Common Injuries from Car Accidents

If you’ve ever been in a car accident, even a minor one, you know it can be a jarring experience. But you may not know that car accidents can also cause serious injuries – some of which may not even show up immediately.

That is why it is always important to seek medical attention after a car accident, even if you feel fine. Sometimes, the most serious injuries don’t show up for days or even weeks after the accident.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), some of the most common injuries that result from car accidents include:

1. Whiplash

Whiplash injuries occur when your head is suddenly and forcefully jerked forward or backwards, causing your neck muscles and ligaments to stretch beyond their normal limits. Whiplash can cause neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and even dizziness.

Typically, whiplash injuries occur in rear-end collisions when the force of the impact causes your head to snap forward or backwards.

Whiplash injuries usually take a few days or weeks to fully develop, so it’s important to see a doctor even if you don’t feel any pain immediately. When you are involved in a car accident and suffer whiplash, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver.

2. Neck Injuries

Neck injuries are some of the most common injuries that occur in car accidents. These injuries can range from minor strains and sprains to more serious injuries like disc herniations, fractured vertebrae, and paralysis.

Neck injuries often occur in rear-end collisions when the force of the impact causes your head to snap forward or backwards. The most common type of neck injury is whiplash, as described above.

If you have been involved in a car accident and feel any pain or stiffness in your neck, it is important to see a doctor right away.

Your healthcare provider will diagnose your injuries and recommend a treatment plan. If your neck injuries are so severe, you may need to see a specialist.

3. Concussion

Concussions mostly occur in car accidents when your head hits something hard, like the steering wheel, dashboard, or window. But you can also suffer a concussion if your head is violently shaken from side to side, as often happens in rear-end collisions.

The symptoms of a concussion can range from mild to severe. They may include headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, blurry vision, sensitivity to light or noise, problems with balance, and fatigue or drowsiness.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident and think you may have suffered a concussion, it’s important to see a doctor right away. A concussion is a serious injury; if not treated properly, it can lead to long-term problems.

4. Head injuries

Like concussions, head injuries often occur when your head hits something hard in car accidents. But you can also suffer a head injury if your head is violently shaken from side to side, as often happens in rear-end collisions.

Head injuries can range from minor cuts and bruises to more serious injuries like concussions, skull fractures, and traumatic brain injuries.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident and think you may have suffered a head injury, it’s important to see a doctor right away. A head injury is a serious injury, and if not treated properly, it can lead to long-term problems.

5. Back Injuries

Back injuries are also common in car accidents. These injuries can range from minor strains and sprains to more serious injuries like herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, and paralysis.

Back injuries often occur in rear-end collisions when the force of the impact jolts your spine. The most common type of back injury is whiplash, as described above.

If you have been involved in a car accident and experience pain or stiffness in your back, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Don’t wait to see if the pain goes away on its own.

Your doctor will be able to diagnose your injuries and recommend a course of treatment. You may need to see a specialist if your back injuries are serious.

6. Facial injuries

Facial injuries are also common in car accidents. These injuries can range from minor cuts and bruises to more serious injuries like fractures, disfigurement, and blindness.

Facial injuries often occur in car accidents when your face hits something hard, like the steering wheel, dashboard, or window. But you can also suffer a facial injury if your head is violently shaken from side to side, as often happens in rear-end collisions.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident and think you may have suffered a facial injury, it’s important to see a doctor right away. Facial injuries can be serious, and if not treated properly, they can lead to long-term problems.

7. Internal injuries

Internal injuries are also common in car accidents. These injuries can range from minor bruises and scrapes to more serious injuries like organ damage, internal bleeding, and broken bones.

Internal injuries often occur in car accidents when your body hits something hard, like the steering wheel, dashboard, or seatbelt.

But you can also suffer an internal injury if your body is violently shaken from side to side, as often happens in rear-end collisions.

Internal injuries are usually difficult to spot because they don’t show up on the outside. That’s why it’s important to see a doctor immediately if you think you may have suffered an internal injury in a car accident.

If left untreated, internal injuries can be serious and even life-threatening.

8. Hand and Arm Injuries

Your hands and arms are vulnerable in a car accident. They are prone to minor cuts, bruises, and even more serious injuries like fractures, disfigurements, and paralysis.

Hand and arm injuries often occur in car accidents when your hands or arms hit something hard, like the steering wheel, dashboard, or window. But you can also suffer a hand or arm injury if your body is violently shaken from side to side, as often happens in rear-end collisions.

If you’ve been involved in a car accident and think you may have suffered a hand or arm injury, it’s important to see a doctor right away. Hand and arm injuries can be serious, and if not treated properly, they can lead to long-term problems.

9. Leg and Knee Injuries

Your legs and knees are also vulnerable in a car accident. They are prone to minor cuts, bruises, and even more serious injuries like fractures, disfigurements, and paralysis.

Leg and knee injuries often occur in car accidents when your legs or knees hit something hard, like the steering wheel, dashboard, or seat. But you can also suffer a leg or knee injury if your body is violently shaken from side to side, as often happens in rear-end collisions.

After How Long Should I Visit a Doctor If I’m Involved in a Car Accident?

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, it’s important to see a doctor right away, even if you don’t think you’ve been injured. Some injuries, like whiplash, can take days or even weeks to develop. So, it’s important to get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.

What Should I Do If I’ve Been Involved in a Car Accident?

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, the first thing you should do is see a doctor. Even if you don’t think you’ve been injured, it’s important to get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you should also contact a personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and options and can fight for the compensation you deserve.

Personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, which means they only get paid if you win your case. Therefore, you have nothing to lose by contacting a personal injury lawyer after a car accident.

What Should I Do If the Other Driver’s Insurance Company Calls Me?

If the other driver’s insurance company calls you after a car accident, don’t give them a statement. Instead, tell them you’ve been involved in a car accident and will see a doctor.

If the other driver’s insurance company asks you how you’re feeling, don’t tell them you’re fine. Instead, tell them you’ve been involved in a car accident and you’re going to see a doctor.

It’s important to remember that insurance companies are not on your side. They are businesses, and their goal is to make money. So, they will try to get you to say things that will lower the amount of money they have to pay you.

That’s why it’s important to speak to a personal injury lawyer before giving a statement to an insurance company. A personal injury lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and options and can fight for the compensation you deserve.

Summary

If you are in a car accident, it is important to seek medical attention even if you do not feel injured.

Many injuries from car accidents take time to manifest. Therefore, visiting a doctor after an accident is the best way to ensure that you have not sustained any hidden injuries.

Once you have been checked, talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer to help guide you through the process of seeking compensation for your injuries.

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Shabbir Ahmad

Shabbir Ahmad is a freelance enthusiastic blogger & SEO expert. He is the founder of Shifted Magazine & Shifted News. He contributes to many authority blogs including porch, hackernoon & techcrunch.