Rear-end impacts are the single most common source of lasting neck pain, and they do it at speeds that leave the car looking almost undamaged.
What actually gets injured
The occupant’s torso is pushed forward by the seat while the head lags, then whips forward. The neck passes through an S-shaped curve that it is not built to make.
Damage concentrates in the facet joints and the ligaments, neither of which shows on an X-ray.
Vehicle damage is a poor predictor of injury. Low-speed impacts routinely produce symptoms lasting months, which is why ‘there was barely a scratch’ is not a clinical argument.
Conditions this commonly causes
What we do about it
We establish what is injured, treat it directly with image-guided injections, nerve blocks or physical therapy as appropriate, and document the injury properly from the first visit.
Call (314) 310-5577 or request an appointment.
Common questions
My car was barely damaged. Can I really be hurt?
Yes, and this is well established. The energy that matters is what reached your neck, not what deformed the bumper.
Why did the pain start two days later?
Inflammation builds over 24 to 72 hours, and adrenaline masks a lot on the day. Delayed onset is the rule, not the exception.
Hurt in an accident? Start here.
You do not need a lawyer, a police report or a referral to be seen. Bring your symptoms and we will work out the rest.
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Same-day appointments are often available for new accident and injury patients.