Car accidents can result in a lot of damage and trauma for the people involved. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics, approximately three million people are injured in the U.S. due to car accidents.
The injuries that people sustain from these accidents vary. It mainly depends on the following factors:
Not wearing a seatbelt increases your chances of sustaining worse injuries in case of a car accident.
Your position in the vehicle at the time of the accident may also affect how badly you’ll get injured. If you were in the front seat, the chances of sustaining life-threatening injuries are higher.
Having airbags can protect you from serious crashes. If your vehicle does not have an airbag installed, your chances of getting injured or, worse, dying are higher.
High-speed collisions have more force compared to low-speed ones. The more force there is, the worse the damage will be.
After considering these different factors, here are some common injuries that people sustain after getting involved in car accidents:
During a car accident, your body will suddenly jolt forward due to the impact. This sudden movement may cause a serious strain on your neck resulting in whiplash. It can be very painful and usually takes two to three months before you fully recover.
Head injuries often result in serious complications and, for those unfortunate enough, death. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an average of 155 Americans die every day due to head and brain-related injuries. During minor crashes, you may sustain some bruises and scratches after hitting your head from the impact.
But in major crashes, victims often sustain severe head injuries. Here are some symptoms you need to watch out for if you have been involved in a serious collision:
When left untreated, head injuries can cause irreversible long-term problems such as brain damage. It is vital to consult a doctor immediately after hitting your head during a car accident.
Scrapes and cuts are not uncommon in car accidents. Your windows may break during the impact, and the glass may end up cutting parts of your body. Whether it’s a shallow or a deep cut, it’s still important to get treated as they are prone to infection.
Another common type of injury victims sustain in car accidents is chest injuries. Chest injuries can range from something minor like bruises and contusions to something serious such as broken ribs and collapsed lungs. Internal chest injuries require immediate medical attention as they may cause serious permanent damage if left untreated. It can also be fatal.
Your chances of sustaining chest injuries are higher if you are seated at the front seat during an accident. This is because there is very little space for movement, and the sudden jolt can cause your body to hit the steering wheel or the dashboard. The severity of your injuries will depend on the impact.
Soft tissue injuries are the most common type of injury that victims of car accidents sustain. Soft tissue injuries are defined as “trauma to any skin, muscle, tendon, or ligament in the body.” Whiplash is a type of soft tissue injury, as it involves trauma to the neck.
Other types of soft tissue injuries are lacerations, avulsions, abrasions, contusions, and muscle sprains.
If you are experiencing:
Consult a doctor immediately. Although you may feel that it is unnecessary if it’s a minor injury, untreated soft tissue injuries can result in long-term pain.
Back injuries can cause serious pain and stress. If left untreated, it can also lead to permanent disability. Our spine is a vital part of our body; it’s important that we protect and take care of it as it is highly susceptible to injury. Our spines are not designed to endure the heavy impact.
After a car accident, make sure that you consult a doctor immediately and get your spine checked as well. There are cases where car accident victims don’t experience the symptoms right away, which caused them to delay treatment.
Once you have attended to your medical needs and cleared the accident scene, it is essential to consult with a car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Your right to be compensated for your injuries could be compromised as soon as the accident occurs. Even something you say in surprise at the scene of the accident could be used against you. You want a Los Angeles car accident lawyer protecting your legal rights as soon as possible.
