Common Injuries from Car Accidents

Injuries from car accidents are painful, disruptive, and at times, downright scary. Unfortunately, injuries resulting from car accidents are common: the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimates that 2.74 million people were injured in 2019. These injuries can lead to higher medical bills, missed work, and a dramatic change in your quality of life. Some injuries suffered in car accidents are more common than others.

Below is a list of some of the common injuries a person may experience if they have been involved in a vehicular collision.

Neck and Back Injuries

The most common places to develop orthopedic injuries during a car accident are the neck and back. While the pain may just be a muscle strain, it could also be a more serious spine issue. The vertebrae in the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine can be displaced or damaged in a car accident. Partciularly, If your spine encounters severe blunt force during the accident, it is possible for you to develop orthopedic issues such as herniated discs, spinal fractures, and facet joint injuries. All of these issues require medical attention to correct. If you experience neck and back pain after a car accident, get it checked out immediately.

Scrapes, Cuts, and Bruising

In many instances, the worst injuries suffered in a car accident are merely scrapes, cuts, and some bruising. Oftentimes, this results from loose objects in the vehicle that become violent projectiles at the point of collision. These can include items like cell phones, travel mugs and water bottles, purses (and their contents!), dash-mounted GPS systems, and more. Bruising can also occur when an airbag deploys in the collision or when the driver’s knees hit the bottom of their dashboard.

Thankfully, many of these types of injuries are minor and require little to no medical treatment.  

Soft Tissue Injuries

A soft tissue injury is any injury to the muscles, ligaments, and/or tendons.

One common type of soft tissue injury resulting from a motor vehicle accident is whiplash. This occurs when the muscles and ligaments in the neck are stretched due to the sudden movements ‘whipping’ the head forward and back during a collision. However this can also occur to other parts of the body. Resulting in mid-to-lower back muscle sprains, and can even result in spinal damage. Whiplash may not be immediately obvious to the injured driver. In fact, adrenaline can often prevent someone from noticing the effects of whiplash until many hours or even the next day after a car accident.

Chest Injuries

Most chest injuries involve contusions or bruises. But in some cases chat injuries can include broken ribs or other internal injuries. These types of injuries often occur because, during a collision, the person’s body is thrown forward. This high level of force is restrained by the shoulder harness or seat belt, which results in severe bruising. However, bruises from a seat belt are always preferred to the consequences of not wearing a seat belt.

Broken ribs are result from even light- to moderate-impact collisions. Additionally broken ribs can result from air bag deployment or from the severity or angle of the collision. 

Head Injuries

Injuries to the head are arguably the most dangerous type of injury to result from a car accident. Particularly because the degree of severity from head trauma is not immediately noticeable. Likewise, Some head injuries can be relatively minor. Other head injuries, like concussions and brain damage, are much more severe and may require extensive medical treatment.

Mild systems of head trauma can include headaches, vision and hearing issues, and mild confusion. Additionally, head injuries can result in changes in mood and behavior, issues with memory, or changes in personality. Occassionally head trauma from whiplash can result in a brain bleed which may be fatal.

Because head injuries are not immediately apparent in the same way that a broken arm or open wound may be, it is critical that you are evaluated by a medical profession after a car accident.

Psychological Trauma

Not all injuries suffered in a car accident are physical. After a traumatic event like a car accident, victims may experience a wide range of psychological effects that can be just as painful and disruptive as physical ailments. This can include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), persistent anxiety, vehophobia (a severe anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of driving), major depressive disorder, and more.

Contact a Car Accident Attorney Today

After any car accident, you should speak to an attorney who can help you navigate the complexities of this situation. This is especially true if you are injured or currently recovering from injuries. Spend your injury resting and recovering from your injuries – and allow your attorney to handle the legal issues.

The car accident attorneys at B|B Law Group have expertise in automobile accidents and will answer your questions. Contact the B|B Law Group to schedule a consultation today.