Cars have added so much modern convenience and enabled people to see parts of the world they might never have dreamed of otherwise.
But according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,894,000 people were injured in a car accident in 2019. Another 33,654 died in a car accident. In total, there were 6,734,000 car accidents that year, meaning that about one-third of all accidents resulted in injuries that needed medical treatment.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident, you should know the most common car accident injuries to watch out for. That way, you can get medical attention quickly, to avoid severe medical problems from those injuries. Once you know about injuries from a car accident, you should get in contact with a car accident lawyer immediately.
Here’s a look at the most common car accident injuries and when those injuries might merit a personal injury case.
Common Car Accident Injuries
There is a wide variety of car accident injuries that can impact victims. Depending on the impact, speed and circumstances surrounding the accident, any part of your body could be harmed during a car accident.
However, there are five common car accident injuries that you might suffer. We’ll explain these five common car accident injuries and how to recognize the signs of such injuries.
Whiplash/Soft Tissue Injuries – Soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash, are the most common car accident injury. No matter the type of collision, your body can be thrown in unnatural ways, causing damage to your soft tissue.
Sometimes, these injuries can heal on their own in a few days. Other times, you need physical therapy or medical care to restore them to their regular health. It’s best to see a medical professional after a car accident and discuss any new or worsening pain you’re experiencing.
Your doctor might recommend at-home treatments like applying ice or over the counter painkillers that also reduce swelling. Or, they might see more severe soft tissue damage that requires further medical attention.
Head Injuries/Concussions – Head injuries can be mild or very severe after a car accident. It’s not uncommon to experience a headache for a few days after an accident, partially due to whiplash.
However, persistent headaches, confusion, feeling dizzy and a wide variety of other symptoms should send you to the doctor immediately. If you know you hit your head during a car accident, it’s best to see a doctor as soon as possible. The longer head injuries or concussions are left untreated, the more damage they can do to your brain.
Spinal Cord Injuries – Spinal cord injuries can affect your ability to control your body. Some spinal cord injuries lead to loss of bodily functions, such as the ability to move a limb. In even more severe cases, you might have trouble breathing on your own.
Car accident victims who suffer from extreme pain in their back, head or neck should head to the emergency room immediately. These could be signs of a spinal cord injury. If doctors find these injuries early, you might be able to salvage regular use of your body and ongoing health. Another sign you might have suffered a spinal injury is numbness anywhere in the body.
Chest Injuries – Seat belts save lives, but if you’re involved in a high-speed collision, the seatbelt can also cause chest injuries as it does its job to support you.
In some cases, you might only suffer bruises to your chest during a mild collision. However, more severe chest injuries include broken ribs or organ damage. If you’re experiencing chest pain after a car accident, see a doctor immediately to check for these serious injuries.
Arm and Leg Injuries – Arm and leg injuries can happen due to the force that they sustain during impact in a car accident. Because your legs sit under the steering wheel, it’s common for drivers and even passengers to sustain bruises and scrapes on their knees and other parts of their legs during a collision.
However, more severe injuries can include broken bones or injuries to ligaments. If you’re experiencing pain in your arms or legs after a car accident, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
What Injuries Merit a Personal Injury Case?
As described above, some injuries following a car accident can be minor, while others are a cause for great concern. So what injuries merit a personal injury case?
Here’s a look at a few specific circumstances in which you should consider pursuing a personal injury case. But it’s best to consult a car accident attorney in Deerfield Beach if you’re wondering whether you might have a personal injury case.
- Cases where your injuries cause you great pain and suffering or impact your enjoyment of life.
- Injuries the insurance company refuses to pay for medical care to treat.
- If an injury prevents you from working, you might have unpaid wages that harm your financial wellbeing.
- Cases where the at-fault party was negligent, and you want to be sure they don’t engage in the same dangerous activities again.
- Trauma-related injuries in which seeing a mental health professional could help you to heal but the insurance company refuses such a claim.
- Car accidents where the victim sustains long-term injuries that will require ongoing medical care or lifelong alterations to their enjoyment of life.
When to Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
It never hurts to schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer if you’ve been involved in an accident. The lawyer will ask you important questions to evaluate whether you have a personal injury case and guide you in insurance discussions to protect your right to sue, should you choose to do so.
Goldman & Daszkal offers a free consultation to learn more about your car accident and the injuries you sustained. Schedule your free consultation now to learn more.