If you’re involved in a car wreck, the odds of walking out of your car with no injuries is very slim. The types of injuries that can occur vary widely from crash site to crash site, but there are some that are seen more than others.
Some injuries may result in simply cuts and bruises that heal themselves over a few days while others require long stays in the hospital, surgeries, or physical therapy. Here are some of the most common injuries that are seen at the scene of an automobile accident.
Lacerations and cuts are by far the most common injury that’s seen when someone has been in a car crash. With so much twisted metal, broken glass and various car parts flying through the air, you’d be lucky not to get hit or cut by something.
These lacerations can vary from a cut that doesn’t even need a bandage to a deep slice that required medical attention so it can get stitched up. Long-term health issues from cuts are typically pretty rare, but scarring is a very real possibility.
For a long time, it was believed that whiplash only occurred when you were involved in an accident in which you were hit from behind. Recent research has shown that you can get whiplash in any situation where your head and neck are jerked in a sudden fashion.
Whiplash happens when the vertebrae in your neck are forced out of place, straining the surrounding muscles and ligaments. One of the worst things about whiplash is that you might not even be aware of the injury right after the crash. Symptoms can appear hours to days later. On rare occasions, it can even take weeks for the symptoms to show up.
It’s important to know what to look for when dealing with whiplash. Some of the most common symptoms include headaches, dizziness, pain in the neck or jaw, ringing in the ears, vertigo, or pain in the legs, arms, or back.
When most people think about concussions, they automatically think of athletes that play sports such as football, hockey, boxing, and mixed martial arts, but they are actually very common injuries in those who are involved in a car crash.
Concussions are particularly devastating and are extremely dangerous because it is an injury to your brain. Symptoms vary but if you experience any of them, it’s important to seek medical help immediately. Some of the most common symptoms include pressure inside your head, intense headache, confusion or feeling as though your head is in a fog, not being able to remember the event the caused the injury, short-term memory loss, nausea or vomiting.
This injury could potentially be life threatening so these symptoms should never be ignored.
When you are about to be in a collision, your body automatically tenses up, your foot pressed hard against the brake and the floorboard, your elbows lock and your hands grip the steering wheel as tightly as possible. This involuntary combination often leads to strains and broken bones.
These injuries mainly happen in the ankles, feet, arms and hands and arms, but can include the legs, back and neck. Healing and treatment range from a soft bandage or cast all the way to surgery, depending on the severity.
These are just a few examples of injuries that can occur when you are involved in an automobile accident. Even if you feel you are not hurt, it’s important to let the paramedics look you over to make sure there isn’t something you’ve missed.
