The 5 Most Common Car Accident Injuries

Millions of people are injured yearly in the U.S. due to car accidents. Unfortunately, not all injuries are immediately evident after a vehicle accident because some injuries can take days or weeks to show any symptoms. Continue reading to learn about the five most common injuries suffered by victims of motor vehicle accidents.

Whiplash

Violent jolts from a car accident can result in the victim suffering whiplash. Whiplash is caused by rapid and forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck. This movement affects the ligaments and muscles of the neck, causing severe damage.

When the vehicle suddenly comes to a halt, the bodies of the occupants within the car can move forwards then backwards, and this force can put excessive stress on the head and neck, causing whiplash.

Common symptoms of whiplash include stiffness or loss of motion in the neck, neck pain, and headaches. Although whiplash can occur in anyone who suffers a car accident, the likelihood of experiencing it increases with age. Long-term effects of whiplash include numbness in the limbs, excessive headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, etc. The most common treatments for whiplash are rest, acupuncture, or chiropractic care.

Head or Brain Injuries

The most severe injuries suffered by car accident victims are head injuries and traumatic brain injuries, ranging from concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

TBI is often a result of blunt force trauma to the head. Heavy impacts to the head during a crash can also develop into a TBI. Typical symptoms of TBI include pain in the upper or lower back, jaw pain, severe headaches, difficulty falling asleep, memory and concentration problems, and vision problems. irritability, and pain or stiffness in the neck.

Older adults are more at risk of sustaining a TBI in a vehicle collision. A TBI can persist for years, depending on the severity of the damage. Patients with TBI can undergo regular sessions of cognitive therapy or radical surgery for treatment.

Scrapes and Cuts

Scrapes or cuts can be caused by sharp objects that contact the body during the accident. Even in mild car accidents, the victims can suffer minor lacerations. Sometimes a sharp object can cut deep into the skin, causing blood loss.

Redness, swelling, or blood oozing from the skin are common symptoms of scrapes and cuts. Lacerations can become infected, requiring medical intervention. Additionally, deep scratches can lead to tissue scarring, damage to muscles, excessive blood loss, etc. Treatments include gentle cleansing, applying ointment, stitches, and more.

Bone Fractures

Bone fractures are another common injury in motor vehicle collisions. When a bone is put under excessive stress or force, it can fracture or break. The impact of an airbag can also cause bone fractures. Common symptoms include severe pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, and inflammation.

Age and gender can be risk factors for bone fractures. Females have less bone density than men, and bone density is gradually lost as we age, increasing the risk of fractures.

If a fracture is not treated in time, it can damage the surrounding blood vessels and nerves, resulting in chronic pain, numbness, weakness, and loss of sensation. General treatments for a bone fracture are immobilizing it for several weeks to help it recover and, in severe cases, surgically inserting plates or rods to hold the pieces of the bone in place.

Internal Injuries

A vehicle's high speed and the impact's severity are two factors that contribute to internal injuries. These injuries can lead to several health issues, including internal bleeding and ruptured organs.

If a car accident victim experiences a sudden loss of vision, weakness, speech loss, or seizures, they may have internal injuries. If such injuries go undetected, they can lead to significant blood loss.

Any internal injury, such as damage to the lungs or spleen, can have prolonged severe effects, including chronic fatigue, blood pressure problems, irregular heartbeat, sensitivity to sound or light, etc. Internal injuries can be treated with long-term medications and invasive surgeries to stop the bleeding, remove clots or fragments of bone, and so on.

Contact a Car Accident Lawyer for Help

Severe car accident injuries require extensive treatment, which can result in high medical costs, and due to your injuries, you could be unable to focus on recovery. Therefore, you should allow a car accident lawyer in Colorado to handle all the legal proceedings. They are well-versed in Colorado laws regarding personal injury claims and lawsuits.

Hiring an experienced attorney will also boost your chances of recovering maximum compensation for your injuries if the other party is liable for your accident. You could even qualify for punitive damages as a result of the accident.