While statistics are hard to come by, rear-end accidents are very common in South Florida and across the nation. Nonetheless, these crashes can still result in serious injury and even death. The harm sustained from a rear-end collision can have far-reaching effects on every aspect of your life, so if you find yourself suffering following such an incident, you should reach out to a Fort Lauderdale rear-end accident lawyer for help.
David I. Fuchs has the skill and experience helping car accident victims you need to get back on your feet. He can help you work through the insurance claim process and the legal system in order to get the compensation you deserve. If you’d like to discuss your case with an experienced Fort Lauderdale rear-end car accident lawyer, call us or reach out online to schedule a consultation.
Rear-End Collisions Can Be Serious
Rear-end collisions typically happen when the vehicle that is struck is stopped or nearly stopped – often at a light or in traffic. As a result, the crash can exert intense forces on the stopped that can result in serious injury. The larger the following vehicle, or the faster it is traveling when the collision occurs, the more powerful those forces are. Rear-end collisions caused by large trucks or speeding vehicles can be especially dangerous, causing life-threatening injuries, and sometimes even death.
Common Injuries from Getting Rear-Ended
Because you were stationary or nearly stationary at the time of your accident, the collision generated tremendous forces that transferred to your vehicle and your body. As a result, the injuries you may have sustained are likely serious. Some of the serious injuries that you may suffer as a result of a rear-end accident include:
- Concussions
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Nerve damage
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Injury to internal organs
- Spinal injury
- Facial fractures
- Broken limbs, torn ligaments, and tendons
These injuries may require surgery, intense physical therapy, or weeks and months of recovery time for you to get back to normal. If you are worried about the mounting medical bills associated with your rear-end crash, contact a Fort Lauderdale lawyer like David Fuchs as soon as you can.
Whiplash from Rear-End Accidents
One of the most common injuries sustained in a rear-end accident is whiplash. When you are rear-ended, all of the force exerted by the collision pushes your body forward and then violently snaps the head and neck back and forth like a whip. This results in a severe strain or sprain of the muscles and ligaments in the neck.
According to Mayo Clinic, while most people can recover from whiplash over a few weeks with a treatment plan that includes both physical therapy and medication, others experience long-term complications and chronic neck pain.
If you do incur this injury, there are a few ways you can assist the recovery process at home. You can:
- Ice your neck to reduce pain and swelling for 15 minutes every three to four hours for two to three days.
- Apply heat to your neck after a few days of icing.
- Take anti-inflammatory pain medications.
However, more severe cases of whiplash are likely for people who are older, have suffered whiplash previously, or who are already experiencing neck or back pain at the time of the accident. Severe cases of whiplash can require months, or even years, to recover.
Symptoms of Neck Injuries from Rear-End Accidents
Immediately after a rear-end collision, you may not know you have a neck injury. Following a crash, your body releases cortisol and adrenaline hormones that help block pain so that you can react after an emergency. Eventually, these hormones wear off, and when they do, you may start to notice pain. For this reason, it’s important to seek medical attention after you get rear-ended – even if you feel fine.
In many situations, symptoms will begin to appear shortly after a crash and worsen over several days. When you do experience symptoms from whiplash or another neck injury, they may include:
- A stiff, sore neck – Your neck muscles may feel knotted or hard.
- Limited movement of the neck ¬ It may be difficult for you to move your neck in any direction.
- Dizziness and blurred vision – You might feel like your vision has been impaired and various objects are spinning.
- Fatigue – You may feel exhausted and lack the energy to perform everyday tasks.
- Memory loss – A neck injury may cause you to forget things that you would typically have no trouble remembering.
- Pain in the lower back, arm, and/or hands – Other parts of your body, other than your neck may hurt.
- Headaches – If you do face a headache as a result of a neck injury, it will begin at the base of your skull and radiate forward.
- Irritability – You may feel restless and unable to go to work, shop for groceries, or participate in other simple tasks.
Delayed Symptoms Signaling Undiagnosed Injuries
It’s not unusual for victims of rear-end accidents to feel uninjured and turn away medical attention immediately after the accident. Immediately after a rear-end collision, you may not know you have a neck injury. Following a crash, your body releases cortisol and adrenaline hormones that help block pain so that you can react after an emergency. Eventually, these hormones wear off, and when they do, you may start to notice pain. For this reason, it’s important to seek medical attention after you get rear-ended – even if you feel fine.
However, you may start to experience various symptoms over the next few days or even weeks. You should seek medical care if you are experiencing any of the following delayed symptoms:
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Headaches
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- Numbness or tingling in the extremities, particularly the arms and hands
These symptoms are likely occurring because of your accident, even though they did not manifest themselves right away. If you have already seen your doctor or even turned away medical treatment, you should make an appointment as soon as possible. Following this, you should reach out to hardworking legal team member for help.
Treatments for Neck Injuries from Rear-End Collisions
The severity of your neck injury and your personal preferences will dictate the treatment plan a doctor may prescribe you. Often, they’ll recommend a combination of the following:
- Physical therapy
- Massage therapy
- Chiropractic treatments
- Pain medication
- A neck brace
- Stretching and strengthening exercises
- Injections to block pain impulses
Determining Fault for Rear-End Accidents in Fort Lauderdale
Rear-end accidents usually occur because of the negligence of the driver who was following you. A negligent driver is responsible for a rear-end crash when they fail to drive with due care under the circumstances. Some common behaviors often at the root of most rear-end collisions include:
- Speeding
- Failing to account for weather conditions
- Distracted driving
While rear-end accidents are almost always the following driver’s fault, it is important to note that Florida law does permit the following driver to introduce evidence that you were at least partially responsible for the crash. For example, the other driver may claim that you stopped suddenly and without justification, or that they couldn’t see you because your brake lights were not functioning. An experienced Fort Lauderdale rear-end accident attorney can assess whether you share any responsibility for the accident and rebut any baseless claims that you were at fault.
Getting Compensation for a Rear-End Crashes in Fort Lauderdale
If you’ve been injured in a rear-end accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, your lost wages or other income, and any other expenses that are related to the crash. In addition, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering. An experienced personal injury attorney can assess your case and give you an estimate of what your case is worth.
That said, it’s important to understand that the claims process can be extremely difficult for non-lawyers to successfully navigate, even though the other driver is clearly responsible for the collision. An experienced attorney in fort Lauderdale can help you fight for the compensation you need to recover.
Call a Fort Lauderdale Rear-End Accident Attorney for Help Today
With over 30 years of experience, attorney David I. Fuchs fights for car accident victims get the compensation they need to put their lives back together. From the very first meeting to the final settlement, he will work with you every step of the way. If you were injured in a rear-end accident and are not sure what to do next, contact us at your convenience to schedule a free case evaluation.
If you cannot come to the Fort Lauderdale office, accident attorney David I. Fuchs will send a representative to see you. His staff speaks English and Spanish. Se habla Inglés y Español.
