Car accidents are a common occurrence, as is the possibility that you will sustain some type of injury if you’re involved in an accident as a driver or passenger. According to the Association for Safe International Road Travel, a recent global study has shown that almost 20 to 50 million individuals are injured in a car accident annually. Here are the top four most common injuries experienced as a result of a car crash.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
One of the most serious types of injuries you can sustain in a car accident is trauma to the head, whether it’s from whiplash during a collision or from your head hitting some part of the inside of the vehicle, such as the steering wheel. Concussions are the most common form of TBI, although other side effects of hitting your head may include headaches, loss of consciousness, and drowsiness. More mild forms of brain injury are generally treatable by medical professionals, although they may require specialized imaging in order to fully detect.
Tinnitus or ringing in ears
Having the sensation of a ringing in your ears is another common result of being in a car accident, and can be one of the most annoying repercussions to experience. One reason for this is that tinnitus is notoriously hard to treat, although some research seems to indicate that white noise machines and specific drugs can help reduce the severity of your ringing. Oftentimes, audiological evaluations are necessary to fully understand the extent of the injury, as tinnitus can also be a symptom of different underlying medical conditions such as problems with your blood vessels.
Muscle spasms or soft tissue injuries
It is very common to feel soreness to your muscles or other ligaments following a car accident. Part of this has to do with the way your body braces for an impact, which can cause even more tension after an accident occurs. Muscle spasms may be able to be treated with medications like muscle relaxers, but there are a variety of natural remedies that can help address soreness or stiffness in your neck and shoulders following a car crash. Massage therapy, scented lotions, and even CBD oils have all been shown to play a role in easing pain after an accident.
Broken bones
There are a variety of types of breaks that might happen as a result of being in a car accident, including compressions, transverse fractures, hairline fractures, and segmented breaks. Each of these requires a different kind of treatment; however, the good news is that hospitals have made it possible to handle them with different medical technologies. While some bones will require surgery in order to be repaired, others will be able to heal on their own after they’ve been set and placed in a cast. While broken bones can be painful, they are some of the most obvious types of injuries you may sustain in an accident, making them easy to diagnose and treat.
None of the above injuries are fun to deal with, and may even come with costly price tags, too. In fact, nowadays even a hospital ride can be a costly medical expense. If you weren’t at fault for the accident you were in, it may be worth consulting with a car accident lawyer to see if you may qualify for a settlement to cover the costs of your injuries and hospital stays. Consulting with a law firm that specializes in personal injury lawsuits and car accidents is generally free, and a lawyer will help you determine if you have a valid case. It’s never a bad idea to see if you may be able to get reimbursed for some of your medical expenses, especially if your injuries or losses were at the fault of another party.