Each year, millions of Americans are injured in car accidents, with some having more serious injuries than others. Even with vast improvements in vehicle safety over the past few decades, injuries still happen.
Certain car accident injuries happen more often than others. The most common car accident injuries are listed below.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Perhaps the most common, soft tissue injuries are any trauma to the skin, tendons, muscles, or ligaments. Whiplash is the most common form of soft tissue injury, which is the stretching of the muscles and ligaments of the head, neck, and shoulders. The sheer force from a car wreck jolts the head forward while the body is restrained by a seat belt, causing a whip-like motion.
Whiplash can cause severe pain, swelling, and loss of range of motion. Symptoms of chronic pain and severe headaches can last for weeks or months. Other soft tissue injuries include contusions and muscle sprains.
Scrapes and Abrasions
Injuries like scrapes, abrasions, or cuts are caused by debris in a car accident, such as broken car parts, shattered glass, or even airbags. Other than blood loss, a major worry with cuts or abrasions is infection. If the wound is not treated immediately, the cut is at risk of infection, which could cause further illness, fever, and swelling.
Head Injuries
Head injuries are especially dangerous because they can be difficult to diagnose and can be fatal. In fact, brain and head injuries are the most common fatal injuries resulting from a car accident. Injuries such as concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and brain damage are all common because the head is exposed during a car crash and can either be impacted by another object or violently shaken.
The head can also be subjected to bruises, cuts, or lacerations. Symptoms to be aware of include bleeding, headaches, nausea, confusion, dizziness, memory loss, and vomiting.
Chest Injuries
Chest injuries commonly require surgery. Injuries can range from minor to severe. Bruises and contusions are not as serious as broken ribs, internal organ damage, internal bleeding, or a collapsed lung. Chest injuries are common because there is not much space in between a passenger and the steering wheel or dashboard.
Seat belts locking and restraining the passenger, as well as deployed airbags, can also lead to a serious chest injury. Symptoms of a chest injury include shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, coughing, bruising or swelling, low blood pressure, or shallow breathing.
Back Injuries
Back and spinal cord injuries can be the most painful to deal with, mainly because the spine is not protected as well as other body parts. Some back injuries are so severe that they may require surgery to repair, such as disc injuries or nerve issues.
Most back injuries do not appear until days or weeks after the accident. Symptoms to be aware of include pain, stiffness, muscle spasms, tenderness, numbness, tingling, and paralysis.
Broken Bones
Not only are arms, ribs, legs, and wrists susceptible to breaking, but the pelvis is also vulnerable in a car accident, mainly because of how a passenger is seated. Some broken bones require surgery or a cast to help heal properly.
Edison Car Accident Lawyers at Mikita & Roccanova Advocate for Accident Survivors Who Are Suffering From Injuries
If you have been injured in a car accident, contact one of our Edison car accident lawyers at Mikita & Roccanova right away. Our experienced and knowledgeable team has years of experience and can help build your case. Call us at 732-705-3363 or fill out our online form for a free consultation. With offices located in Hazlet and Highland Park, New Jersey, we proudly serve clients in Ocean County, Sussex County, Neptune, Middlesex County, and Pennsylvania.