Car accidents can result in extensive damage, but aside from that, they can also cause serious injuries for the parties involved. Every year, over 38,000 people are killed in car accidents on American highways. The traffic fatality rate in the United States is 12.4 deaths per 100,000 people. An additional 4.4 million people have been seriously injured and require medical attention.
These car accidents can happen to anyone. No matter how careful you are on the road, it’s hard to tell if you’re driving next to an irresponsible motorist. Driving defensively and keeping your attention on the road at all times is the best way to prevent these accidents from happening.
However, sometimes it can be hard to prevent car accidents from happening completely. There are times when you might experience some unfortunate situations on the road. In that case, your first response to the situation should be seeking medical assistance to attend to your injuries. Once you are done with that contact a car accident lawyer to discuss your legal options. They will also help in elevating your chances of receiving maximum compensation for your losses, aiding you financially during such emergencies. You can find information here about the same.
That being said, here are some common injuries you might end up encountering during a car accident.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a term used to describe muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries that can occur in a car accident. The extreme force involved in car accidents may cause your body to move in certain ways that it wouldn’t normally move in.
If you have pain or discomfort in your neck and back after a collision, you most likely have whiplash – strains to your muscles and ligaments. Although these strains can be extremely painful and may take weeks to heal, it rarely results in permanent injuries on its own.
Scrapes and Cuts
It’s not uncommon for debris to fly around inside the car after a serious crash. Any loose objects inside the car become projectiles and are thrown around the interior in the event of a collision. Cell phones, coffee mugs, eyeglasses, purses, books, dash-mounted GPS systems, and other similar items fall into this category. If any of these objects collide with your body, they have the potential to cut your skin or cause other injuries.
The majority of the time, these scrapes and cuts are just minor injuries and can heal after a short period of time. However, deep cuts can result in extreme blood loss in some instances, which needs to be treated immediately.
Broken Bones
Car accidents involving extreme force can result in broken bones. This type of injury can be extremely painful and may take time to heal. Sustaining broken legs, arms, hips, ankles, wrists, and ribs after an accident is highly likely.
Broken bones can result in a variety of complications, including infections. Physical therapy may be required for injured individuals to recover.
If the break is severe enough, an amputation may be required, affecting the victim’s quality of life and their ability to care for themselves and participate in activities they enjoy.
Sprains, strains, and spurs are also common in car accidents. While they are not usually difficult to treat, they may necessitate a lengthy period of healing and rehabilitation to restore function to the injured area.
Spinal Injuries
The impact of a collision and the torque on the body can result in long-term impairment due to spinal cord damage.
A herniated disc develops when the spinal vertebrae slip out of place or rupture due to mild spinal cord injury. A herniated disc is similar to a broken bone in a vehicle accident. A herniated disc can cause discomfort and further issues.
If the spine is severely damaged, it can result in complete or partial paralysis, as well as death. Sometimes spinal cord injuries cannot be fully rectified or heal on their own. These accident victims suffer long-term disabilities as a result of their injuries. In some circumstances, the victim will be unable to work, care for oneself, or engage in everyday activities or pastimes that they formerly liked. Because of careless drivers, their entire lives are flipped upside down.
Head Injuries
Aside from spinal cord injuries, head injuries can also lead to a lifetime of pain and even death if left untreated. Car accidents cause 17.3 percent of all TBIs (Traumatic Brain Injury) in the United States. This is a staggering figure that should concern all motorists and those who share the road with them.
TBIs occur when the brain collides with the hard surface of the skull due to force and fast movements. Because the brain is not set in place in the skull, it can move when forced upon by another force. The impact of an automobile accident can sometimes be enough to harm the brain’s sensitive tissues.
Head injuries in car accidents can range from moderate to severe. The whiplash, as mentioned above, is just one example. When a driver collides with the driver’s side window or the steering wheel, it might result in bruises, scrapes, or major lacerations.
Extremely severe hits can result in closed head injuries, in which the contents of the skull are damaged.
A concussion is a subtle form of closed head injury, while more severe closed head injuries can cause lifelong brain damage.
The victim’s loss of consciousness or “blacking out” after impact is crucial in assessing if a closed head injury or concussion was sustained in the accident. Even a brief “blackout” could indicate a catastrophic brain injury.
Psychological Injuries
Getting involved in a car accident may result in extreme stress, which can lead to psychological distress. Common psychological injuries victims get after a car accident are PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most common psychological issue that victims develop after a car accident. PTSD can affect the way the victims live their lives. They may develop extreme paranoia whenever they travel due to fear of getting involved in a traffic accident again. It can also cause issues in their personal and professional lives when stray sights, noises, or odors bring them back to dangerous circumstances, producing an inability to function in their day-to-day existence.
It might be difficult to treat and recover from psychological damage. To return to their normal or former mental and emotional condition, those affected may require treatment from a licensed mental or medical expert, medicines, and extensive rehabilitation. These victims can seek compensation for these types of damages by working with accident lawyers.
