People get into accidents every day. Some are minor fender benders. Some are big collisions. Either way, you may have suffered rear-end car accident injuries. Whether your injuries are minor or major, you deserve to be compensated for them. Georgia law protects your rights when it comes to rear-end car accident injuries.
Depending on the type of injuries you suffer, you are entitled to different types of damages. Even if you were at fault, you are entitled to compensation if you are hurt. Compensation may come from your insurance company. It may come from the other driver’s insurance. Damages may even be owed by an individual.
We will examine the types of rear-end car accident injuries. You must seek medical treatment immediately following an accident. It is also crucial that you reach out to a personal injury attorney right away. If you don’t protect your rights, you will lose them.
Whiplash
One of the most common rear-end car accident injuries is whiplash. It is also one of the most controversial types of injury. Many people think whiplash is a fake injury. They think it’s something people make up to get money out of an insurance company. However, whiplash is a very real injury.
Whiplash is a general term for neck and back rear-end car accident injuries. It is caused by a sudden back-and-forth jerking motion of the head and neck. It happens most often when a car is hit from behind. Also, it can happen from a front or side impact. However, it is more common in rear-end car accidents.
What happens with whiplash is your neck is forced to extend beyond its normal range of motion. It stretches the neck too far and can even tear muscles and ligaments. It is essentially a strained neck.
Whiplash can be painful. It can cause:
- Pain and stiffness in the neck and upper back
- Headaches
- Ringing in the ears
- Dizziness and blurred vision
- Sleep problems
- Fatigue
Whiplash doesn’t always set in right away. It can take hours or a day or two to set in. It’s important to go to the hospital or doctor to get checked after any rear-end car accident.
Many people doubt whiplash is a real injury because you can’t see it. There are no broken bones. It won’t show up on an x-ray.
Courts, however, do take whiplash seriously. Your car accident attorney can prove whiplash to a jury in two ways. He will use medical testimony from your doctor or expert testimony.
Back Rear-End Car Accident Injuries
Rear-end car accident injuries, such as back injuries, are quite common. Many times, following an accident, you feel sore. You may not think you’re injured. The problem is you may not feel hurt right away. Right after an accident, your adrenaline is pumping. Pain may not set in right away. Other times, the pain doesn’t stop until you’ve slept. Your muscles may need to settle in before you realize you’re in pain.
It is important to go to the hospital immediately following an accident. If you have back rear-end car accident injuries, they will show up in an x-ray or MRI. The doctor can perform the necessary tests to see if you have suffered back injuries. You may have simply strained your back. However, you may have suffered disc injuries. This can require surgery, physical therapy, or treatment. The pain can last a very long time or may never go away.
Let your car accident attorney review your medical records and have an expert look at your history. You may have extensive injuries and not even be aware of them. You are entitled to damages for your injuries. Let your attorney protect these rights.
Airbag Rear-End Car Accident Injuries
Airbags are designed to protect us. Often, they do. However, they can also cause rear-end car accident injuries. It’s important to get checked out immediately. Studies show that airbags only deploy if you are going over 20 miles per hour. When they do deploy, they can injure you. Your face and head can get burned. You may also suffer a broken nose or cheek. You can even break a rib if the airbag deploys and hits you in the “right” place.
Spinal Cord Injuries
One of the scariest injuries is to the spinal cord. It can cause temporary or even permanent paralysis. You may have seen someone in a wheelchair and then learned they were in an accident that left them paralyzed. There is no cure for paralysis. Your life changes entirely.
You will be aware of a spinal cord injury, unlike whiplash or back injuries. Unless there are very unusual circumstances, if you injure your spinal cord, it will be obvious right away.
Rear-end collisions can result in spinal cord rear-end car accident injuries. Depending on what part of the spine is affected, you could end up paralyzed. It depends on the impact and location. Only a doctor can know for sure. Spinal cord injuries result in the highest level of damage, for obvious reasons.
Head & Brain Rear-End Car Accident Injuries
Head and brain injuries can happen in a rear-end collision. If the impact is strong enough, any type of injury is possible. The problem with head and brain injuries is that they aren’t always obvious. You may feel fine when you walk away from an accident. It could be days or weeks before you realize something may be wrong.
With head and brain injuries, some of the common signs are nausea, concussion, and headaches. There may be swelling or bruising. You may even have cuts on your head. Some other signs are dizziness, slurred speech, and problems with memory.
You must see a medical expert right away. Head and brain rear-end car accident injuries can cause long-term health problems. They need to be treated immediately so that they don’t get worse.
Facial Disfigurement
When you think of facial disfigurement, you probably think of cuts and bruises. However, rear-end car accidents can cause all sorts of facial disfigurements. You may break bones in your face, such as your nose, jaw, or cheek. You may suffer lacerations around or in your eyes that can affect your vision.
As with any other injury, you need to get treatment right away. Even if the damages seem cosmetic, you need to make sure there are no more serious problems.
Wrist and Arm Injuries
If you think about it logically, you steer with your hands. No matter how you are hit, chances are your hands are on the wheel at the time of impact. There is, therefore, a good chance that your hands and wrists are injured.
Wrist and arm rear-end car accident injuries are common in rear-end car accidents. You may suffer broken bones or cuts. You may suffer sprains or strains. It is important that you get checked out, so they don’t turn into long-term problems.
Seat Belt Rear-End Car Accident Injuries
It is important to wear your seat belt. It can save your life. However, it can also cause rear-end car accident injuries. Your seat belt will tighten and lock when you are hit from behind. This can cause cuts to your neck, shoulder, and arms. Hopefully, these injuries will be minor.
Why Do You Need a Car Accident Lawyer?
All of the above types of injuries can result from a rear-end collision. In rear-end collisions, the person hitting you will almost always be at fault. There is also the possibility that you slammed on your brakes and cause the impact. However, the law seems to presume the rear driver is at fault.
Either way, you must be compensated for your rear-end car accident injuries. Even if you have medical insurance, there will be medical bills. These bills could be for co-pays or deductibles. They could be for uncovered procedures or tests. You should not have to pay these medical bills out of pocket.
You will also want to talk to your attorney about damages and pain and suffering.
What sorts of damages are involved in a rear-end car accident? There are many:
- Medical bills
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Damages to your vehicle
- Pain and suffering
- Time away from work
- Possible long-term or permanent disabilities
Your lawyer knows how to get you the money you are entitled to. You likely have no idea what kind of money you should get for a car accident. You may not even know how to measure your losses. Lawyers do. That is why it is important that you consult an attorney once you have sought medical attention.
Call an expert rear-end car accident attorney in Athens, Georgia, for a free consultation. They handle many car accidents on a contingency basis. This means that your attorney isn’t paid until you get money. Your attorney will negotiate with the insurance companies and other parties to get you every penny you deserve.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. You could risk your right to compensation and damages. An attorney will protect your rights. He knows what to file, and he knows how to handle your case. Ensure you bring all your documentation and medical records to your first meeting with your attorney. This way, he can properly evaluate your claim. A rear-end car accident lawyer at Athens Car Accident Lawyers will help you with your rear-end car accident injuries.