Slow speed rear ending - whiplash?
 

Hi everyone,

My luck just continues to worsen. Ironically on my way to pick up my first prescription of lexapro for anxiety, I rear ended someone going max 5-10 mph. The person I rear-ended was moving, I don't think I came to a complete stop after hitting the car, and I was well braced with both hands on the steering wheel, looking behind me. I was jolted a bit, but don't remember exactly how much.

I had a panic attack afterwards for 45min to an hour, but have since calmed down, although I'm getting a slight headache where I imagine my brain would've bumped into my skull, had it actually bumped. My rational side is telling me that the impact was so little, and most of it was absorbed by the cars, that I'm worrying too much, but I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance that this sort of impact couldn't do any damage.

Your upper body's ability to move will absorb all of the energy beyond the amount your brain can easily tolerate. If your head moved 4 inches before stopping, the G forces were no more than you would experience walking on a hard surface. My rough calculation says you may have experienced .5 G's. At most, your neck may be sore.

So, stop the anxiety and move on. I am more concerned about your ability to focus on the driving task.

Thanks for the response. I'm just perplexed by why all these head bumps/jolts produce headaches where I get the bump/jolt, and why this rear ending is resulting in a headache where I imagine the forces would be concentrated. The headache came on after I'd settled down and decided that this wasn't worth worrying about too. I'm exhausted from worrying about these bumps, and I think that's helped stop the amount that I do worry, but I'm poised to start taking Lexapro to help with the anxiety/depression. Hopefully it will do what it's supposed to and prevent me from ruminating on my situation.

It really was just an accident - a tricky intersection with a lot of traffic and I was trying to assess whether I could get over and the car in front of me slowed sooner than I was expecting. I haven't been concerned about my ability to drive (although I'll probably lay off it for a couple days!).

rear end
 

so how was the person you ran into? any damage to the cars?

The other driver barely noticed, and her car had minimal damage. The bumper to mine needs to be replaced, but not much else. Kind of strange how such a slow impact could do much damage, but I guess the bumper is all plastic.

Many bumpers are made to be sacrificial. They are cheap to replace compared to other body damage.

So the headaches got pretty bad last night, and are still somewhat worse today (and in the new spot after the rear-ending). I'm hoping it's just from the adrenaline and stress of a panic attack (I couldn't feel my arms an legs afterwards I was so worked up). I came home to get quiet rest, but it seems I've only felt worse since I've gotten here from head jolts.

I don't think my head moved 4 inches, as I was well braced with both arms on the steering wheel and back arched. Maybe 1-2 inches. Does this significantly change the G forces involved (I'm a biologist, not a physicist!)?

No, your head has that much movement even with your arms holding strong. Your neck has lots of energy absorbing capability. If your arms were holding that strong, you would injure your shoulders first.

Your anxiety is killing you. An anxiety attack can cause a cascade of symptoms that can last for days.

I know. I feel trapped by it, I'm starting Lexapro today, hopefully it helps.