Anytime you are in a car accident, your body takes a hit. Even for the seemingly insignificant “fender bender” at a red light can cause more damage than you expect. For serious accidents, medical treatment might be needed on the scene.
For anyone who drives, has a loved one who drives, or who was recently in an accident, knowing the common car accident injuries is a must.
Minor Injuries
Before reading about some of the more severe implications of car accidents, several minor injuries are quite common in the aftermath of a crash.
Minor injuries are most prevalent at low-speed collisions. These include symptoms such as neck pain, cuts and scrapes, backaches, and general discomfort from physical impact. More often than not, injuries in this category go away on their own with time and rest, rarely resulting in severe injury or extensive medical attention.
Soft Tissue Injury
The next step up is soft tissue injuries. By far, the most common types of injuries in this category are back pain and whiplash. These injuries can range from mild to severe, depending on the intensity of your vehicle accident and sometimes result in the need for medical interventions to treat, such as physical therapy.
Whiplash is caused by the jolting motion found in many types of rear-end accidents. This motion puts the head under increased pressure from the added movement, injuring, tearing, or straining the muscles in the neck and upper shoulders. This impact results in tenderness, pain, and a reduced range of motion.
Back injuries are similar in cause and structure, though the damage caused can sometimes be longer-lasting or harder to fix. For individuals suffering from weak core muscles or preexisting conditions that affect the spine, injury is all the more eminent. In these cases, car accidents can cause a slipped disk, hernia, and any other number of painful and persistent problems.
Chest Injuries
Another common injury involves the torso, a particularly vulnerable area that absorbs a large amount of shock during a crash.
Upper body impact comes from two primary sources— the steering wheel and the seat belt. The reality is that the unexpected and severe pressure on the chest causes injuries in many individuals, especially those who are smaller or sit closer to their wheel. The injuries resulting from such a blunt force can include bruising while minor, though they quickly escalate to broken bones and even damage internal organs.
When experiencing a more severe chest injury, it is almost always necessary to seek medical attention for the wounds and to rule out any more serious, even if unseen, injuries.
Head Injuries
Head injuries are a pervasive form of car accident injury as they can take anywhere from hours or days to present themselves and have potentially dire consequences for those suffering.
As with any injury, common symptoms range from mild to severe. For mild injuries, pain, lightheadedness, and nausea are common. As head injuries grow more severe and become traumatic brain injuries, the list of ailments grows to include blurred vision, loss of consciousness, slurred speech, confusion, loss of coordination, and many others.
When a traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs, you should monitor yourself for symptoms for at least 24 hours after the motor vehicle accident. This is because it sometimes takes time for worsening symptoms to show.
If you do experience several symptoms of TBI, seek medical attention as quickly as possible. If left untreated, TBIs could result in severe and permanent damage.
Psychological Injuries
While not talked about as commonly, car accidents are traumatic events. This can lead some individuals to incur psychological injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxieties around driving, and even depressive symptoms.
Mental health is equally as important as physical health. If you are experiencing distress in the wake of an accident, it is essential to address as any other injury.
Trusted Alabama Personal Injury Attorneys
At Strickland and Kendall, we understand national law. Not only are we personally licensed in Alabama, Georgia, Vermont, and Washington D.C., we have practiced law in 40 different states.
Our goal is to offer unparalleled legal services to all of our clients, whether in a million-dollar case or something much smaller. As lawyers, this is our way of using what we know to give back to the community and help those who may not have otherwise received justice.
If you were injured and believe you have a claim, we encourage you to reach out to our legal team at 334.269.3230 as quickly as possible to discuss your case.