Car accident injuries can vary greatly. Factors such as speed, type of vehicle, and point of impact can all affect the severity of the injury, and other factors may also be involved.
Most of the time, the injuries sustained are minor. However, sometimes they can be life-threatening and need to be assisted as soon as possible.
Between 2012 and 2014, 136,000 emergency department visits were due to motor vehicle traffic-related injuries annually. Additionally, 12,093 hospitalizations and 1,098 deaths were recorded each year as a result of these injuries.
Here, we will show you the most common car accident injuries people get. You can identify when someone or yourself is suffering from an injury by learning the symptoms. Furthermore, you need to be aware of the risk factors and potential long-term effects they may have on your life.
Most Common Car Accident Injuries
TBI
A sudden trauma or impact to the head causes the Traumatic Brain Injury condition. It can go from mild to severe and will depend on the extent and location of the injury.
A person may be predisposed to Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in a car accident if they hit their head. This could be against the dashboard, steering wheel, side windows, or the back of the seats if they are passengers.
It is crucial to use seat belts when in a car. This helps prevent being thrown from the vehicle in the event of a wreck, which is another way to prevent Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
The injured person could be a pedestrian or bicycle driver. In these cases, the person is more likely to suffer serious injuries or even death.
The effects of TBI can vary widely, and it is known to include physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes.
Physical Symptoms include:
- headaches
- dizziness
- fatigue
- problems with balance and coordination.
Cognitive symptoms may involve:
- difficulties with memory
- attention
- concentration
- problem-solving
Emotional and behavioral changes can manifest as irritability, mood swings, depression, anxiety, and social difficulties.
As mentioned above the severity of the injury will depend on and will also be the treatment. Mild cases may need rest and symptom management. Moderate to severe cases may require hospitalization, rehabilitation programs, and therapies, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
Long-term impacts vary depending on the type of rehabilitation a person receives. It is difficult to predict how each individual will respond to these rehabilitative measures. People with TBI can experience long-term impacts.
These impacts can include cognitive impairment. These impairments can affect memory, attention, concentration, and information processing, affecting a person’s ability to learn, solve problems, and perform daily tasks.
This can affect an individual’s emotions and behavior. This includes irritability, mood swings, depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and difficulty controlling emotions.
TBI can have long-term impacts on communication abilities. It can also provoke sensory problems and sleep disorders. Additionally, it may increase the risk of developing epilepsy and experiencing seizures, especially in cases of moderate to severe injury.
Spinal Injuries
People commonly sustain injuries to the spinal cord or its surrounding structures in car accidents. These can include traumas to the vertebrae, discs, ligaments, and nerves.
There is a spinal injury type classification based on the trauma’s severity and location. It can be either a complete spinal cord injury or an incomplete spinal cord injury.
A complete spinal cord injury occurs when the spinal cord is entirely severed. This results in a complete loss of sensation and voluntary movement below the injury site. In contrast, an incomplete spinal cord injury is when the spinal cord is partially damaged. This leads to varying degrees of sensation and motor function below the injury level.
Talking about the common signs and symptoms, we can add:
- Loss of sensation or motor function below the injury site.
- Paralysis or weakness in limbs.
- Difficulty breathing or coughing.
- Loss of bowel or bladder control.
- Spinal pain or pressure.
- Tingling or numbness.
- Muscle spasms or exaggerated reflexes.
The treatment for spinal injuries aims to stabilize the spine, prevent further damage, and maximize functional recovery. It may be an expensive, long, and painful recovery.
The treatment approach may involve spinal stabilization. This is essential to prevent further injury and reduce swelling. Particular medication may also be required.
Sometimes the injured person will need surgery to remove any fragments, repair damaged structures, or decompress the spinal cord. The rehabilitation process plays a vital role in spinal injury recovery because it helps to improve strength, mobility, and independence.
Sadly, this type of injury in the delicate part of the body will leave the person with long-term impacts. Many people with spinal injuries suffer from chronic pain. This pain can be localized to the injury site or radiate to other body parts.
People can lose sensation in their bodies, either wholly or partially. This loss of sensation and motor function below the injury site can lead to long-term disabilities. Examples of these disabilities include paralysis, loss of bowel and bladder control, and sexual dysfunction.
The spinal cord is an integral part of the nervous system. If it is disrupted, it can prevent normal signaling between the brain and the muscles, causing spasticity and involuntary muscle spasms.
If the upper cervical (neck region) is affected, it can impair the function of the breathing muscles. This can result in respiratory complications, such as reduced lung capacity, difficulty coughing, or an increased risk of respiratory infections.
If an injured person remains motionless for a prolonged period, they are at higher risk of developing pressure ulcers (bedsores) due to prolonged pressure on certain body areas. Spinal injuries can also increase the risk of developing secondary health conditions.
Neck Injuries
The neck is a vital body part that supports the head and facilitates movement. An injury to the neck has significant implications for a person’s mobility and overall well-being and puts them at risk.
It can lead to fractures or breaks in the neck's bones, like the cervical vertebrae. This can cause severe pain in the neck, making it difficult to move. Numbness or weakness in the arms or legs is also a symptom. In the worst cases, it can even result in spinal cord damage.
A neck injury can also cause discs in the neck to bulge or rupture. These discs act as cushions between the vertebrae, known as a herniated disc.
Twisting or stretching movements commonly found in car accidents can strain and sprain the neck’s ligaments and muscles, resulting in pain, swelling, muscle spasms, and a limited range of motion.
Whiplash
Whiplash is among the top three most common car accident injuries. While a seat belt can help protect the body from being thrown out of the vehicle in a car accident, it cannot prevent the neck from being hit by sudden forward and backward movements.
It is very important to understand that whiplash symptoms may not immediately appear and can vary from person to person. Common symptoms of neck pain and stiffness can cause headaches. These headaches usually start at the base of the skull and spread to the forehead. Reduced range of motion can also be a cause.
Some individuals may experience dizziness or spinning sensations. The impact of whiplash can affect surrounding areas, leading to pain, tenderness, fatigue, and disrupted sleep patterns.
Broken Bones
High-speed crashes often result in broken bones for vehicle occupants. Therefore, broken bones are common injuries from car accidents. They can be multiple bones like ribs, arms, legs, collarbone, pelvis, facial, or skull.
Impact on the dashboard, steering wheel, or seat belt can cause fractures in the ribs, collarbone, and face. The force of the impact must be significant for the fracture to occur.
In high-speed accidents or side impacts, the bones affected could be arms, legs, and pelvic bones.
Common symptoms include localized pain and deformity of the affected body part. Swelling, bruising, and limited range of motion may also occur. Additionally, tenderness and difficulty in bearing weight are common.
A broken bone usually heals without any significant problems. However, depending on where the bone is located, there can be long-term consequences such as chronic pain.
Burns
A car accident can cause burns to its occupants. This may be due to a fuel ignition after the wreck, contact with hot surfaces, or even airbag deployment. The severity of the burn depends on several factors. These include the burn's extent, exposure duration, and medical attention's speed.
There are 3 categories in which burns can occur.
- First-degree burns occur when the skin is burned superficially, affecting the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). They typically cause pain, redness, and mild swelling but do not result in blistering.
- Second-degree burns affect the outer layer of the skin (epidermis) and the underlying layer (dermis). They can cause pain, redness, swelling, and blisters.
- Third-degree burns are severe. They affect the entire thickness of the skin and may damage underlying tissues like muscles, tendons, or bones. They can also cause severe pain, charred skin, and a white or blackened appearance.
It is crucial to assist burns quickly. This could make a big difference in the speed of recovery or the severity of the wound.
Burns can cause long-term complications, including chronic pain, joint stiffness, nerve damage, loss of sensation, or impaired function. The severity and location of the burn determine the type of complication experienced.
Psychological/PTSD
For many people, psychological injuries are the worst because they are something that will live forever in the survivor’s mind. We know that experiencing a traumatic event that threatens the life of a person can be very difficult to deal with.
Psychological injuries are common following car accidents. Every individual is unique and will interpret the event differently.
The accident may have been minor, with no serious injuries. However, young passengers like children may view it as traumatic. This could have a lasting effect on their lives.
Talking about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is essential. It is a mental health condition that can occur in people who have experienced or seen traumatic events. People suffering from PTSD may experience intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, and intense emotional distress related to the car accident. They may also try to avoid reminders of the accident and feel on edge or hypervigilant.
These incidents also can increase anxiety, panic attacks, and a general sense of unease. Individuals can develop a fear of driving or being a passenger in a vehicle. This can lead to avoidance of certain situations or places related to the accident.
A common symptom of PTSD is Hyperarousal, where individuals experience a constant state of being “on edge” or hypervigilant. Of course, insomnia, nightmares, and difficulty falling or staying asleep are common after a car accident.
A car accident can cause both emotional and physical trauma. This can lead to sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in once-enjoyed activities. Depression is a severe mental illness that needs to be assisted by a professional.
Survivors of car accidents may experience guilt or self-blame when other people are hurt or die. This is due to their safety or actions during the incident.
Contact an NYC Car Accident Injury Lawyer Today
Have you or a loved one been in a car accident in New York? We can help you get the compensation you deserve. Our car accident lawyers have the experience to support you.
The Ward Law Group has recovered over $500 million. We have provided the community with high-level legal representation for over a decade. We stand out for our service and our commitment to the human touch.
Contact us now at 855-DOLOR-55 for a free consultation about your case, and one of our attorneys will guide you through the process.