- When a car accident is imminent, it’s a natural reaction to attempt to brake as hard as you can while you brace for the impact, leading to foot, toe and ankle injuries.
- In a car accident, concussions are most commonly caused by the driver hitting their head against the steering wheel or window, but any hard surface can be the culprit.
- The lower back is the area most commonly injured in automobile accidents.
- Whiplash, most commonly caused when a vehicle is hit from behind, is a soft tissue injury that occurs when your head is jerked in a sudden fashion, forcing the vertebrae out of place.
- Unfortunately, there’s no surefire way to ensure that you’re never injured in a car accident—the best way to prevent car accident injuries is to always drive cautiously and defensively.
In the United States, car accidents are one of the leading causes of injuries that result in a trip to the hospital. There are over 6 million motor vehicle accidents in the United States every year, which leave more than 3 million people injured and close to 2 million of those individuals permanently injured.
While every car accident is different, there are some forms of injuries that are more common than others.
Foot Injuries
When a car accident is imminent, it’s a natural reaction to attempt to brake as hard as you can while you brace for the impact. This often leads to foot, toe and ankle injuries.
The most common foot injuries include strains, sprains and broken bones. In severe accidents, severed toes and feet can occur, but this is far more common in accidents involving motorcycles and mopeds.
Concussions
It’s commonly known that the brain is the most delicate organ in the human body. When it’s violently shaken inside of the skull, a concussion can be the result. In a car accident, concussions are most commonly caused by the driver hitting their head against the steering wheel or window, but any hard surface can be the culprit.
There are varying severity of concussions that an injured person may experience, each with their own form of treatment. If the concussion is mild, your doctor may have you get plenty of rest to allow the bruising on your brain to subside. For more serious concussions, you may be admitted to the hospital so you can be observed by doctors and nurses. This typically happens when the concussion is accompanied by disorientation and severe nausea.
The worst types of concussions and traumatic brain injuries may require surgery, especially if there is pressure on the brain or if an MRI finds bleeding. If the injuries are causing blackout(s), a trip to the hospital is absolutely necessary.
Back Injuries
A healthy back is of utmost importance. Almost every day to day activity requires the use of your back in some way, shape or form. Unfortunately, back injuries are one of the more commonly occurring injuries resulting from car accidents.
The lower back is the area most commonly injured in automobile accidents. These injuries often include herniated discs and back sprains. Fractured or broken vertebrae are only slightly less common, but are still a frequent injury that those in car accidents suffer.
A back injury is one of the most traumatic injuries that can be suffered in a vehicle crash. Since your back is used so much in everyday life, the pain associated with the injury is often described as unbearable. The healing time is often much longer than other injuries and may require several months to several years of intense physical therapy.
Whiplash
Whiplash is most commonly caused when a vehicle is hit from behind, however, you can experience whiplash in any type of accident.
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that occurs when your head is jerked in a sudden fashion, forcing the vertebrae out of place. This causes muscle pain in the immediate area around the vertebrae as well as severely strained ligaments.
One of the worst things about whiplash is the fact that the person suffering from it may not even be aware of their injury right away. For some, it can take several weeks for symptoms to appear, although it is most common for them to appear within a day or two of the accident.
Some of the most common symptoms of whiplash include dizziness—especially when sitting or standing, intense headaches, ringing in the ears, neck pain that radiates to the jaw and shooting pains in the legs, back, or arms.
Treatments for whiplash vary widely from patient to patient. Minor cases can be treated with rest or a soft brace while more serious cases may need weeks to months of physical therapy.
The Best Way To Prevent Injury
Unfortunately, there’s no surefire way to ensure that you’re never injured in a car accident—the best way to prevent car accident injuries is to always drive cautiously and defensively. It is true that you have no control over other drivers, but obeying all traffic laws and being aware of your surroundings—as well as other drivers—can go a long way in keeping you safe.
Seek medical attention if you’re involved in a car accident. You may not feel injuries right away, but that doesn’t mean they’re not present. And don’t forget to consult legal counsel in the event of an accident—our expertise and guidance can help you navigate these unfamiliar waters with certainty. Don’t let a car accident injury diminish your quality of life, The Law Office of Stephen C. Gaubert will work vigilantly to get you the compensation you deserve.
