The NTSA estimated about 2.74 million auto accident injuries in 2019. These can usually range from scrapes and cuts to broken limbs, paralysis, and even death. While the mild ones may resolve within days, severe injuries can have serious and long-lasting repercussions on your life and health. This is why you should always visit a Brooklyn park auto injury specialist after an accident, even if you are not experiencing symptoms. They can diagnose and treat the following common auto accident injuries.
Head and Brain Injuries
Unlike on bikes and motorcycles where you wear a helmet, the head remains largely unprotected in a car accident. The unexpected back-and-forth movement characteristic of such a crash can cause your head to move unnaturally, leading to muscle sprains and strains in the back and neck. Your head could also bump against objects in the car, resulting in tearing and bruising of the blood vessels and tissues in your brain. Also called a closed-head injury, this can cause a concussion or brain injury. Other possible injuries to the head include swelling, internal bleeding, nerve damage, and skull fractures.
Scrapes, Cuts, Burns, and Lacerations
When a car is jarred during an accident, loose objects are turned into projectiles flying around in the car. Some of these objects – think GPS systems, cell phones, books, mugs, etc. – can hit different parts of your body, causing cuts, scrapes, and lacerations. Broken glass can also play a role in this type of injury. Auto accident cuts can be so minor as to resolve on their own or severe enough to require stitches. A cut to a major blood vessel could also be fatal if not treated promptly.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are damage to the tendons, ligaments, and muscles, otherwise called the connective tissue. They are the most common car accident injury and can manifest in different ways. More commonly, auto accident victims may suffer whiplash, which is an upper back or neck injury caused by the sudden back-and-forth movement of the head during an accident.
Broken Limbs
Your arms and legs can also get injured in a collision. The injuries can range from minor scrapes and sprains to fractures and broken bones. The severity of a broken bone injury will usually depend on the car’s weight, speed and force of impact of the accident, and the victim’s position during the accident. If severe and accompanied by a serious soft tissue injury, it could lead to limb loss.
Back Injuries
Back and neck injuries are very common in car accidents because of sudden back and neck movement. Back injuries can also involve damage to the spine, which can significantly affect your range of motion and ability to walk or do physical activity.
See an Auto Injury Specialist for Help
Motorists are important because they get us where we are going and deliver much-needed products. But, careless or negligent driving can cause serious car accidents, often accompanied by injuries. The initial shock of an auto accident, accompanied by the adrenaline rush, can mask your symptoms. Consequently, it is recommended that you see a doctor immediately after a crash, even if you feel fine. A specialist can perform diagnostic tests and begin your treatment promptly.
