Three million people get injured in car accidents across the US every year. While not all of these car accident injuries are serious, even the seemingly minor injuries that people can sustain during a car crash can cause severe physical and psychological damage.
What’s more, many injuries aren’t apparent straight away, especially if there is internal damage. In some cases, you might not realize that anything’s wrong until long after the crash.
But it’s much easier to spot a potential injury if you know what signs to look out for. Here’s a round-up of some of the most common car crash injuries.
Head and Brain Injuries
As this information on car accident injuries explains, head and brain car accident injuries can be some of the most severe. Some signs of a serious head or brain injury include:
- Confusion
- Slurred speech
- Pupil dilation
- Numbness
- Loss of coordination
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Coma
Although, not all head injuries are serious. Mild head injury symptoms include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Speech problems
Because it’s difficult to differentiate between serious and mild head injuries, all head injuries from accidents require the immediate attention of a doctor. For example, while nausea in itself isn’t worrying, it can be a symptom of concussion or a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord damage can affect other parts of the body since the spine is so central to the entire body’s functioning. Some signs of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) include:
- Tingling
- Loss of feeling
- Loss of motion
- Paralysis
Regardless of whether you experience these more severe signs of an SCI or not, you should see your doctor right away if a car accident has affected your back or spine in any way.
Soft Tissue Injuries
A soft tissue injury involves damage to the body’s connective tissues, such as tendons, ligaments, and muscles. While soft tissue injuries are not the most serious car crash injuries, they are the most common:
Soft tissue injuries can include:
- Strains
- Sprains
- Contusions
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion major joints)
Whiplash is the most common soft tissue injury. Whiplash injuries occur when the muscles and ligaments in your neck stretch and snap on impact. But, since there’s often a pain delay, whiplash is also one of the most overlooked and undiagnosed injuries from accidents.
Internal Injuries
Torso injuries can cause serious internal bleeding and possible fatal damage to your organs. Signs that you may have internal injuries include:
- Bruising
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
Because of the severity of potential internal injuries, you should never dismiss bruising after a car accident. Often, contusions to the upper torso can be a sign of bruising to the heart muscle.
Broken Bones and Cuts
Scrapes, minor bruises, and broken bones are some of the most common car accident injuries. They’re also the easiest to diagnose and treat since the pain is instant and the damage is obvious. The impact of a collision can cause loose objects such as cell phones, glasses, and keys to be thrown around, causing minor cuts and bruises.
The Most Common Injuries Sustained During a Car Crash
As this list shows, many of the most common injuries sustained during a car crash are not immediately obvious. And sometimes, symptoms that might seem mild or unrelated, such as bruising or fever, could be signs of severe internal damage.
Want more informative insights and news updates? Be sure to check out our other blog posts for all the latest tips, tricks, and how-to guides!
