
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that there are approximately 3 million people who suffer from car accident-related injuries across the country on an annual basis. While car accident injuries vary according to individual circumstances, there are some common types of injuries that you should have knowledge of that may assist you to compile your California car accident guide and after accident checklist. Below is a summarized list of these common types of injuries that result from car accidents.
Soft Tissue or Whiplash
These injuries cause damage to the body’s soft tissue such as the ligaments, muscles, and tendons. These injuries can take many forms and are usually present in the neck and upper back. This type of injury causes the ligaments and muscles to stretch out due to sudden movement of the neck and head during an accident. While these injuries can heal on their own, it is essential to get medical attention as soon as you have been involved in a car accident because they can cause serious back injuries at times. The impact from the car crash can put pressure on the spine.
Scrapes and Cuts
Objects in the car such as cellphones, mugs, and other devices can become projectiles during a collision. When they hit your body, they can scrape your skin and cause cuts and bruises all over your body. In most cases, these scrapes and cuts can be minor injuries that do not require medical care. However, there are instances where they may cause extensive loss of blood. If you experience this, you need to rush to the emergency room to get adequate treatment.
Head Injuries
These can range from relatively minor to more severe cases. Whiplash from sudden movements from the collision can stretch out significant muscles. Additionally, a more severe impact with the steering wheel or windows can cause a major head injury. This causes damage to the fluid and tissue in the skull which can later cause brain damage in part or wholly.
Chest Injuries
These injuries can cause damage that can go unnoticed for a long time. In less serious cases, they cause contusions or bruises. But in more severe cases, the injured party may have damaging internal injuries and broken ribs. The common cause of these injuries is the steering wheel and drivers are more prone to experiencing these types of injuries. There is a high level of force that the chest area experiences when a person is thrown forward while wearing a seatbelt as a result of sudden impact.
Leg Injuries
Generally, legs have less room for movement. When a car accident occurs, the knees can hit the seats that are in front of you if you are seated at the back or the dashboard if you are on the passenger seat. If the collision is minor, you will be lucky to escape with minor bruises and cuts. However, serious car accidents have left many people with sprains and broken limbs in worst-case scenarios.
The Bottom Line
Not all injuries are apparent immediately after a car accident. As a result, some may take days or even many weeks to show their effects. This is why it is important to ensure that you get medical attention as soon as you have been involved in a car accident. It is important to have liability insurance coverage as well as adequate healthcare insurance coverage that makes provisions for any out-of-pocket expenses that may ensue in case of an emergency. A car accident injury can happen to anyone even if they take the necessary precautions. However, it is important to know what the common types of car accident injuries are so that you can act promptly should you experience signs of severe injury.