Depending on the speed and other factors involved in a car crash, you can experience a wide variety of injuries. These could be anything from minor abrasions to breaks or debilitating trauma. If you have been involved in a collision, seek medical attention immediately. Here are the 9 most common car crash injuries:
- Brain Damage
- Head Injury
- Neck Pain
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Back Pain
- Leg & Foot Injuries
- Arm, Hand & Finger Injuries
- Pelvis and Hernia Injuries
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) & Fibromyalgia (FM)
A Closer Look at Car Crash Injuries
1. Brain Damage
People who live through car crashes often experience a temporary or permanent brain injury. There is no way to altogether avoid brain injury in these situations; however, wearing your seatbelt, avoiding distractions while driving, and knowing what to do in case of an accident can significantly reduce your risk of experiencing brain damage.
2. Head Injury
The abruptness of impact can cause passengers to slam their heads into hard surfaces like windows, dashboards, or windshields. Head injuries—from bruises to skull fractures—are among some of the leading car crash injuries, and they can have serious effects on your physical and cognitive well-being.
3. Neck Pain
Neck pain can occur due to whiplash, which occurs when your head moves at an abnormal angle after impact. You may experience a stiff or sore neck and shoulders which can lead to chronic pain if not treated properly.
4. Spinal Cord Injuries
When passengers and pedestrians are struck by motor vehicles, their bodies can be thrust forward or forced to twist or rotate abruptly. This can injure internal organs or even your spine. Spinal cord damage can occur anywhere along your spinal column. Spinal cord injuries include:
- Bone fractures
- Contusions
- Disc herniations
- Nerve damage
Most spinal cord injuries require surgery and lengthy recoveries, many parts of your body rely on communication between the brain and spinal cord.
5. Back Pain
Car accident victims often develop lower-back pain after being jolted forward by seat belts or being hit by a deploying airbag. While your first instinct after an accident might be to stand up and leave, it's essential to wait for emergency personnel to arrive and stabilize your spine before getting out of your vehicle.
6. Leg & Foot Injuries
These types of injuries are prevalent for pedestrians and can cause long-term problems if not treated immediately and adequately. You may have to spend time in physical therapy or wear special shoes and use crutches. It's not uncommon for these types of car crash injuries to affect how you walk and run in your later years as well.
7. Arm, Hand & Finger Injuries
A number of car-crash injuries are to arms, hands, and fingers. The wrist is particularly vulnerable in an accident and can be severely injured—not only by contact with your own car but also by contact with other cars. Car door collisions are another frequent source of such injuries. If your door is hit while you're sitting in it, your shoulder or arm may hit either part of that door.
8. Pelvis and Hernia Injuries
Pelvic injuries can range from sprains and fractures to more severe damage. The most common problem, however, is hernias. In fact, many people who experience car crashes may develop what's called an incarcerated hernia. This is when one of their organs ruptures through their abdominal wall (usually as a result of repeated straining).
9. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) & Fibromyalgia (FM)
These two injuries are often linked because they both cause extreme fatigue. Sometimes there is also pain and sleep disruption, which are key symptoms of CFS/FM. Experts think that up to 2 million Americans may have CFS/FM, and about 80% of those people are women.
- The fatigue can be debilitating for months or years at a time, making it difficult to perform daily tasks.
- Most patients with these conditions have to stay in bed, experiencing severe pain if they try to sit or stand for long periods of time.
- If you have significant joint aches and pains along with your fatigue, you might want to ask your doctor if you could have FM instead of CFS.
- Patients with FM tend to feel better when they use heat on their joints (like a hot water bottle).
- Patients with CFS experience more relief when using cold therapy on their joints (like ice packs).
Get Compensated for Your Injuries
Regardless of the injuries that you sustained from a car crash; the Dolman Law Group can help you get the compensation you deserve. We want to help you get back on track. Contact us today for a free evaluation of your case.