Every year, millions of people are injured in car accidents in the United States. In 2016, the number was a staggering 4.6 million according to the National Safety Council which also noted a 6 percent rise in deaths. In this article, we outline some common car accident injuries.
If you suffer a minor sprain or minimal soft tissue damage you may not need to hire a personal injury lawyer. However, in the case of substantial and serious injuries, it’s important to claim as much money as you can. The insurance company may seek to minimize your payout.
Although some injuries heal in a matter of days, more serious injuries may become permanent and leave you disabled. Brain and spinal injuries are among the most serious types of injuries you can sustain in an auto wreck. Your life may never be the same again.
Generally, there are two types of injury – impact injuries, and penetrating injuries.
Impact injuries usually occur when part of the victim’s body makes contact with some part of the interior of the car. For example, a limb hits the dashboard or your head strikes the seat rest or the side window.
Common car accident injuries
Penetrating injuries are often cuts and scrapes. Glass breaking or loose objects flying inside the car can often cause these types of injuries. There is a link between the failure to wear a seatbelt and the severity of injuries. Often people who are ejected from a car sustain very serious injuries and are more likely to lose their lives.
The Most Common Car Accident Injuries
Soft Tissue Injuries and Whiplash
A soft tissue injury entails damage to your body’s connective tissue. These are tendons, muscles and, ligaments.
Soft tissue injuries are the most common type of injury resulting from a car accident. These injuries can take many forms.
One common form of soft tissue injury is whiplash. In these cases, the muscles and ligaments of the driver or passenger are stretched because of sudden movements impacting the neck or head during a collision.
A car accident unleashes powerful forces. They can lead to soft tissue injuries in other areas of the human body such as the back. Car wrecks frequently cause low-back and mid-back muscle sprains. In some cases, a serious impact against the spine can cause serious spinal injuries.
Head Injuries
Head injuries are common in car accidents. Head injuries can range from minor scrapes to severe injuries. When a vehicle stops suddenly or changes direction it can cause the heads of the people in the car to be subjected to sudden and unnatural movements. As well as muscle sprains in the back and neck, the head can be impacted.
If your head hits a steering wheel or side window, you can sustain bruising to the head, or even deeper lacerations. In more serious accidents, motorists can sustain traumatic brain injuries.
Chest Injuries
The chest area will typically experience a high level of force against the shoulder harness or seatbelt, which can lead to severe bruising. These types of injuries often take the form of bruises or contusions but can be more severe, such as fractured ribs or internal injuries.
Arm and Leg Injuries
Injuries to the arms and legs commonly occur during car accidents. Your arms and legs might make a hard impact against the door or another surface.
Passengers have little room for their knees in cars. Often a severe impact causes a passenger’s knees to crash into the dashboard or the seat in front of them.
Depending on the nature of the car crash, injuries to arms and legs might be mere bruises or scrapes, but sprains and even fractures can occur.
Every year, thousands of people are injured in Georgia, be it at intersections, on the interstate or elsewhere. If you suffer a significant injury please call the Law Office of Michael West at (404) 913-1529.