Most Common Types of Injuries From Car Accidents
Auto accidents involve a lot of force, no matter the speed or type of vehicles involved. Whether a head-on collision between two vehicles or with an object, an auto accident can result in catastrophic injuries or even death for drivers and passengers. In fact, according to a recent report by CDC, car accidents account for about 100 fatalities each day and nearly 2.1 million severe injuries per year.
However, when you are involved in a car accident, you can sustain many different kinds of injuries, depending on the severity of the accident. If you sustain severe injuries in a car crash, it’s important that you seek immediate medical attention. Then, speak with an experienced car accident lawyer to help you explore your options for compensation for damages caused by your injuries.
However, the kind of injuries you sustain in a car accident often influences the compensation you’ll receive from the at-fault driver. In this article, we’ll look at some of the most common injuries sustained in a car accident to help you value your claim accordingly:
1. Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the common types of injuries sustained in an auto accident. The injury occurs when the neck snaps like a whip cracks because of forward and backward jerking of the head during an accident. The rapid head movements put a lot of strain on the neck muscles, damaging the tendons, ligaments, discs, and face joints. Whiplash can also happen due to faulty airbag deployment.
While most car accident victims with whiplash recover quickly, others can take more than one month before fully recovering. Whiplash injuries are more likely to be sustained in rear-end collisions, and common symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, limited range of neck movement, dizziness, headaches, and fatigue.
2. Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
Back and spinal injuries are another type of injury common during car accidents. The human spine isn’t strong enough to withstand the heavy impact in a car accident. Thus, the impact and torque on your body during a car crash can lead to sustaining back and spine injuries.
While some back injuries can take time to show up, severe spine injuries can manifest almost immediately after the car crash. For instance, your spine injury could lead to total or partial paralysis below the area of injury, causing long-term disability. Common symptoms of auto-accident spine injuries can range from back pain to weakness in the legs, limited spine mobility, and loss of bowel control, depending on the severity and the site of injury in the spine.
3. Fractures and Broken Bones
Nearly all car accident victims suffer broken bones and fractures, including broken ribs, legs, ankles, arms, wrists, and pelvis. Car accidents that often lead to bone fractures include front and side-impact collisions, high-speed crashes, and when occupants are ejected from the vehicle during a crash. Depending on the severity of the accident, you may suffer a simple bone fracture that only requires a cast or something more serious requiring surgery.
Not all bone fractures will be apparent after a car accident. Some may not be detected immediately after the accident until much later. That’s why you need to seek immediate medical attention to ensure any broken bone is discovered and fixed. Common symptoms of fractures and broken bones include tenderness and swelling in the affected part, severe pain, bruising, and limited mobility.
4. Facial Injuries and Scars
Besides bone fractures, car accidents can cause different kinds of facial injuries. The injuries usually happen due to the impact with a dashboard, steering wheel, side window, windshield, broken glass and various hard surfaces. Most facial injuries after an accident are usually easily noticeable but others aren’t.
Facial injuries from car accidents can range from bruising to scarring, broken teeth, eye damage, bleeding, and broken facial bones. These injuries can disfigure your face, requiring surgical intervention and ongoing reconstruction treatments. They could also leave you with a disfigured look and uncomfortable and lasting scars even after treatment. Regardless of the severity of your facial injuries, you should seek prompt medical care to ensure the best and fastest recovery possible.
5. Traumatic Brain Injuries
Auto accidents are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries in the US. Additionally, traumatic brain injuries account for up to 50,000 deaths and nearly 90,000 long-term disabilities each year. Traumatic brain injuries occur when the brain is jolted as the head hits the steering wheel, dashboard or side window.
Traumatic brain injuries from a car accident can range from minor to more severe, depending on the area and force of impact. And the bad thing about these injuries is that they’re not always that easy to detect and could have long-lasting effects. However, immediate treatment can increase your chances of recovery. Common symptoms associated with auto-accident brain injuries include physical symptoms, like headaches, fatigue, and poor coordination and balancing; Cognitive symptoms, like difficulty speaking, memory loss, and concentration problems; and behavioral symptoms, such as increased irritability, anxiety, and mood swings.
6. Psychological Injuries and Impacts
Besides physical injuries, car accident victims often suffer mental and emotional injuries. While every victim’s experience is unique, the psychological impact of an auto accident can last a lifetime. The mental trauma is usually more severe, especially when the accident leaves you with a permanent disability that may affect your job, ability to stay independent, or quality of life.
The traumatizing experience from a car accident can make you develop post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, making daily activities bothersome and even impossible. However, seeking treatment as soon as possible can help you recover from mental and emotional injuries after an auto accident.
Endnote
There are many common auto accident injuries, from whiplash to facial scars, broken bones, TBI and PTSD. However, sustaining severe car accident injuries can lead to incurring many different damages, including medical bills, lost wages, and more. It’s vital to seek immediate medical treatment after a car crash and hire a lawyer to help you value your claim and ensure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.