Rear-End Car Accidents Cause Serious Injuries and Death on Texas Roads

 Posted on November 21, 2025 in Car Accidents

Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident in Texas and across the country. Many people think these crashes only cause minor injuries like whiplash, but rear-end accidents can cause serious injuries and even death. Children sitting in the back seat face particular danger because they are closest to the point of impact.

If you or your loved ones have been hurt in a rear-end accident with a car or a truck, call our Gonzales County, TX personal injury lawyer for help right away. 

Why Are Children at Greater Risk in Rear-End Crashes?

Children sitting in the back seat are in the most dangerous position during a rear-end collision. The force of impact hits the rear of the vehicle first and hardest, so back seat passengers absorb more of the crash energy than those in front.

Small children in car seats face additional risks. Even properly installed car seats cannot completely protect against the violent forces in a high-speed rear-end crash. The sudden acceleration forward and then backward can cause head and neck injuries in young children whose bodies are still developing. Older children and teenagers in the back seat also suffer serious injuries to their head, neck, and spine. 

What Injuries Do Rear-End Accidents Cause?

Rear-end collisions cause serious injuries that can affect victims for the rest of their lives:

• Whiplash involves tearing of muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck. Severe whiplash causes chronic pain that lasts months or years and some people never fully recover.

• Traumatic brain injuries occur even without direct head impact. The violent shaking motion causes the brain to crash against the inside of the skull. Concussions, brain bleeding, and permanent brain damage can all result from rear-end crashes.

• Spinal cord injuries happen when the force of impact damages vertebrae or discs in the spine. Herniated discs, nerve damage, and even paralysis can result from serious rear-end collisions.

• Broken bones are common, especially in the arms, wrists, and ribs. Chest injuries from seatbelts can break ribs and cause internal damage to organs.

What to Do When Injuries from Rear-End Accidents Don’t Show Up Right Away

Soft tissue injuries take time to develop symptoms. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments swell and stiffen over the first 24 to 48 hours after injury. What felt like minor soreness or nothing at all at the accident scene becomes severe pain that can prevent you from working or caring for your children.

Brain injuries are especially deceptive. Symptoms like headaches, confusion, memory problems, and mood changes can appear days after the crash. By then, insurance companies might already be pressuring you to settle your claim.

This delayed onset of symptoms is why you should always see a doctor after a rear-end collision, even if you feel okay. Medical documentation created right after the accident protects your legal rights. It proves your injuries came from the crash and not from something else that happened later.

How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit for a Car Crash in Texas?

As of late 2025, Texas continues to enforce strict two-year filing deadlines from the date of an accident for a personal injury lawsuit under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003.

Two years may sound like plenty of time, but it goes fast when you are recovering from injuries and dealing with daily life. Insurance companies know about the deadline and use it against you. They delay negotiations, hoping you will panic as the deadline approaches and accept a low settlement.

Starting your case early gives your lawyer time to investigate, gather evidence, and build the strongest claim possible. You have nothing to lose by talking to a lawyer soon after your accident.

Call a Comal County, TX Car Crash Attorney Today

Our Gonzales County, TX car crash lawyer has 25 years of legal experience and knows how to fight for families injured in rear-end crashes. We treat our clients with compassion while aggressively pursuing every dollar of compensation they deserve from insurance companies. Your children's safety and your family's recovery are our priorities. Contact The Bettersworth Law Firm at 830-606-0404 for a free consultation about your rear-end collision case.