Our Georgia car accident injury lawyers are often asked what are the most common car crash injuries we help clients to work on claims for. The answer depends on the nature of the crash. Sadly, even automobile wrecks at low speeds can cause serious injuries.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), as many as three million people are injured each year motor vehicle accidents in the United States. That’s a staggering number that places a massive burden on the injured people and their loved ones.
No two automobile accidents are the same. Injuries can also be different depending on the circumstances of the wreck. As Georgia car accident injury lawyers we are acutely aware of the impact an injury has on victims and the need to recover the most you can from an insurance company.
Five common car crash injuries
Here are five common types of injury from auto accidents.
Arm and Leg Injuries
Extremities like arms and legs are often the first parts of the body to be hurt in a car crash.
When a car collision occurs, very powerful forces act on the body. Often in a side impact crash, your arms and legs might be thrown hard against the door of a car or a truck.
Cars are often designed to save space as opposed to minimizing injuries during accidents. If you are a passenger in a car, your legs may have very little room for movement. Often a wreck will cause a driver or a passenger’s knees to hit the dashboard. You may escape a car wreck with bruises or scrapes, but painful sprains and even fractures can occur.
You may not always realize the seriousness of your injuries in a car accident. It’s important to seek medical attention if you feel any discomfort.
Soft Tissue and Whiplash Injuries
A soft tissue injury occurs when you sustain damage to the body’s connective tissue. Your ligaments, muscles, and tendons get strained and damaged. This is the most common type of injury resulting from a car, truck or motorcycle accident. Soft tissue injuries can be very painful. They can also lead to complications.
One common kind of soft tissue injury is called a “whiplash” injury. Sudden movements to the head caused by an impact cause the head to jerk back or forward and to strain muscles and ligaments in the neck.
These forces cause soft tissue injuries in other areas of the body such as the back. Mid-back and low-back muscle sprains are commonly caused in car accidents. The impact of a crash against the spine can cause more serious complications.
Brain and Head Injuries
Brain and head injuries are among the most serious injuries that car crash victims suffer. Almost one in five traumatic brain injuries in the United States are caused by car wrecks. The sudden acceleration and deceleration associated with a car crash can slam a driver’s head into the steering wheel or cause the brain to be shaken around.
The brain is suspended within the skull. When the skull suddenly stops, the brain continues to move forward at the same speed the car was traveling at. If the brain slams into the skull you may suffer a concussion or a more serious traumatic brain injury. You may not realize you suffered a brain injury at the time of the accident.
Traumatic brain injuries that result from car accidents can have serious repercussions such as cognitive problems, memory issues and depression. You may lose your job and have long-term health needs.
Chest Injuries
On occasions, the heavy impact of a collision can break ribs and even the breastbone of a driver or a passenger. The arrival of standardized airbags has reduced the number of chest injuries but injuries to organs and fractures still occur.
Abdominal and pelvic injuries
Pelvic and abdominal injuries can be extremely painful and take a long time to heal as well as causing further complications. These are common injuries in motor vehicle accidents. Vital organs like the kidneys, spleen and the liver may be injured in side-impact collisions.
Although car accident victims often make a full recovery, it can be a long process. In some tragic cases, victims suffer permanent spinal injuries. If you have been injured in a Georgia car wreck, please call our injury lawyers at (404) 913-1529.