Whiplash and Rear-End Collisions in Chicago

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Car Accidents

Rear-end collisions are some of the most common types of car accidents that occur in the United States. They can occur for a myriad of reasons, and as issues like distracted driving become a more prominent problem (especially in major cities like Chicago where traffic is bad) the number of rear-end collisions will continue to rise.

According to research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 30 percent of annual crashes are rear-end collisions, and were responsible for a third of all injuries caused on the roadway. Over two percent of all licensed drivers will be involved in a rear-end crash at some point during one year, and more than 35 percent of all people involved in any type of car accident were involved in only a rear-end crash.

If you are involved in a rear-end crash, the most important step is to contact an accident attorney. This is especially important if you fear that you have been injured in the crash. It is also important if you were responsible for the rear-end crash, as these types of collisions are very likely to be wracked with insurance fraud following the incident.

Whiplash is the most common injury associated with rear-end crashes, and, according to recent report from the Daily Mail, roughly half of all whiplash claims (in the U.K.) are faked annually. This number is likely comparable in the United States.

Whiplash is commonly used to describe any number of neck injuries that occur from a muscle strain or minor tearing of soft tissue in the neck. The reason they are often wrought with fraud is because these types of injuries can be very difficult to medically prove, and are often diagnosed based on the pain level of the patient.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that neck sprains (commonly whiplash) are the most frequently reported injuries for insurance claims in the U.S. every year. Between 1988 and 1996, according to data from the NHTSA and as reported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were an estimated 805,581 whiplash injuries. A staggering 272,464 of these occurred because of a rear-end collision accident.

If you are involved in a rear-end collision in the Chicago area in which a whiplash claim could be a factor, immediately seek the counsel of an accident attorney. Contact Salvi & Maher, LLP today.