Rear End Collisions and TBI/Traumatic Brain Injury – Eight Tips from Your Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer on How to Avoid

As a Personal Injury attorney here in Atlanta, Georgia, I have seen many cases of TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), namely concussion, occurring as the result of a rear end collision. Brain Injury can occur very easily when you are involved in a car crash with a direct impact, such as when your vehicle is struck from behind. This can cause the brain to be jarred within the skull from the sudden impact, effectively “acceleration/deceleration” of the brain. Also common is a rotational force – where perhaps the driver or passenger is looking to the right or to the left when struck from behind. Rear end collisions commonly cause bruising of the brain with potential bleeding of the brain tissue.
As stated above, concussion is a form of Traumatic Brain Injury. What is concussion exactly? It’s an altered mental state which has been brought about by an outside force causing injury to the brain. A concussion can be either mild or severe. In an accident such as a rear end collision, concussion can occur without a direct blow to the head, caused by the force of the impact jarring the head forward and then backward. It is caused when the automobile stops or starts suddenly as it would do if hit from behind.
Some symptoms of concussion to look for after an accident include dizziness, sensitivity to light and sound, blurred vision, and headache.
In actuality, most concussions do not result in loss of consciousness. Research has shown it to be less than 10%. One important thing to keep in mind is that concussion symptoms usually do not appear immediately after the crash. They tend to show up more slowly over a period of several weeks after the accident. In fact, many times doctors will recommend that other family members watch the crash victim for at least twenty-four hours following the accident for symptoms to appear. This is the reason why the insurance companies are eager to settle your case quickly – before the full extent of your injuries has surfaced and perhaps before you have visited your doctor.

Be aware that these symptoms can lead to permanent brain damage if left unchecked – it’s very important to always get checked out after a collision of any kind.
With this in mind, here are eight tips for avoiding rear end collisions:

1. Make sure your brake lights are working properly at all times. If one burns out don’t wait to replace it. The car behind you has no way to tell if you are stopping otherwise.
2. Pay attention to the traffic in front of you and when you see them stopping, make sure that you come to a stop in a gradual, controlled manner, avoiding slamming on your brakes.
3. Keep the focus on your driving and don’t get distracted by conversation, texting, eating, etc. Perhaps the person behind you is distracted themselves and doesn’t see you. If you see them first there is a good chance you will be able to get out of their way and avoid being hit.
4. Make it a practice to check your mirrors frequently, especially as you approach a red light, stop sign, or other stop. As you stop, always look in your rear view mirror to make sure the car behind you is also stopping. They might be changing their radio station or texting and don’t see you at a standstill.
5. Never rush up to a stop sign or light. As you approach it make sure you slow down gradually. By doing so you are signaling to the driver behind you that you are getting ready to stop.
6. As you come to a complete stop, make sure that you leave plenty of space between you and the driver in front of you. Normally about 2 to 3 car lengths is an adequate distance. This way you have left yourself room to get out of the way if you have to, or room to pull up a little bit more if it looks like the driver behind you needs a little more braking room.
7. If someone is tailgating you, don’t slam on your brakes in an effort to get them off your tail. Just slow down in a passing zone and allow them to pass, or even pull over in a safe place if you have to so that they can pass.
8. Don’t follow too closely yourself. It’s an unconscious habit with many drivers, and can cause a multiple rear end collision if the car in front of you were to stop suddenly.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of someone else’s negligence, such as a rear end collision, call us for help. We will talk to you and review your case for free. The Tyrone Law Firm specializes in representing those who have suffered a devastating injury, such as traumatic brain injury resulting from the negligence of another. Our personal injury firm here in Atlanta has a very successful record of trying such cases.
Nelson Tyrone handles Brain Injury, Spine Injury and RSD/CRPS cases throughout the United States. He involves only the top medical, rehabilitation and life-care plan experts in the field. His results on behalf of clients include several of the largest settlements and verdicts on record.
You can reach us at 404-377-0017 or via email at admin@tyronelaw.com. If we can’t help you, we will do our best to put you into the hands of lawyers who can.