Drivers are often helpless to prevent rear-end collisions when they see a car careening toward them in the rearview mirror. Unfortunately, these types of collisions are all too common: nearly 28% of all crashes reported a rear-end collision as the first harmful event causing the crash in the United States in 2020. Over 2,000 of these were fatal, and over 400,000 produced an injury. A further one million crashes resulted in only property damage. And a single rear end accident can cause a chain of events that result in more accidents.
According to a recent article, two people were hospitalized after a four-car accident in Augusta, Maine. A vehicle slowed down due to traffic, causing a vehicle four cars behind to rear end the car in front of it, beginning a chain reaction and badly damaging at least two of the vehicles. The accident occurred on a bridge, potentially limiting exit options for drivers who may have wished to get out of the way of the collisions.
What to Do If You’re Rear Ended
If you’ve been rear ended by another vehicle, don’t panic. First, do not hesitate to get checked out by a doctor or emergency medical professional. You may have injuries that you do not feel because of adrenaline, and some injuries do not come to the forefront until hours or days after an accident. Even a low-impact accident can cause whiplash or injuries from seatbelt pressure. More severe injuries can include head injuries and concussions, chronic lower back pain, broken bones, or even bleeding in the brain.