Injuries are very common when people get into vehicle accidents. Even with the advancement of safety features in cars, severe injuries still happen frequently. Every car accident is different, but there are a few injuries that seem to happen as a result of vehicle accidents more frequently than others.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries can take many forms. The soft tissue in your body is made up of the tendons, ligaments and muscles that connect everything together. One of the most common forms of a soft tissue injury in a vehicle accident is whiplash. Whiplash occurs when the head is violently and suddenly moved in a direction beyond its normal range. When this happens, the muscles, tendons and ligaments are stretched and damaged. This type of injury can range from being simply a sore neck, to a spinal cord injury that takes months or years to recover from, if at all.
Scrapes and Cuts
Another common type of injury associated with vehicle accidents is scrapes and cuts. This often occurs if glass breaks and shatters into the car. Scrapes and cuts can also occur from loose objects in the car being thrown from their place and striking someone. It’s also common to suffer scrapes and cuts if your body hits part of the car like the steering wheel, dash, or side panel.
Head Injuries
Depending on the severity of the crash, head injuries can be common. Because of the nature of vehicle accidents, they can throw your head against the steering wheel, air bag, side window, or your headrest. If you hit your head hard enough, any one of these can cause a Traumatic Brain Injury. A traumatic brain injury can range from a concussion, all the way to severe and permanent brain damage.
Chest Injuries
Chest injuries are also very common in car accidents. They can be the result of pressure on your chest from your seat belt. They can also be the result of hitting your chest on the steering wheel or airbag. Chest injuries are most often minor, however, more severe injuries include broken ribs or internal damage.
Arm and Leg Injuries
Since your arms and legs aren’t strapped down like your torso, they experience a lot more movement in vehicle accidents. While most of these injuries are non-life threatening, the loss of full mobility in your arms, legs, hands or feet can make life very difficult. Even minor car accidents can result in serious damage to your hands and feet if they hit the dash or steering wheel the wrong way. This can be especially debilitating if you rely on your hands or feet as an important part of how you earn money.
There are many different types of injuries that can occur in a vehicle accident. We have seen minor accidents result in major injuries and major accidents result in minor injuries. Every accident is different and every injury is different.
Most importantly, some injuries take time to manifest themselves. Because of this, if you have been in an accident, it’s important to get checked out right away by a doctor. Additionally, if you start experiencing pain weeks or even months later, go see a doctor again. It’s also a good idea to talk to an experienced vehicle accident attorney who can help you determine what options you have for getting compensation for your injuries as a result of a car accident.
