Everyone knows that accidents happen when you least expect them and they can leave their mark – physically, mentally, and emotionally.
While some car injuries are far more severe than others, you always want to get yourself checked out after an accident just to be sure you are 100 percent good to go. And if you aren’t, you might want to consider the expertise of a car accident lawyer to help you build a case in order to claim compensation.
So, what are the most common car accident injuries that affect drivers today? Find out more in this blog.
1. Neck Strain Aka Whiplash
Whiplash is the most common symptom that most drivers experience after an accident. This is due to the sheer force applied to the head and neck upon impact between two (or more) cars.
Even if you’re wearing a safety belt, your neck is quite unprotected from this type of inertia. It’s an unnatural movement that causes major strain in the neck muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Whiplash can also strain other soft tissues in the upper back, and shoulders, and even break bones.
2. Lacerations, Bruises, and Road Rash
If you’re involved in a mild to severe car accident that includes broken windows, the rolling of your car, or massive impact from another vehicle, you can expect to experience any of the above injuries.
Flying glass, gravel from the road, fast-traveling debris, rocks, and other projectiles can cause bodily harm in the form of scrapes, gashes, large bruises, and large roasties across the body, also known as road rash.
3. Head Trauma and TBI
Even when wearing a safety belt, you can still suffer a number of different head injuries and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from a sudden impact. A few basic examples that could cause major head trauma include high impact against the windscreen or the side of your car. As well as large objects colliding with the head, or being thrown from the vehicle.
Head trauma is a very serious and relatively common complication after many major car accidents. If not diagnosed properly, these types of injuries can be fatal or lead to neurological dysfunction down the line.
Follow this link for more information on personal injury if you or a loved one has suffered some form of brain trauma.
If you suffered a hard knock to the head during a car accident, even if there’s no blood, always insist on getting things checked out. Concussions do not present themselves until a few hours later, so be sure to visit a medical professional to get the all-clear.
4. Fractured or Broken Ribs
Contrary to what you may think, your ribs are pretty fragile and prone to bruising, fracture, and even breakage in the severe impact of a car accident.
In fact, wearing a safety belt can lead to major rib bruising and fracture in some types of car accidents. But the payoff is that wearing the safety belt most likely saved your life.
Aside from your ribs, there is a number of other bones that are commonly affected in car accidents. This includes your arms – specifically the wrists and hands, your legs, including the femur and shins, hips, and shoulders.
5. Internal Bleeding
While outward signs of injury tend to be far more common in car accidents, there are cases that could lead to internal bleeding. This is especially true if you suffered a direct impact against your body, i.e. the abdomen during the accident.
The issue with internal bleeding is that it’s not obvious and can take a while to show symptoms. By this time, the bleeding could be far more severe than it was when the accident first took place.
Always seek out medical treatment after a high-impact accident of any kind, particularly if you suffered an injury to your torso.
6. A Herniated Disc
Aside from whiplash, this another one of the most common car accident injuries among drivers today. A herniated disc is not like breaking a bone, but it can feel almost as painful. When you herniate or ”slip” a disc, this means that one or more of the vertebrae in your spine has ruptured and shifted out of place.
A herniated disc can lead to major issues with back pain, loss of mobility, and can have a huge impact on your quality of life.
7. Psychological Injury: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
You hear about the physical toll a car accident can take on a person’s body, but what about the mental toll? Being involved in a serious car accident that involves traumatic injury or even the loss of life can leave behind mental scars.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a form of injury that manifests itself in many different ways from one person to the next. It can disrupt your life, lead to severe emotional distress and suffering, and even life-threatening consequences.
If you find yourself unable to process or comprehend your car accident, if you have nightmares, anxiety when getting in a car or driving, you might want to seek out mental health treatment.
How Can You Avoid These Types of Injuries?
The truth is, you can’t control how other people drive and what they do while they’re on the road. The best thing you can do to personally avoid a car accident and these injuries is to practice defensive driving.
It’s also important to always wear your safety belt – even if it leads to a fractured rib, it could save your life, as mentioned earlier. Stick to the speed limit where possible, so many car accidents are a result of speeding and irresponsible driving.
You also want to ensure your vehicle is maintained properly and in good working order.
Find Legal Compensation For Your Car Injuries
Whatever you do, always seek out medical treatment, even if it’s for the most minor car injuries. There are certain injuries related to car accidents that are sinister and only present symptoms later on down the line. You can avoid the result of major pain and suffering by getting the medical treatment you need.
If you’re interested in learning more about the legalities of car accidents and how to claim for your injury, this blog is for you. Explore for more information and learn about your compensation rights.