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5 Common Injuries Sustained in Car Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car accidents injure more than three million Americans each year. While the resulting injuries from a car accident can be influenced by a myriad of different factors such as the wearing of seatbelts, speed, and location of impact, certain injuries that are more common than others.

1. Soft-Tissue Injuries: Soft tissues, such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons, are highly susceptible to injury in the event of a car accident. These types of injuries can take several forms, though cervical acceleration/deceleration (CAD) injuries such as whiplash are most common. These types of injuries occur when a person’s muscles are stretched beyond their intended range of motion due to the force of impact, causing strains and tearing of the anterior neck muscles. Usually, whiplash occurs from rear-end collisions and can result from impacts as slow as 25 miles per hour.

2. Cuts and Scrapes: At impact, loose objects and broken glass from windshields and windows can become sharp projectiles, causing a vehicle’s occupants to suffer various cuts and scrapes from flying debris. These types of injuries can also result from the deployment of an airbag, as these devices can inflate at speeds close to 200 miles per hour.

3. Head Injuries: When a car unexpectedly stops or changes direction quickly, the heads of the vehicle’s occupants are often forced to experience unnatural movements, striking objects such as steering wheels and windows in the process. Depending on the force of impact, this can cause concussions and sometimes even traumatic brain damage, resulting in loss of cognitive function, memory loss, coma, and sometimes death.

4. Arm and Leg Injuries: Similarly to how a person’s head will be thrown around in the event of a crash, a person’s limbs can be bruised or broken if they strike objects within the vehicle at impact. Airbags can also cause serious damage to a person’s arms and hands if they are in the bag’s path during deployment.

5. Back Injuries: Herniated disks, lumbar injuries, and thoracic spine injuries can cause varying levels of damage, ranging from temporary discomfort to lasting debilitation. In extremely severe crashes that occur at high speeds, spinal cord damage can result causing loss of reflex function and sometimes paralysis.

It is extremely important to note that some injuries are not obvious immediately after an accident and can have delayed symptoms. For this reason, it is imperative that you seek medical attention as soon as possible in the event that you should ever be involved in a collision. It is always best to err on the side of caution and see a doctor at the first sign of pain or discomfort.

Injured in a Car Accident? Call (916) 778-3228

If you have suffered any of the above injuries as a result of a car accident, you may be entitled to recover monetary damages for your suffering with the assistance of a Sacramento car accident attorney from Eliot Reiner, APLC. Having more than 25 years of personal injury law experience, we have the necessary experience and knowledge to help you pursue the maximum amount of compensation. Get started by contacting us online or by scheduling a complimentary consultation today!

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