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Rear-end collisions are a type of motor vehicle accident that can result in a variety of injuries. This being the case, it is often times necessary to get a lawyer involved to receive compensation for the damages incurred. That said, it is important to understand the kinds of injuries that you can sustain in such an accident. With this in mind, let’s take a look at five of the most common injuries associated with rear-end collisions.

1. Hand and Wrist Injuries

When you’re involved in a rear-end collision a common instinct is to try and use your hands and arms to brace for impact. While this can spare you more grievous injuries in some cases, it can also lead to several hand and wrist injuries as well such as fractures, sprains, and soft tissue injuries.

2. Whiplash

Perhaps the most well-known injury that tends to result from a rear-end collision is whiplash. This is when the spine in the neck region is damaged by a sudden and swift motion. Many people experience chronic pain from whiplash for the rest of their lives and require ongoing treatment which can be quite expensive in the long run. As the Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group will tell you, if you’ve suffered whiplash in a rear-end collision, you should seek legal help as soon as possible.

3. Facial Disfigurement

Another common injury that is associated with rear-end collisions is facial disfigurement. This happens when the impact causes a person’s face to smash violently into part of the car, such as the steering wheel or dashboard. This can lead to injuries such as a broken nose, cracked orbital bones, loss of teeth, broken jaw, or fractured cheekbones. In any case, this sort of injury can leave a person permanently disfigured without the proper cosmetic surgery which can be costly.

4. Concussion

When you’re involved in a motor vehicle accident, there are sometimes what’s known as the “three impacts.” The first impact is one vehicle striking another. The second is a passenger’s head striking the interior of their vehicle. The third and final impact is when the passenger’s brain hits the inside of the skull. As you can imagine, this can lead to a concussion and possible intracranial hematoma. Since even minor concussions can be serious if left untreated, it is always a good idea to have yourself examined if you bump your head during an accident.

5. Fractured Ribs and Bruised Lungs

During a rear-end collision, the driver is often times thrown violently into the steering wheel. While the deployment of the airbag can blunt the worst of this trauma in many cases, it can still be traumatic enough to cause broken ribs and/or bruised lungs.

Better Safe than Sorry

If you are involved in a rear-end collision, it is better to be safe than sorry. This applies to both the medical attention that you receive, as well as getting legal representation as quickly as possible. This will increase your chances of recovery and success in court or in winning a settlement.