Rear end accidents usually involve two parties; a car in front, which gets rear-ended, and a car in back, which does the rear-ending. In some of these accidents, the driver in front slows down and comes to a normal stop, but the driver behind them is unable to stop in time and crashes into the back of their car. In these sorts of accidents, the second driver is usually unable to stop because of one (or several) of three common driving errors on their part:
Some rear-end accidents are caused by the drivers in front, usually when that driver makes a sudden, unexpected stop. These sudden stops are often made to avoid hitting something in front of their car. This causes the driver behind them to crash into the back of their car.
In general, the risk of rear-end accidents can be reduced by all drivers involved travelling at the correct speed, paying attention, and leaving enough space between themselves and other cars.
I have seen many rear end accidents in and around Bakersfield, California. In my experience, the most common injuries caused by these accidents are back injuries (including upper, middle, and lower back injuries), neck injuries, hip injuries, and injuries to the hands/wrists, knees, ankles, and feet. You also frequently see seatbelt-based injuries, including chest contusions and bruising, hip and bladder contusions, and occasionally spotting in women that can go on for some time after the accident. In addition, rear end accident survivors routinely experience headaches, sleep issues, anxiety, and depression after the accident.
Some of these injuries are acute and fairly straightforward, while others are more complicated and long-lasting. It is common for people with rear end injuries to the neck and back to find that their problem is more complicated than originally thought, and involves their joints, bones, intramuscular tissues, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and spinal discs. Injuries to the hands and feet (as well as wrists and ankles) can be similarly complicated.
The most common cause of this sort of accident is distracted driving. If you’re distracted behind the wheel, you might not see that there’s a stop sign or a changed light, or that other cars have changed their positions, and your reaction time will suffer. As is the case with rear-end accidents, T-bone accidents in California are also commonly caused by speeding and drivers not leaving enough space between their car and the cars around them. They may also be caused by other factors, including:
With T-bone accidents, there tend to be more neck injuries, as well as hip and back injuries. When you are in a T-bone accident, instead of moving from front to rear, your body is all of a sudden going to be moving from left to right. Sometimes you can be twisted in a more violent way, depending on angles at which the other car hits and the force of the impact, as well as the way the seatbelt keeps you in place.
Many times, the force of T-bone accidents go to the neck and make twisting injuries, which tend to cause more muscle damage. These accidents can also cause ligament stretching and related injuries, as well as fractures. The back and hip injuries common to T-bone accidents are very similar to those common in rear end accidents. These come from the way the seatbelt holds you down while your body torques left or right.
If you come away from an accident truly feeling uninjured, you do not necessarily need to do anything, but may want to consider a doctor’s visit just to make sure you aren’t hurt. If you truly feel fine and decide to skip the doctor’s, you should be extremely cognizant of any changes to your body, no matter how small or large. This includes sudden onset or worsening of pain, stiffness and soreness, headaches, mobility issues, mood issues, anxiety, depression, and sleep problems.
Sometimes, people who are actually injured in an accident can feel fine in the immediate aftermath. They may have little to no symptoms for days, weeks, or even months, but then symptoms start to accrue. These can start as relatively minor aches and pains or headaches, and can quickly worsen. If they do, they will eventually need to be traced back to the accident.
This is why it is advisable to have your doctor do a thorough examination of you as soon as you notice any issues from the accident, whether it’s right away or whenever symptoms start to show.
For more information on Rear-End Car Accidents In California, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (661) 616-1177 today.
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