Common Injuries Experienced in a Car Accident

There are many different types of injuries that can occur if you and/or a loved one is involved in a car accident. In this article the most common injuries due to a motor vehicle crash are discussed.

Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury is one of the most extremely serious injuries that could occur as a result of a car accident. A brain injury takes place when the external force of the car accident traumatizes the brain in some manner.

A serious brain injury could lead to permanent or temporary impairment of brain function, skull fractures, bruises on the brain, and/or nerve damage.

A brain injury is more likely to occur in a side impact accident than in a rear end collision, and the diagnosis of a brain injury could be difficult. Concussions, seizures, headaches, dizziness, lack of concentration, memory loss, depression, and anxiety are all common symptoms of a brain injury. Doctors will generally use a CT scan or MRI to properly diagnose a brain injury.

Neck Injuries

A neck injury as a result of a car accident could be associated with whiplash up to a disc injury. Whiplash is most common in rear end collisions, and is an injury to the soft tissue, nerves, ligaments, and muscles of the neck. Whiplash can be temporary or permanent and could potentially affect all areas of your life.

Discs in your vertebra make up your spine. The discs lay in between each bone in the spine and they form the joints that give your spine flexibility. In some car accidents and truck accidents the discs in your neck could bulge, slip, or rupture. CT scans and MRI’s are often used by doctors to diagnose these types of injuries.

Back Injuries

The discs in your neck are not the only discs in your spine that could be injured in an automobile accident. The thoracic, or mid-back discs as well as your lumbar, or lower back discs could also be seriously injured. Compression fractures in the discs can cause permanent disability.

Disc herniation and bulged discs can cause spinal cord compression. Arm and/or leg weakness, paralysis, difficulty breathing, numbness, tingling, and abnormal bowel movements or bladder control problems are all symptoms of a possible spinal cord injury.

Upper Body Limbs

Hands, arms, shoulders, wrists and even fingers can all be severely injured in the event of a car accident. Normally these types of injuries are treated with a splint or cast, but in more serious cases surgery may be necessary.

Lower Body Limbs

Hips, legs, knees, ankles, and feet are very common injuries in an automobile accident. Fractures of the pelvis, femur, or other bones could require surgery. For serious hip or knee injuries it may be necessary for you to have them replaced after being injured in a serious car accident.

Internal Organs

It is not uncommon for a person to suffer damage in a car accident to their internal organs due to the seat belt binding them or other cause. Fractured ribs, punctured lungs, and damage to other internal organs such as kidneys, bowels, spleen, liver, and lungs are not uncommon injuries in some car accidents.

As you can tell, there are a multitude of possible injuries that you could suffer because of a car accident. None of these injuries should be treated lightly, and you should consult a physician as soon after a car accident as possible.

This is done not only to insure your health and well-being, but if you have a personal injury claim, your personal injury attorney is going to want all the medical records to support your personal injury lawsuit.