7 Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
When vehicles collide, one common consequence is injuries to the drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. The severity and type of injury depend on the structure, size, and weight of the automobile. These injuries can be devastating and require extensive medical costs.
Discover common types of injuries that can arise from road accidents.
1. Fractures
Serious road accidents involving high-speed vehicles may result in fractures. The high-speed impact generates an excessive force that distorts the vehicle’s structure during impact.
Therefore, your vehicle can twist and crumble, which may cause contact between the vehicle and many parts of your body. For example, the ribcage can sustain significant damage and crack.
2. Internal Bleeding
Chances are that you might also suffer from internal bleeding. Internal bleeding is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Failure to treat internal bleeding can lead to damage to key internal organs, loss of limbs, and even death.
3. Back Injuries
Back injuries may affect the functioning of the spinal cord, leading to a partial or full loss of sensation.
The loss of sensation often results in paralysis. Paralysis or permanent disability can take the form of quadriplegia, paraplegia, and paraparesis.
For example, you may experience partial loss of sensory and mobility nerves from the waist down. In other circumstances, you won’t feel your arms, legs, or one side of the body.
Back injuries might also lead to herniated or slipped discs due to vertebrae moving out of place. The vertebrae can also break open, leading to a ruptured disc. In some cases, the nerves can have damage, leading to intense pain and discomfort.
4. Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries involve damage to the cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and muscles. These injuries typically occur during airbag deployment. The result is often deformities and other forms of impaired function. You may also experience disfigurement and permanent scarring.
5. Head Injuries
Head injuries can either be minor or severe and life-changing. The injuries occur when the vehicle stops or changes direction suddenly. Sudden changes force the heads of passengers and drivers to shift into unnatural positions. The movements can cause sprains in the neck and strain muscles.
Sometimes, the injuries may happen directly on the head. For example, you can get bruises and cuts on the side of your head if you collide with the steering wheel or side window. The collision can also cause damage to brain tissues and blood vessels. You might even get concussions and lifelong brain damage.
6. Chest Injuries
Chest injuries include bruises in the chest, damage to organs in the chest, and broken ribs. Most chest injuries happen to drivers who collide with the steering wheel. Dashboards and seatbelts may also lead to chest injuries.
7. Whiplash
Sudden forward and backward jerking of the head can cause extensive damage. This results in damaged muscles, discs, facet joints, tendons, and ligaments. You will probably experience the symptoms immediately after the car accident.
Common symptoms include neck stiffness and pain that intensifies with neck movement. The pain may spread to the arms and shoulders if you don’t get immediate treatment. You may also have headaches, fatigue, and dizziness.
Whiplash accidents are more likely to happen if you are involved in a rear-end collision, the involved vehicles moved at high speeds, or if your head was far away from the headrest when the accident happened.
Vehicle accident injuries can disrupt a person’s life and require costly treatment. Therefore, get compensation to put your life back on track and pay medical bills. Since insurance companies may not willingly offer compensation, you need the help of a qualified lawyer to pursue your personal injury case.
Carl L Britt, Jr, Is a criminal lawyer specializing in personal injury, traffic accidents, DWI, and other criminal cases. Contact us for more information.