Did you know that, on average, there are 16,438 car crashes per day in the US? Unfortunately, auto collisions are a common aspect of everyday life. That’s why it’s important to prepare for the worst.
Although you can’t control the drivers you share the road with, you can do your part to be better behind the wheel and avoid unpleasant car accident injuries. Even if you don’t feel any injuries right away, it’s good to know what to expect, so you aren’t wasting any time if a collision does occur.
Let’s take a look at the most common car accident injuries.
1. Whiplash
When a car accident occurs, it can cause your body to move in ways that it isn’t meant to. In addition, the speed of a collision can cause trauma that strains muscles and other soft tissues without breaking bones. So if you’re experiencing discomfort or pain in your neck and back after a collision, whiplash may be to blame.
Whiplash is a common name for ligament, muscle, and tendon injuries during a car accident. Not only are these strains painful, but they can take a long time to recover.
2. Bruising
Even mild car collisions can result in bruises. After all, a car accident slams you into tough surfaces in your vehicle, and that can leave you with bruises for a handful of days. Although bruises aren’t a serious injury and only take a few weeks to heal, they can be painful reminders of a traumatic event.
3. Neck Injuries
If one part of the body is particularly vulnerable to sharp, jerking movements—it’s the neck. Your neck provides lots of forward and backward flexion, but sharp motions at strange angles can cause a lot of discomfort and pain. You might even feel that pain for years.
4. Back Injuries
Back injuries are also common when it comes to car accident collisions. If you’ve ever experienced back pain, you can imagine how unpleasant an injury might be. Everything from strained ligaments to pulled muscles can have debilitating effects.
Some injuries, including ruptured disks or a broken spine, can cause lifelong difficulties.
5. Broken Ribs
Your rib cage protects several important organs, including the lungs. If there is blunt trauma to the chest region, it can break the ribs and take months to heal. This is a common injury during auto collisions.
During a serious accident, any of the 24 ribs could get injured. Although some fractures are small, others are severe enough where the bone is broken into multiple pieces.
Not only do cracked ribs sound unpleasant, but they also cause notable pain and discomfort. It’s also dangerous since it is not uncommon for a broken rib to puncture and damage nearby organs.
6. Concussion
Another common auto injury is a concussion. It’s easy to hit your head on different parts of your car, and that can lead to significant problems. That includes issues with memories or feeling like your brain isn’t working as quickly.
After a car accident, you’ll want to address your head injuries promptly. Not only will you feel significantly better after getting checked out, but it will also ensure that there is no severe damage.
7. Internal Bleeding
It is common to notice external injuries after a car accident, but there are wounds that you can’t see as well. For example, it isn’t surprising to suffer from internal bleeding. This can be dangerous if it isn’t treated quickly after a collision.
The blood vessels in the body can be severed in a car accident. A ruptured blood vessel can cause bleeding that doesn’t clot, but the formation of clots can also be a problem since they can prevent blood from circulating. So if you are noticing breathing problems or blood in your vomit, you need to seek medical attention.
8. Knee Trauma
The sudden jerking movement of a crash can cause your knees to hit the dashboard. This causes pain to your kneecaps and ligaments. It may require crutches, surgery, or braces to correct that damage. These types of injuries are also frustrating because they can cause difficulty walking.
9. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Although post-traumatic stress disorder isn’t a physical injury, it’s important to mention it. The mental and emotional toll that a car accident causes shouldn’t be overlooked. Your daily routine might be interrupted because of an increase in anxiety.
With all of the damage that an auto collision can cause, you’ll want to find the right car accident lawyer to make your life easier. Whether or not you think there’s a case, reaching out to the right people can help you understand your situation better.
10. Soft Tissue Injuries
When your body moves suddenly due to the extreme jerking movements of a car accident, restraining devices can easily cause swelling and bruising at different points of contact. Soft tissue injuries tend to occur after a car accident and come in various locations and severity.
Many car accidents also result in damage to the spleen or liver, particularly when a passenger is slammed against a door.
11. Scrapes and Cuts
Finally, one of the most obvious car accident injuries that you may experience is a variety of scrapes and cuts. You can receive cuts from the impact of the other vehicle or your own. There’s also the possibility of getting hit by loose objects in your car.
Cuts and scrapes may seem minor, but they pose a risk for infections.
Car Accident Injuries to Avoid
Nobody wants to think about the worst-case scenario, but that can be a useful method of being prepared for whatever happens. Car accidents are a common occurrence and can be both physically and emotionally devastating. If you know what the common car accident injuries are, you’ll be better equipped to avoid them from happening.
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