Getting into an auto accident can result in certain types of injuries that affect your quality of life for a short or long period of time. Your body undergoes sudden deceleration during the impact, which is something that puts a lot of strain on your body. The type of injuries you sustain typically depends on how you were hit, the safety restraints in your vehicle, and the speed of impact.
In the event you’ve been injured in a car accident, you need to seek medical attention to make sure you haven’t suffered a serious injury. After you’ve received medical treatment, it’s time to see a personal injury lawyer. In the meantime, read on to learn more about six of the most common auto accident injuries someone can sustain.
1. Spinal Cord Injury
A spinal cord injury is the result of the torso being flung forward hard enough to strain the spinal column and cause anything from a minor to a major injury. A minor injury is one that bruises or strains the spinal cord, and a severe injury is one that tears or severs the cord.
2. Concussion
A concussion, also known as a contra coup injury, happens when the head is flung forward and back during the accident. The brain hits the front of the skull and receives a bruise. In some instances, the brain can ricochet backward and receive a bruise on the back as well.
3. Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, happens when the head is violently struck or physically altered by a foreign object. The damage is more severe than a concussion and can require intensive rehabilitation for recovery.
4. Broken Bones
The impact of an accident puts force on your skeleton in such a way that bones break. The force pushes against your bones, something that their rigid structure can’t resist. Bones that are most affected by the force will break under the stress.
5. Deep Bruising and Soft Tissue Damage
Airbags and seatbelts do a great job of reducing injuries, but they also cause injuries of their own. During impact, the restraints pull against your body and the airbags pop out at speed. You collide with the restraints at high speed and receive deep bruises as a result.
These objects also cause soft tissue damage, as does the sudden deceleration.
6. Whiplash and Related Neck Injuries
Your head and neck are flung forward suddenly during an accident. This action stretches and strains the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your neck farther than they would otherwise go. The end result is an injury known as whiplash which can take a long time to heal.
When You Should See an Attorney
The time to see an attorney is as soon as you possibly can. If you’re going to be unable to physically move for more than a couple of days after the accident, a trusted family member or friend can contact an attorney on your behalf. Seeing an attorney as soon as possible helps to preserve evidence and avoid fading memory issues, something that helps strengthen your personal injury case.