Car accidents are, unfortunately, a stark reality in the lives of many. Millions of people suffer injuries daily due to traffic-related accidents, including but not limited to pedestrian accidents, car accidents, and motorcycle accidents. Automobile crashes can lead to several injuries and are determined by vehicle size, structure, and magnitude.
As an increasing number of vehicles take to the streets, drivers must be more cautious of their driving habits and state of mind before getting behind the wheel. Unfortunately, though, this is not always the case. Far too many drivers do not take the responsibility of driving as seriously as they should, and other drivers need to be more mindful of their surroundings. This does, however, increase the likelihood of car accident injuries.
There are a large number of injuries that one can potentially sustain in an accident relating to automotive vehicles. Keep reading to find the most common ones, and stay safe on the roads!
Injury #1: Broken bones and fractures
Unsurprisingly, broken and fractured bones are at the top of our list. Depending on the type and severity of the accident you get into, it is likely that bones are involved. If you suffer from an impact from the side or the front, arms, legs, knees, ankles, and hips are the most common bone breaks. This can be due to the passenger hitting the dash, seat, door, or any other object displaced by force.
Open or compound fractures occur when the broken bone pierces through the skin, requiring surgery as soon as possible. The healing process includes realignment, casting, and physiotherapy to repair the damage.
Injury #2: Neck, head, and brain injuries
One of the most common neck injuries in these accidents is whiplash. This is when your body undergoes a sudden forward and backward movement of the head and neck, causing damage to the neck muscles and ligaments. This is typical of a rear-end collision as the impact may send your head forwards, but your seatbelt holds your body back. Symptoms may include pain and stiffness in the area, dizziness, blurred vision, or ringing in the ears.
Head injuries will most likely result from hitting them on surfaces around you. These injuries vary in severity, ranging from a minor concussion to something much more serious like a brain injury. Brain injuries are caused by internal bleeding, bruising, swelling, and nerve damage. This can impact your everyday functionality and have lasting effects on your life. Consult a personal injury lawyer Whitby to determine whether you are eligible for legal compensation.
Injury #3: Back injuries
Back and spinal cord injuries are other possible injuries you could sustain in an accident. These include ruptured discs, sprains, fractures, and breaks. These types of injuries are among the most serious motor vehicle accident injuries. The damage can range from bruising to more permanent impairment in the case of a severed spinal cord or nerves. The result of these injuries may be partial or total paralysis.
Injury #4: Chest injuries
In car accidents, chest injuries are another common way to get hurt, especially if you are the driver. If you are in front of the steering wheel, your opposition leaves you more susceptible to chest injuries from blunt force.
Broken ribs and collapsed lungs can occur if you were to hit the steering wheel or dashboard during an accident. The great deal of force from your seat belt, in addition, can cause severe bruising to the area. Cardiac arrest, damage to internal organs, and internal bleeding are other possibilities.
Injury #5: Lacerations and road rash
Another commonality in car accidents includes broken glass, torn sheet metal, or flying objects from the high impact. If these items were to hit your body, you could suffer lacerations ranging from shallow to deep.
Depending on the severity of the laceration, you may need to get stitches to heal. Road rash would be another possibility if the accident’s impact were to send you flying out of your car. This injury is essentially an abrasion caused by the direction of skidding on pavement or concrete and is typical of being thrown out a window or windshield. Wear your seatbelts!
Injury #6: Psychological trauma
Psychological trauma is one part of the aftermath of automotive vehicle accidents that is not often discussed. Whether or not you lose somebody in an accident, these events can induce great amounts of fear and, as such, great amounts of mental trauma.
Emotional distress is most often reported after the involvement of severe injury or death; however, when one goes through bouts of distress, no matter the severity of injuries, they are bound to suffer psychological injuries such as posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, or depression, among other symptoms. Counselling and medication can help reduce symptoms if necessary.