Did you know that 46% of vehicle accidents are due to excess speed?Â
While the fatalities have decreased over the years, people are still getting hurt. Because of this, knowing how to protect yourself from common car accident injuries is essential.
Car accidents affect the body in different ways. Knowing these can help reduce the risk or even prevent injuries altogether. So, what are some of these injuries, and how can they be prevented?
Read on to learn about common car accident injuries and what causes them.
1. Whiplash
One of the most common car accident injuries people suffer from is whiplash. Whiplash is caused by the sudden jerking of the head and neck forward and backward rapidly. This can happen in a car accident when the victim is hit from the rear or side.
The force of the impact causes the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck to become stressed. It can also cause damage to the discs and vertebrae in the neck. It stretched beyond its standard capability.
Severe cases can even cause blurred vision or dizziness. For these reasons, it is essential to seek professional attention if you experience any physical or psychological trauma after a car accident. So be sure to visit and consult an accident law firm found here to help you during accidents.
2. Soft Tissue Damage
Soft tissue damage is the most common type of injury experienced in a car accident. Soft tissues absorb the energy of a crash. This creates the forces which cause these tissues to tear, stretch, or even snap.
This can lead to the tearing of the muscles. These injuries can be categorized into “contusion”, “strains and sprains”, or “traumatic rupture”.Â
3. Spinal Injuries
Spinal injuries occurs when the spinal cord is stretched, compressed, dislocated, or severed due to the force of the impact of the collision.
Common causes of spinal injury in car accidents include rear-ending collisions, head-on collisions, excessive speed, and distracted or impaired driving. Depending on the severity of the injury, spinal injuries can cause numbness and paralysis, as well as disk herniation, spinal fractures, and chronic pain.
In the most severe cases, spinal cord injuries can cause permanent paralysis and neurological damage. It is essential to practice safe driving habits to prevent serious car accident injuries such as spinal injuries.
4. Head and Neck Injuries
With head and neck injuries, one could suffer a concussion. This can range from mild to severe and can cause various symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and changes in behavior or speech.
The neck is filled with delicate bones, nerves, and muscles, all of which can be damaged during a crash. stadardThese injuries can be accompanied by pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion of the neck, resulting in long-term disability if not treated properly. Neck stretching and tearing of neck muscles are also standard, as are neck sprain and strain injuries.
5. Broken Bones
Broken bones are a common injury following car accidents due to the impact of the crash and the force of motion involved. Many car crash victims sustain broken bones from the hard contact and can suffer severe complications from fractures, including joint or nerve damage.
Commonly broken bones caused by car accidents include the jaw, nose, cheekbones, collarbone, arms, and legs. Deaths due to broken bones can also result in car accidents, especially if the fractured bone pierces through the skin and enters the thoracic cavity or chest area. This is why it is essential to get examined by a medical professional to check for any breaks following a car accident.
6. Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the most common car accident injury and can have life-changing consequences. A TBI occurs when a person’s head experiences a strong jolt or a penetrating head wound.
Car accidents can cause a TBI for several reasons. The most direct cause is when a person’s head hits something inside the vehicle, like a window or dashboard. TBIs can also be caused by debris from a crash that enters the car or airbags that deploy too much force.Â
7. Internal Injuries
Pain and discomfort are common signs of an internal injury. Head trauma, for instance, can cause a head injury that is difficult to diagnose. Seatbelt injuries can involve a lacerated liver or spleen.
Rib fractures, punctured lungs, and collapsed lungs are also common. Any kind of blunt force trauma to the torso can result in internal bleeding. Severe contusions and broken bones can also occur from the force of the impact, which can lead to internal bleeding.Â
8. Post-Crash Injuries
Post-crash injuries are injuries sustained in the aftermath of a car accident and can be just as severe and varied as those suffered during the crash. These injuries can be caused by the impact of the collision or secondary trauma, such as the body jerking from the deployment of an airbag or the car occupants hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, or side panels.
Damaged organs, internal bleeding, and head injuries can also occur as a result of these secondary traumata. In addition, psychological and emotional injuries such as trauma, anxiety, and depression are also common post-crash injuries.
9. Vertigo
Car accidents can cause a range of physical injuries, some of which can lead to the development of vertigo. Unfortunately, this is a widespread injury resulting from a car crash.
The leading cause of vertigo after an accident is a fracture or dislocation of the neck. When the head is shaken or jerked in a car accident, it causes the inner ear to become unbalanced, leading to vertigo.
10. Bruises
Bruising is one of the most common car accident injuries. A bruise occurs when blood vessels just beneath the skin break after a strong impact and blood leaks, resulting in skin discoloration.
It is even possible to bruise internal organs during an auto accident. Blunt force trauma, typical in car accidents, causes these injuries. A bruise’s severity and size depend on the force and location of the impact, and typically bruises heal with time.
Avoiding Car Accident Injuries
Be vigilant and practice safe driving habits to help protect yourself from car accident injuries. Drivers must be aware of common damages caused by car accidents and the underlying considerations that put them at risk. Car accidents can cause severe injury and even death, so it is essential to follow all the safety rules to reduce the risk of an accident.
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