Car accidents can cause severe injuries to victims for weeks, months, or even years to recover. According to the The National Safety Council (NSC), An estimated 4.8 million additional roadway users were seriously injured in crashes in 2020.
It is important for drivers to know what injury they get in an accident and distinguish whether it is serious or not so that they can take the next steps – contact medical help (immediately or not) and the insurance company.
Here are the most 16 common types of car accident injuries. Most of them may be avoided by wearing seat belts and following the speed limit.
Table of Contents
Arm and Leg Injuries
Arm and leg injuries can occur when you are hit by another object or if you are thrown from your car. Some common arm and leg injuries include fractures, sprains, and strains.
Broken Bones
Bones can be broken in many different ways, which include fractures and dislocations.
Broken Ribs
Even though broken ribs may not seem as serious as other types of injury, this is a very painful condition and it can take weeks or months to fully heal even after the initial pain subsides. If you suspect that someone has broken their ribs due to an accident, do not move them. If you can, try to support their body as much as possible and make sure that they are not breathing in any harmful fumes from the car or any other source.
Broken ribs can be a serious injury following a car accident because it is very painful for those who suffer from this condition, but simple steps such as supporting the body and not breathing in harmful fumes can help to make the healing process easier.
Back Injuries
Back injuries are common in car accidents because the back absorbs the force and pressure of the accident. The most common types of back injuries in car accidents are whiplash, herniated discs and compressed nerves among others.
Burns
Burns can happen due to a variety of different reasons, but one major cause occurs when hot fluids are spilled on the skin after an auto collision. These accidents often leave people with second or third degree burns that can take weeks or even months to heal depending on their severity.
Chest Injuries
Chest injuries can include anything from a bruise to a broken rib to a punctured lung. All of these injuries can be quite serious and even life-threatening. If you are involved in a car accident, it is important to check yourself for any chest injuries.
Foot and ankle injuries
One of the most commonly injured body parts in car accidents is the foot and ankle. This can be due to a number of reasons, such as striking the dashboard or being pinned underneath a piece of debris. Some common symptoms of foot and ankle injuries include pain, swelling, bruising, and difficulty walking.
Head and Brain Injuries
Head and brain injuries can be caused by any number of things, such as hitting the steering wheel or windshield with your head, being thrown from the car, being hit in the head by another object like a side-view mirror or door frame, and even bouncing around inside the car after it has been struck (the latter is referred to as a “secondary impact”). Head and brain injuries can range from minor concussions to more serious skull fractures, and even death.
Internal Bleeding
Internal bleeding occurs when there is damage to one or more of the organs in your body. It can be very serious and even life-threatening if not treated properly. Some of the symptoms of internal bleeding include dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, and vomiting. If you are involved in a car accident, it is important to seek medical attention right away if you experience any of these symptoms.
Knee Trauma
When a person is involved in a car accident, their body goes flying forward and then snaps back into place. This jarring movement can cause the knees to hyperextend, which can lead to intense pain and swelling. Knee trauma can also cause ligament tears and meniscus tears.
Neck or Spinal cord injuries
A spinal cord injury can happen when the head and neck are suddenly jerked forward or backward, causing the vertebrae to compress or fracture the spinal cord. This can lead to paralysis, loss of sensation, and even death. If this happens, you should not move your neck at all because it could make the damage worse and prolong recovery time for any injuries already sustained in the accident.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Car accident victims who have experienced a traumatic event as part of the incident may be at risk for developing Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is a mental and emotional injury. PTSD is an anxiety disorder that stems from experiencing or being exposed to a terrifying event. The symptoms include re-experiencing the trauma, feeling numb and avoiding reminders of it. It’s important to note that PTSD has different types of symptoms, so not everyone will experience the same ones.
The most prevalent form of PTSD following a car accident is Chronic-PTSD (CPTSD). CPTSD can occur even after minor accidents and typically lasts longer than other forms of PTSD. Symptoms may include avoidance behavior, anger or irritability, and memory issues.
Scrapes and Cuts
Scrapes and cuts can be caused by broken glass or another sharp object when someone’s vehicle is struck, either from an outside source or if their own car collides with something else. In most cases, scrapes and cuts can be treated with just a simple bandage or a small number of stitches.
Shoulder injuries
The shoulder is a very delicate part of your body that has many different bones, joints, muscles and ligaments that can be severely injured in an auto collision. The majority of these types of accidents occur when someone is forced into another car and the impact hits the driver’s side of their chest. This frequently leads to a broken or dislocated shoulder.
Whiplash
Whiplash is the common name for muscle and ligament strains in the neck that are caused by a sudden movement of the head. This can often happen during car accidents when your head is whipped back and forth. The symptoms of whiplash usually don’t show up until a few hours or even days after the accident has occurred.
Wrist and hand injuries
Driver’s hands are likely to be injured when they try to break themselves or someone else from colliding into them. If you have weak wrists, then it may also cause your entire arm to get hurt during an accident.
Final Thought
Injuries from car accidents vary depending on how the accident occurred, but the above 16 injuries are more common than others. and among them, the common injuries are whiplash, neck injury, back pain, broken bones, and head trauma.
