A rear-end collision can be a serious accident, even at lower speeds. This is because a car crash like this is likely to affect your spine. If you have received a lowball settlement offer from an insurer who does not seem to understand or care about the pain you have experienced, you do not have to take their check. You can talk to a Prince George’s County auto accident lawyer and pursue a more generous compensation offer instead.
What Are Some Common Injuries From a Rear-End Collision?
Even a slow-speed accident can cause significant injuries. Some symptoms last for a little while and go away with some recovery time, but others can last for a long time or affect a victim for their entire lives. Injuries we often see in rear-end collisions include:
Whiplash: When your car gets struck from behind, your head can shoot backwards and then crack back forwards, like a whip. This can happen even at lower speeds, making whiplash one of the most common injuries associated with rear-end collisions. Victims can suffer from neck pain, stiffness, and headaches. Some people have their symptoms go away quickly, but others have to deal with them for a long time.
Spinal fracture: The spine can get fractured in high-speed rear-end collisions. These fractures can pinch or tear the spinal cord, and they can be quite severe depending on where the fracture in the spine is located. Victims can suffer from back pain, muscle spasms, and numbness, but those with more serious fractures are likely to be paralyzed.
Nerve injuries: A rear-end collision can affect the discs in your spine, causing nerve damage. Sciatica is a common type of nerve injury. It can cause pain, tingling, and weakness in one side of your lower body.
Spinal stenosis: A fracture or dislocation can cause the bone that protects the spine and nerves to become more narrow. This can put pressure on the nerves and cause severe damage.
Can a Rear-End Collision Affect My Mental Health?
Even minor spinal injuries can affect your mental health. Whiplash can often cause fatigue in accident victims and other injuries can cause depression, especially if they prevent someone from living their life in the same ways as before. People who get paralyzed in an accident are most likely to suffer from mental health problems as well. A fair compensation offer should be calculated with the psychological effects of an accident in mind.
Talk to a Lawyer Today
An attorney from our firm can help you fight for the compensation that you deserve after a rear-end collision. Contact McCarthy, Winkelman & Mester, L.L.P. and ask to set up a free initial consultation. Our team will take the time to go over your case and explore your options with you.
