How to Identify and Handle Common Car Accident Injuries
Identifying and Handling Common Car Accident Injuries
Being in a car accident can be frightening, but it’s surprisingly common. In the U.S., over 37,000 people per year die in car accidents. More than 2.3 million others are injured or disabled.
If you’ve been in an accident, your health is the top priority. Unfortunately, not all car accident injuries are easy to diagnose at the scene.
Be sure to get checked out by medical professionals, and keep an eye out for symptoms that occur days, week, or months later. You may have one of these common car accident injuries.
Whiplash and Other Neck Injuries
When your car comes to a sudden stop, your whole body is jarred. This impacts your neck the most. When your head whips forward and then back, you can end up with whiplash.
If you injure your neck in a car accident, you’ve probably strained a ligament. In other cases, you may have injured a disc, which could require physical therapy or surgery.
Detecting a Neck Injury
Because a neck injury is often in the soft tissue, you may not know right away if you have whiplash. Your body creates adrenaline during a traumatic event to help you react and escape. Only later will you notice the pain.
The first step to detecting a neck injury is to seek medical attention after the accident. Let doctors know if your neck was jarred or if you had impact to your head or neck. They can check for disc problems and soft-tissue injuries.
Over time, you may notice tenderness in your neck. Take care not to cause additional strain, and don’t be shy about going to the doctor days or weeks after the initial incident.
Back Injuries
Back injuries are also among the most common car accident injuries. There are so many bones and tendons in the back and spine that there is a lot of opportunity for something to be damaged.
Because the spine is connected to every limb in the body, damage to the back can cause serious consequences. You may need anything from bed rest to surgery to handle these car accident injuries.
Noticing a Back Injury
When you’re in an accident, you will probably notice if you jar your back. However, you may dismiss it as no big deal. You may decide to decline medical treatment.
Don’t make that mistake! A doctor will be able to find the early signs of a back injury.
As time passes, you may notice tingling or numbness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet. You may find that you have pain as you walk, or that you struggle when sitting for very long.
All of these are signs of a serious back injury, and you should have a medical professional check out your symptoms.
Brain and Head Car Accident Injuries
The impact to your head that can occur in a car accident can cause significant damage. You may hit your head on the windshield, steering wheel, dash, or the seat of the car.
Your head may also be impacted by loose objects flying around the car during the accident. An impact to the head can cause anything from a mild concussion to a serious traumatic brain injury.
Head injuries also include damage to the eyes, ears, and jaw. An impact can cause you to lose your sight or hearing, and losses can be permanent.
Uncovering Brain and Head Injuries
If car accident injuries to the head are severe, they will probably be noticeable at the scene. However, a slight concussion may simply leave you dazed. Don’t brush off these symptoms.
If you’ve had any impact to the head, it’s important to receive medical treatment right away. You should also keep an eye out for symptoms that occur later. These include unusual headaches, problems with speech, and changes in your behavior.
If you notice symptoms, even well after the accident, don’t hesitate to get things checked. Too many folks with car accident injuries ignore the symptoms and miss out on their chance to get the treatment and compensation they deserve.
Arm and Leg Injuries
In a major accident, you may have arm and leg injuries due to crushing or impact with the inside of the car. The most common car accident injuries in this area are wounds to the knees and feet.
Your knees can suffer from broken kneecaps or ligament tears. Ankles also have muscles that can be strained or torn due to abrupt impact. Twisting joints can lead to tears in cartilage.
Treatment for arm and leg injuries can range from a simple cast to full joint-replacement surgery.
Detecting Limb Injuries
Like many injuries, the most severe will be evident at the scene. However, a variety of soft-tissue damage can occur without you realizing it.
If you notice soreness or stiffness in your arms or legs, a limp, or the inability to move without pain, you may have hurt your arm or leg in the car accident. You should have a doctor give you a full review.
Car Accident Injuries Need Attention Right Away
Too many people think they are being wimpy if they get attention for accident injuries. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Instead, you are doing yourself and your family a big favor when you get checked out immediately. Not only are you more likely to get useful treatment, but you protect your rights to recover damages and compensation you are due.
The more you know, the better you can protect yourself and your family! That’s why our mission at Get That Right is to help you understand everything more deeply.
Interested in more ways to protect your health? Check out our blog today!
