4 Most Common Car Accident Injuries

Driving car

Once you’re on the road, it’s always likely a general rule that you’ve got to be prepared for an accident to come. There’s always that risk and the only question is that when it’ll happen. These accidents happen when you’re least prepared for them, it can send you towards a frenzy of possible injuries. These can vary from mild to more serious ones and physical to mental trauma. Whatever the case, awareness of these possibilities is very important. That way, when an accident occurs, you’ll know precisely what to do to help you heal better.

If you’re one of the lucky ones, then you may be able to escape your car accident without the slightest hint of an injury. In most instances, this isn’t the case. A medical issue most likely goes alongside a car mishap. It could perhaps be really helpful if you can get to know what are the common accidents, so that you can avoid them. But before we tell you about the common accidents, it is noteworthy that you can ask the other party, if they are at fault, to pay for your medical and repair expenses or, if necessary, file a personal injury lawsuit. And this is where an Accident Lawyer can help you.

That said, here are some of the most common injuries that can be sustained from a car accident:

1. Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury happens because of a sudden blow or piercing injury to the brain because of the impact of the car accident. This is a closed head injury, which means that it may not immediately be apparent. The doctors can diagnose this as soon as further tests on the head are done, to assess the depth of the damage caused by the accident.

If you’re lucky, your symptoms from a TBI can be mild, such as concussions. But, in more severe cases, this can lead to life-long negative effects such as paralysis and even death.

Some of the common symptoms for mild TBI are:

  • Brief loss of consciousness;
  • Trouble with memory and concentration;
  • Headache;
  • Behavioral and mood changes;
  • Lightheadedness.

In extreme cases, you’ll still experience the symptoms of mild TBI as enumerated above, plus the following:

  • Increased restlessness or agitation;
  • Worsening headache;
  • Loss of coordination;
  • Constant vomiting and nausea;
  • Numbness in arms and legs.

To help assess and improve your chances of recovery from your brain injury, here are some helpful hints that can come in handy.

car accident

2. Whiplash

Whiplash is an all-encompassing term used to refer to injuries in the muscle, tendon, and ligaments. This can happen from the sudden movements during the car accident, which may lead to your body moving so suddenly, often times faster than it would’ve on its own.

Because of this trauma, soft tissues can receive all the strain – with the exception of your bones breaking. In most instances, whiplash can be very painful and will take time to heal.

There are many ways to treat whiplash injuries and these include:

  • Ice Pack: Applying ice on your neck as soon as you experience the injury. Then, this repetitively once every three to four hours for fifteen minutes, for the next two to three days.
  • Neck or Collar Brace: Using a neck brace or collar to help support the neck while it heals. But this should only be used upon the advice of a doctor and never prolonged, as this may also weaken your muscles.

3. Scrapes and Cuts

Scrapes and cuts are also very common in a car accident. You can have scrapes either from the impact itself, or cuts from flying debris like glass or even your phone. Even if your scrapes and cuts are only minor, this doesn’t mean that you should just disregard these. Because scrapes and cuts are open wounds, these can potentially lead to infections if left untreated. Especially, if the cut is bleeding severely or can’t be stopped even after ten minutes of firm pressure, it’s a telltale sign that you must see a doctor immediately.

4. Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis

A spinal cord injury is defined as something that occurs when there’s something that interferes with the structure and function of the spinal cord. When you suffer a spinal cord injury from your car accident, unfortunately, this can often lead to permanent disability or paralysis.

If not paralysis, some of the most common side effects of a spinal cord injury include slowing down of the function of some of the body’s internal organs and loss of motor and sensory function.

Treatment for spinal cord injuries will typically depend on the extent of the injury. For instance, with paralysis, there needs to be a distinction between partial and total paralysis. For the former, physical therapy can help to improve the overall quality of life and movement capability. Unfortunately for total paralysis, all that the doctors may do is reduce pain and other discomforts as this paralysis stay a lifetime.

Conclusion

Injuries from vehicular accidents are pretty prevalent. Especially when the impact was so strong, it’s expected to have someone from within the parties to the accident suffer its severe effects. The injuries sustained can also vary, depending on the severity of the accident. More so, after reading through the above, you may have learned by now that not all injuries are also immediately apparent. The bottom line is, whenever you meet an accident, it’s very important to seek medical help immediately. That way, you can prevent the worsening of whatever injury it is you may have.