. It can lead you to relive the accident via flashbacks and nightmares, while also causing serious anxiety and depression.
Recovering Damages After a Rear-End Collision
If another party’s conduct caused your rear-end collision, one of the options you may have is to file a personal injury claim to recover your losses. These claims require demonstrating that the other party was negligent, meaning they did not act as another reasonable person would have.
What if I’m Partially Responsible for the Crash?
It can still be possible to recover losses if you were partly to blame, because the state has modified comparative negligence laws. As long as you don’t hold the majority of the responsibility for the crash, you can generally recover compensation from the other party. Your winnings will usually be reduced proportionally to your percentage of fault.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit for Damages?
In Texas, the statute of limitations for these accidents is typically two years from the date of the accident. If you miss this deadline, you may be barred from filing a claim.
What to Do After a Rear-End Crash
To protect your claim, you’ll want to take a few key steps after the accident:
- Call emergency services. You may not realize you were hurt because you could still be in a state of shock. By having paramedics assess you, you can ensure you receive the care that you need. It’s also an excellent way of beginning a record of the injuries you suffered.
- Ensure police officers respond to the accident. They will create a report that you may need a copy of later to file your claim.
- Gather evidence from the scene. Take pictures of the vehicles, your injuries, the road, and anything else you think may help. Speak with witnesses as well, and ensure that you obtain their statements or contact information.
- Notify your insurer that you were in a crash. Keep this conversation brief and to the point. Avoid speaking too much about fault.
The next step should be to hire an attorney to represent you. They can initiate the filing process for you and handle all the legalities, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
Contact Our Austin Car Accident Lawyers at McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
The aftermath of a rear-end collision can be a stressful and overwhelming experience. You may be dealing with a host of expenses, from medical bills to property damage, while also trying to recover from serious injuries.
Filing a personal injury claim can help you get your life back on track. If you’ve been injured, contact your nearest McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve in Austin, TX, and Salt Lake City, UT.
McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers – Austin, TX Office
502 W 14th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-0222
McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers – Salt Lake City, UT Office
650 S 500 W Suite 290, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
(385) 462-7630
