10 of the Most Common Car Accident Injuries
Some of the most common personal injury cases we see are car accidents. These types of accidents can result in no injuries, minor injuries, or debilitating injuries and disabilities. We represent these types of cases often, and we want to talk about the types of injuries that happen in motor vehicle accidents. Here are 10 of the most common car accident injuries you should know about:
1. Bruises
A common injury people sustain during a car accident is bruising. A bruise happens when your body collides with another object. Bruises aren’t typically serious and will usually heal within a few weeks.
2. Scrapes and Cuts
Other minor injuries people get when they are in an accident are scrapes and cuts. If there are loose objects in the car when impact occurs, these objects could hit you and make cuts or scrapes. Most of these injuries are minor, but more serious ones could require stitches.
3. Burns
You may not think of burns as one of the most common car accident injuries, but they can be. You can get burned from hot surfaces, fluids, chemicals, or if the vehicle catches on fire. Severe burns could require skin grafts or surgery.
4. Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are a type of strain on muscles, ligaments, and tendons caused by your body moving in a way it is not supposed to at a speed it is not supposed to. A common soft tissue injury that happens in car accidents is known as whiplash. Soft tissue injuries aren’t usually permanent, but they are painful and can take weeks, months or longer to heal.
5. Neck and Back Injuries
Neck and back injuries are some of the most common car accident injuries. During a crash, your body can go through intense and rapid force, causing damage that could be immediate or could present over time. This kind of force can cause herniations or disc ruptures in your spine, which are serious injuries that are painful and can limit your mobility.
6. Internal Bleeding
Although you cannot see internal bleeding, this type of injury caused by a crash is serious. Your organs are delicate, and they could sustain a force that is strong enough to injure them. “Invisible” injuries such as internal bleeding are why we recommend getting medical attention even if you don’t believe you are injured.
7. Broken Bones
Broken bones occur often during motor vehicle accidents. When you are in a crash, your body could be put under stress your skeleton cannot handle, resulting in broken bones. Some of the common body parts that have broken bones include legs, arms, wrists, ankles, ribs, and pelvis.
8. Concussions
Head injuries can happen in motor vehicle accidents. A common type of head injury that could occur is a concussion. Concussions occur when you hit your head on something. When you sustain this kind of injury, you could have memory issues or feel like your brain isn’t working as fast as it was before. Getting medical treatment for this type of injury is imperative.
9. Traumatic Brain Injuries
Car accidents are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. These occur when you are hit in the head, and they can result in life-altering injuries, such as changing the way your brain functions, handles information, and processes emotions. It is possible to recover from this type of injury, but depending on what kind of traumatic brain injury you suffered and the severity, treating this injury could be a lifelong process.
10. PTSD
You may not think you could get PTSD from a car accident, but you can. Anytime you undergo any kind of situation with extreme stress, you could suffer from post traumatic stress disorder. Some of the symptoms of PTSD include being afraid to drive, aversion to sounds or images that you associate with the accident, or not sleeping due to nightmares or anxiety.
Knowing about the most common car accident injuries can help you if you are ever in an accident. Have you been injured in a motor vehicle accident due to someone else’s negligence? Contact one of our lawyers today to discuss your options.
