How Does a Rear-End Collision Impact Your Spine?

A rear-end accident, even at slow speeds, can leave victims with permanent disability and a life riddled with chronic pain. The impact and force on the back from a collision can cause the bones in the spine to compress, damaging the nerve system. This can result in victims sustaining life-altering injuries that negatively impact their daily lives. That said, if you’ve been rear-ended and suffered severe spinal cord damage due to another driver’s negligence, it’s in your best interest to enlist the help of a compassionate Morris County Car Accident Attorney who can help you get the justice you deserve. 

What Types of  Spinal Cord Injuries Can Occur From a Rear-End Collision?

When a vehicle is forcefully struck from behind, it causes bodies in the car to thrust back and forth during impact. This motion can seriously damage the spinal cord. The following include, but are not limited to, some of the most common spinal cord injuries that can arise from a rear-end collision:

• Whiplash: This is the most common injury associated with rear-end collisions. This injury occurs due to a forceful movement of the neck. Fortunately, with minor fender benders, whiplash cases are relatively minor, and victims often make a full recovery. However, in severe cases, whiplash can cause chronic neck pain for years to come as it causes severe muscle and nerve damage.
• Herniated Disk: This injury occurs when the impact of a rear-end collision causes the soft disks between each vertebra of the spine to rupture or shift out of place. A displaced spinal disk can irritate the surrounding area, resulting in pain and numbness. While many people experience little to no symptoms, others experience muscle weakness, tingling of their extremities, and shape pains around the affected region.
• Vertebral Fractures: This injury is more likely to occur when a rear-end collision occurs at high speeds. Due to the force of impact and violent motion of being trusted forward and backward, an individual can suffer spinal trauma that results in vertebrae fracturing. This is one of the most severe injuries, as it can cause significant pain and lasting lifestyle impacts. Many spinal fractures push vertebrae out of place, resulting in the spinal canal being compressed and causing numbness or paralysis.
• Paralysis: This injury occurs when the nerves of the spinal cord are seriously damaged and causes paralysis from the neck or waist down. Some individuals may experience temporary paralysis, but when the spinal cord gets severed, it can lead to permanent total or partial paralysis. The long-term consequences of such an injury can be devastating. Victims may have breathing difficulties, lack of mobility, and lack of sensation in the affected region.

As you can see, a rear-end collision can leave you with debilitating injuries. If you’ve been injured in a rear-end collision due to another driver’s negligence, please don’t hesitate to contact Lutz Injury Law. Our legal team is prepared to help you fight for the full and fair compensation you need to help get your life back on track.