Car Accident Injuries in Rear-End Collisions: What Victims Should Know

No type of car crash is as common in the U.S. as rear-end collisions. According to estimates from the National Safety Council, motor vehicle collisions accounted for 3.78 million in 2023. While not as deadly as head-on and angle collisions, they leave over one million people seriously injured every year. (1)

Don’t underestimate rear-end collisions just because they occur far from the driver’s seat. In September, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani suffered a fractured vertebra after his SUV was rear-ended along I-93. Police reported that his injuries weren’t life-threatening, but he was kept in the hospital for a few days. (2)

If you’re a victim of one, this article is for you. Here’s all you need to know about rear-end collisions, from the various possible injuries to steps for filing a claim.

How Rear-Enders Hurt

One thing to remember is that it doesn’t take much force to hurt the human body. The force a car crash produces depends on factors like the car’s speed and the driver’s weight, but it can easily reach thousands of pounds.

That said, a well-known adage comes to mind: “It isn’t the fall, it’s the sudden stop.”

HyperPhysics, an online physics source maintained by Georgia State University, crunched the numbers for this. Its scenario involves a 160-lb driver hitting the brakes at 30 mph. The table below illustrates the force exerted with or without wearing a safety belt. (3)

Safety Belt	Stopping Distance	Deceleration Force Against the Driver	Impact Force Against the Object Outside
None	0.2 ft	150 Gs	12 tons
Non-stretching	1.0 ft	30 Gs	2.4 tons
Stretching	1.5 ft	20 Gs	1.6 tons

Even when driving at a reasonable speed and wearing a seatbelt, the “sudden stop” is still five times higher than what the human body can endure. If strong enough, the deceleration force can damage vital arteries. This is reportedly what happened to Princess Diana in 1997, as the crash that claimed her life imparted as much as 70 Gs to her chest. (4)

Given the right conditions, a rear-end accident can turn deadly for everyone involved. The injuries are more or less the same as with other types of collision, from compound fractures to traumatic brain injury. If the car is packed, those in the back are at a greater risk.

Staking a Strong Claim

Regardless of how bad the crash is or the injuries are, there are two things a victim mustn’t forego. One is seeking medical treatment, as auto accident injuries don’t always manifest right away. Some may take months or years.

The other is seeking legal help from a  top rated personal injury law firm like Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers. Car accidents are life-changing, but not in a good way; an injury can leave victims unable to live life to the fullest. If that’s the case, they should be compensated for their medical expenses, vehicle damage repairs, and any future loss of income.

As soon as the dust settles and cooler heads prevail, the victim’s party can start building a strong claim. The goal is to identify the other party (the rear-ending motorist) who is responsible for the collision. The good news is that it’s said motorist’s fault in most situations, which can be attributed to the following causes:

• Speeding: Controlling a vehicle becomes increasingly difficult at higher speeds, let alone coming to a stop. It can rear-end a car or, worse, lead to a multi-vehicle pileup.
• Distracted driving: A motorist whose eyes are anywhere but on the road is asking to crash into a fellow motorist or, worse, an unaware pedestrian.
• Tailgating: Drivers should maintain a distance of at least three seconds (six seconds in adverse weather conditions). Driving too closely raises the risk of a rear-end accident.
• DUI/DWI: Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs is a crime. Getting rear-ended by a DUI driver strengthens the victim’s case.

However, the other party will surely try to mitigate their liability. They may claim that the victim erred or that a third party shares some of the blame, with arguments like:

• Mistaken reverse: Shifting in reverse by mistake may lead to a rear-end collision, but the blame will be less on the rear motorist.
• Faulty taillights: Car owners are responsible for their vehicles, which includes ensuring their taillights and hazard lights are functioning properly.
• Brake checking: The front car hitting the brakes for no valid reason leaves the rear vehicle with little to no time to do the same.
• Poor roads: Neither driver may be at fault for the potholes or other forms of road damage. However, some blame may be attributed to another party.

Both parties will be required to submit evidence to support their respective claims, which may include medical records, accident reports, and photos and videos of the crash. These documents are also necessary for filing auto insurance claims.

Gathering evidence becomes more important if the crash occurred in the four states (plus D.C.) that use the contributory negligence doctrine. This is because the system grants the court the power to deny a victim’s right to recover damages if they’re proven to be at fault in any way—even just 1%. (5)

Social Media Can Break a Claim

As with any other motor vehicle accident, recent rear-end collisions shouldn’t be shared on social media. As a public platform, the other party can use any posted information against the victim to detect contradictions with their claim.

Another reason is emotional distress. A crash can evoke a range of emotions, from fear to anger, and posting on social media in such a state can erode the victim’s claim.

Seek Compensation Quickly

Rear-end collisions should be treated with the same urgency as other types of collisions. When you get involved in one, seek medical attention and legal help from a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.

References

1.              “Motor vehicle deaths, injuries, and number of crashes by type of crash, United States, 2023,” Source: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSjn2_Bz8vsdN1Q4qUqIpHCki4EKr_TFS0MjDPUKUNQEYWj2qxVOw5LILZUmiii-80UcbPmsTLhgJKc/pubhtml

2.              “Giuliani Released From Hospital After Car Crash,” Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/01/nyregion/rudy-giuliani-car-accident-crash.html

3.              “Force on Driver in Example Car Crash,” Source: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/carcr2.html#cc2

4.    “All About G Forces,” Source: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/warplanes/gforces.html

5.               “Contributory and Comparative Negligence by State,” Source: https://pro.bloomberglaw.com/insights/litigation/contributory-and-comparative-negligence-by-state/