Common Car Accident Injuries And Effects

Statistics show that there are close to 100 car accidents in the US every single day, leading to tens of thousands of fatalities and countless injuries too. Despite modern advancements in car safety and rising levels of awareness of the importance of driving safely and sensibly, these accidents still occur with alarming frequency, and the importance of cautiousness on the roads has never been greater.

Even if you follow the rules and drive safely, there are always risks of accidents occurring due to the reckless or negligent behavior of other drivers, as well as difficult conditions on the road. And if you find yourself in an accident, it’s highly likely that injuries will occur. Should this happen, you should seek medical treatment immediately and contact a lawyer, as you may be able to recover damages even if you weren’t injured.

It’s also wise to be as prepared as possible, understanding the risks you face and knowing, in advance, the potential injuries that can occur in car accidents. It’s important to note that, in a lot of cases, injuries may not seem all that severe at first, but can become much worse the longer they go without being treated. With this in mind, let’s look at some of the most common car accident injuries.

Head Trauma

One of the worst possible injuries you can incur from a car accident is a head injury. These can range from mild to very severe, with a risk of death in the worst cases due to damage to the brain. It’s also shockingly easy for these injuries to occur, especially if passengers or drivers aren’t wearing their seatbelts, leading to their heads being thrown forwards into seats or the steering wheel in a collision.

A traumatic brain injury or TBI can lead to all kinds of complications. You may suffer the loss of consciousness and headaches in the more mild cases, but more advanced injuries can cause memory loss, vision problems, severe depression, sleeping difficulties, and loss of cognitive function, making it difficult to perform even the simplest of tasks.

Whiplash

One of the most common car injuries of them all, whiplash occurs when damage is done to the neck, usually by a sudden impact or collision that leads to the body lunging forwards or backward violently. It’s named after the sharp and sudden movement of a whip, and it can be very painful to deal with.

Fortunately, most people with whiplash will get better within a month, mostly through rest, medication, and stretching techniques, but there are cases in which whiplash can lead to long-term, severe neck pain, stiffness, loss of motion, regular headaches, blurred vision, and more.

Cuts and Scrapes

It’s not uncommon at all for drivers and passengers involved in auto accidents to suffer cuts and scrapes around their bodies. These cuts may occur due to loose projectiles being flung around in your car or if one or more of the windows shatters, with broken glass falling onto your skin.

Cuts and scrapes are some of the less serious injuries from car accidents at first glance, but there’s always a risk of them getting infected or key blood vessels being damaged, so it’s important to get yourself checked over by a professional, even if you only seem to have a few minor cuts after a car accident.

Mental Distress

Physical injuries aren’t the only thing to worry about in the wake of a car accident; many people involved in these kinds of accidents suffer mentally as a result as well. They may be scared to get behind the wheel again, for example, or find themselves suffering panic attacks or intense levels of stress when considering getting behind the wheel.

It’s also not uncommon for people to feel depressed or suffer from anxiety after a car accident. This can lead to a range of indirect consequences, such as relationship problems, difficulty sleeping, a lack of concentration at work, and other life-altering issues. Fortunately, therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes can be used and recommended to help people dealing with depression, anxiety or PTSD.

Conclusion

The risks of car accidents can be great, which is why it’s so important to do all you can to avoid them. You can never completely remove all risks, as we can’t control the actions of other drivers, but you can take action to drive safely, minimizing distractions in your vehicle, keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel to protect yourself and make the roads safer for all.