Not Just Whiplash: Bradenton Attorney Explains 7 Types of Injuries from Rear-End Crashes

You’re driving along the 41 in Bradenton, when the car behind you runs into your rear bumper out of nowhere. Before you can process what just happened, your body gets whipped back and forth from the impact. You’re left stunned and confused about what to do next. Unfortunately, rear-end collisions like this are all too common in busy areas like Sarasota and Bradenton. And they can lead to an array of serious injuries if you’re not careful. Keep reading to learn about the seven most common types of injuries that can result from these pesky rear-end wrecks at intersections like Fruitville Road and Beneva Road. You’ll be shocked at what damage can occur to your spine, neck, and more when someone smashes into your backside. Consider this your guide to staying safe and injury-free out there on the road!

Whiplash: The Most Common Injury From Rear-End Collisions in Sarasota and Bradenton

When someone rear-ends you at an intersection like Fruitville and Beneva or on a highway like I-75, your head is suddenly jerked backward and then forward in a quick motion. This can cause damage to the soft tissues in your neck resulting in whiplash.

Whiplash injuries are extremely common after rear-end collisions in Sarasota and Bradenton. In fact, nearly 2 million whiplash injuries occur each year in the U.S. due to car accidents. The force of the impact, even at low speeds, can be enough to cause the ligaments and tendons in your neck to overstretch or tear.

Pain and Stiffness

Two of the hallmark signs of whiplash are pain and stiffness in the neck. You may have trouble moving your head side to side or up and down. The pain can range from mild to severe and may radiate into your shoulders, upper back, or arms.

Headaches

Whiplash-related headaches, often called cervicogenic headaches, are another common symptom. They originate in the neck but the pain is felt in the back of the head or around the forehead and eyes. These headaches tend to worsen with movement or when pressure is applied to the neck.

If you experience symptoms of whiplash after an accident in Sarasota or Bradenton, see your doctor right away. Early diagnosis and treatment is key to preventing long-term problems. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription pain medication, physical therapy, massage therapy or in severe cases, cervical spine surgery to provide relief and help you recover.

Herniated Disks and Other Spinal Injuries on Fruitville Road and University Parkway

If you’ve been in a rear-end collision around Fruitville Road or University Parkway in Sarasota or Bradenton, you may have suffered a herniated disk or other spinal injury. These types of injuries can cause severe back pain, numbness, and difficulty moving.

A herniated disk occurs when the soft center of one or more spinal disks presses through a crack in the tougher exterior. The disks act as cushions between your vertebrae. When herniated, the inner material can press on spinal nerves. Herniated disks in the lower back are especially common after rear-end crashes and can require disk removal surgery at facilities like the University of Florida Health Spine Center.

Whiplash is another frequent spinal injury from rear-end accidents. This is caused by your head suddenly jerking backward and forward, straining muscles and tendons in the neck. Whiplash often causes neck pain, stiffness, and difficulty turning your head. Chiropractic care, physical therapy, and over-the-counter pain medication can help relieve whiplash pain.

Vertebral fractures are small cracks or breaks in the bones of the spine. They usually heal on their own in 6 to 12 weeks but often require bracing, pain management, and restricted movement during recovery. Severe fractures may need surgery to stabilize the spine.

These are just a few of the spinal injuries that could result from a rear-end collision in Sarasota or Bradenton. Even if you feel fine after an accident, see your doctor right away for an exam to check for any internal damage. Early diagnosis and treatment of spinal injuries can help prevent long-term pain or disability.

Concussions and Brain Trauma on Main Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way

Driving down Main Street or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Sarasota, there’s a good chance you’ll encounter dangerous intersections where rear-end collisions frequently occur. These types of accidents often result in head injuries like concussions or more severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

A concussion is a mild TBI caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Concussions can cause dizziness, headaches, confusion and memory loss. While most concussion symptoms are temporary, repeated head trauma has been linked to a degenerative brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

More severe TBIs involve bleeding in the brain (hemorrhage) or torn brain tissue (contusion) which can lead to long-term complications or death if not treated promptly. According to the CDC, TBIs are a major cause of death and disability in the U.S., with falls and motor vehicle accidents like rear-end collisions on Main Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way as leading causes.

The severity of a TBI depends on the force and location of the impact. Impacts to the front or side of the head are most dangerous. While rear-end collisions may seem minor, the whiplash effect can cause the brain to move rapidly back and forth, resulting in a concussion or more severe TBI.

If you experience head trauma from an accident on Main Street or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, seek medical attention immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment of TBIs and concussions are critical to avoiding permanent brain damage or impairment. The brain injury specialists that have connections with the law firm Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh have experience diagnosing and treating accident victims in Sarasota and Bradenton. They can help determine if your symptoms are from a mild concussion or more severe TBI requiring extensive treatment and therapy.

Broken Bones on Siesta Drive and Bee Ridge Road

If you’re involved in a rear-end collision on busy roads like Siesta Drive or Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota or Bradenton, broken bones are a real risk. The force of a crash can easily cause fractures, especially in the arms, legs, ribs, and spine.

On Siesta Drive, with over 20 crashes in 2019 and a high crash rate of 5.84, the odds of suffering broken bones in a rear-end crash are substantial. Siesta Drive is a major road connecting Gulf Gate Estates and Siesta Key, so traffic is often heavy and fast-moving. At intersections like Midnight Pass Road or Higel Avenue, a rear-end crash can lead to broken ribs, vertebrae in the spine, or severe fractures in the legs.

Bee Ridge Road also sees high volumes of traffic, especially near destinations like the Mall at University Town Center. A motorcycle crash on Bee Ridge Road in 2019 sadly resulted in one fatality. Motorcycle accidents frequently cause orthopedic injuries, including broken legs, arms, collarbones and pelvises. If you’re in a rear-end crash on Bee Ridge Road, whether in a car or on a motorcycle, seek medical care immediately for any signs of broken bones or fractures.

Broken bones require evaluation and treatment from orthopedic specialists. In Sarasota, you can visit Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital or a trusted fractures specialist. Proper diagnosis and care, which may include casts, braces, physical therapy or in severe cases surgery, are critical to healing broken bones and avoiding long-term disability or loss of function.

Staying alert and maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles, especially on busy roads, is the best way to avoid becoming another crash statistic with broken bones or worse. But if a rear-end crash does happen, don’t delay in getting the orthopedic treatment you need.

Soft Tissue Damage Throughout Sarasota and Bradenton Intersections

You never expect a collision when driving down Fruitville Road or stopping at a red light on Manatee Avenue in Bradenton. Yet soft tissue injuries like sprains, strains, and whiplash are common results of rear-end accidents at intersections throughout Sarasota and Bradenton. These injuries can manifest slowly, causing pain, discomfort and limited mobility hours or even days after a crash.

Soft tissue refers to muscles, tendons and ligaments in your neck and back. The sudden impact of a rear-end collision throws your body forward, then rapidly backward, straining these tissues beyond their normal range of motion. You may feel fine at first due to adrenaline, only to experience neck pain, back pain, muscle spasms or limited mobility the next day.

Seeking medical care right away is critical. Doctors can properly diagnose soft tissue damage through physical exams, imaging scans and range-of-motion tests. Early diagnosis and treatment like physical therapy, medication and bracing helps minimize discomfort and reduce recovery time. Without treatment, soft tissue injuries can become chronic, causing ongoing pain that affects your work, recreation and quality of life for years.

The complex laws governing auto accident claims in Florida make navigating the settlement process difficult without an experienced attorney. Soft tissue injuries may be hard to quantify, but that doesn’t diminish the pain and life disruption victims experience. An attorney can evaluate medical records and bills to determine fair compensation for temporary and long-term soft tissue damage from a rear-end collision. They know insurance companies frequently offer low initial settlements, and will fight to get you the compensation you rightfully deserve.

Contact the law firm of Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh for the Bradenton and Sarasota areas

If you’ve been in a rear-end collision in Sarasota or Bradenton, you need legal counsel with experience handling these types of injury claims. The law firm of Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh has been protecting the rights of injury victims in the area for over 25 years. With offices right in Bradenton and Sarasota, they know the roads, intersections, and traffic conditions that can contribute to rear-end wrecks all too well.

Their team of personal injury attorneys will review the details of your accident, determine the cause, and build a strong case to recover compensation for your injuries and other losses. They handle cases on contingency, meaning you pay nothing up front and they only get paid if they win your case. If your injuries have prevented you from working, they can help negotiate with insurance companies to make sure your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages are fully covered.

Rear-end collisions at high-speed intersections like University Parkway and Cooper Creek Boulevard or congested areas like downtown Bradenton can easily cause debilitating injuries that require extensive medical care and time off work to heal. The legal team at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh has a proven track record of success in securing multimillion-dollar settlements for clients with catastrophic injuries from auto accidents. They have the experience, resources and determination to stand up to large insurance companies and hold negligent parties accountable.

Don’t delay—if you were hurt in a rear-end crash in Sarasota or Bradenton, call Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh today for a free, no-obligation consultation about your legal rights and options. They’re available 24/7 to answer your questions, review your case details, and start building your claim right away. With their help, you can focus on your recovery knowing your case is in good hands.

This information covers the seven most common types of injuries from rear-end collisions right here in our own Sarasota and Bradenton neighborhoods. Whiplash at Fruitville and Cocoanut, concussions at University and Lockwood Ridge, and more. As you drive through the busy streets and intersections of our fair cities, be mindful of keeping a safe following distance and avoiding distractions. Stay alert on Fruitville, be cautious on Clark, and remain aware on Beneva. Let’s keep each other safe out there! Now you’re armed with knowledge to prevent these all-too-common collision injuries. Drive on, Sarasota and Bradenton!

Article References:

Whiplash – Sarasota Florida & Bradenton Florida

Florida Injury Surveillance System

Herniated Disc | Sarasota Chiropractic, Physical Therapy & …

Herniated Disc | Sarasota, FL Chiropractor

Disc Pain Treatment in Sarasota, FL

Sarasota Herniated Disc Treatment | Back Pain Treatment

Herniated Disc Treatment from Bradenton Chiropractor

LVPG Concussion and Head Trauma-One City Center

Acute brain trauma – PMC

Concussion Treatment at UPMC in Central Pa.

Grid – 911 Dispatch Reporting – Sarasota County