The Most Common Injuries From Car Accidents

Every year, 1.35 million people lose their lives owing to road accidents. While automobiles have become an absolute necessity, there is no denying that they claim millions of lives around the globe and cause even more injuries. Some of these injuries are pretty serious and can bring lifelong changes to the lifestyle of the person involved.

The injuries resulting from car accidents can vary depending on the intensity of the collision. Some of these injuries are more common than others and are occasionally experienced by the drivers. Some injuries are of minor nature and can be healed within days, whereas others may lead to permanent damage or physical disability.

There are plenty of factors that determine the severity of your injury, including your position in the car, how the car receives the impact, and whether you are wearing the seatbelt or not. Here are some of the most common injuries that people get by being in a car accident:

Whiplash

Whiplash has to be the most common car accident injury. It occurs when the car stops or turns suddenly, causing the neck to move back and forth in a rapid jerk motion. It is a traumatic injury for the neck muscles, ligaments, and spinal disks and can cause extreme pain and discomfort.

Some cases of whiplash heal with time, but others become severe. If you have symptoms like stiffness and pain in the neck, loss of range of motion, or worsening of the pain during movement, do not delay in getting a whiplash treatment in Snellville. A trained physician can determine the kind of care required for the injury to heal completely.

Concussion

A concussion can turn into a serious injury. It is caused by sudden movements of the head when the vehicle gives you a jolt. Your head doesn’t need to come in physical contact with anything for a concussion to occur. It is the sudden jerks or forces that cause it to spin and produce ringing sounds in the ear.

Some of the immediate symptoms of concussion are headache, pressure on the head, and temporary loss of consciousness. However, some symptoms may appear after a certain time. So, if you are facing difficulty in remembering anything, focusing, or concentrating, you might need to go for a neurological evaluation.

Bone Fractures

The blunt force of the car or the compression that carries more strength than the bone itself tends to break it. In a car accident, an extreme amount of force is applied to your body, and when it becomes a lot for your bones to handle, they break. It is common to experience broken legs, arms, hips, and ankles in car accidents.

You may get two different kinds of fractures in car accidents. One is the simple fracture, where the bones break, but there are no open wounds. Such fractures can be healed through a cast. On the other hand, compound fractures penetrate the skin and may require surgery for healing.

Head Injuries

If the collision occurs at a very speed, it may cause the head of the victim to hit the steering wheel, side window, or even the windshield. While some injuries are minor, others are life-threatening and should never be taken lightly. A head injury can become very dangerous if internal damage to the brain occurs.

It is hard to diagnose head injuries as the earliest symptom is a mild headache. However, if anyone has encountered a head injury, he should get a complete medical evaluation done to rule out all the potential threats irrespective of his symptoms. Head injuries can become worse with time, so they should never be taken lightly.

Cuts and Bruises

These are soft tissue injuries that often heal quickly, but serious lacerations can affect the deep muscle tissue or even the internal organs. Such injuries are caused because of broken glass, torn metal sheets, or flying objects. While these injuries are usually minor, serious ones can cause intense blood loss or pose a risk of infection.

When the body is impacted against any object, it causes bruises. The victim can also experience road rash if the body is dragged or skidded against the road or the pavement. When a part of the body is stuck between two objects, it results in crush injury. Usually, these injuries are not serious and take only a few days to heal.

Internal Bleeding

The human body is fragile, and all the internal organs are very delicate. The forces of a car accident can cause some serious damage inside the body and cause the organs to bleed. Such injuries occur in high-speed collisions, and it is essential that they are treated right on time to avoid a life-threatening situation.

Internal bleeding is one of the most serious injuries that a victim can sustain during an accident. While the symptoms may not be obvious, the people involved in a high-intensity accident must be immediately sent for a medical screening. If caught on time, internal bleeding can be controlled, and life can be saved.

Emotional Trauma

Apart from the numerous physical injuries, there are plenty of psychological damages that also need to be dealt with after a traumatic accident. Some people may develop an aversion to driving, while others can go into depression, especially if one or more of the passengers suffered serious injuries or death.

For some victims, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) kicks in, and things that were of routine become worrisome. Signs of PTSD include depression, hopelessness, paranoia, and flashbacks. If the feelings of depression and anxiety do not fade away, it is better to get medical help to overcome the trauma.

Conclusion

If someone has been involved in a car accident, the most important thing to do is stay calm and not panic. If you are conscious, seek medical help immediately. Certain injuries may not show symptoms for even weeks, so it is better to get tested beforehand and start the treatment for the problems so that the condition doesn’t worsen with time.