Car accidents are incredibly common, and they can happen to even the most careful drivers. Unfortunately, car accidents often result in very serious injuries and can even cause life-changing disabilities. Here are six of the most common car accident injuries, as well as what you should do after you’ve been involved in a car accident.
1. Whiplash
Whiplash is an extremely common car accident injury, and it can happen even in relatively minor accidents. Many car accident victims who are involved in car accidents don’t know they have whiplash until some time has passed after the accident. When a car accident happens, your body is often moving at a very high speed. This puts a strain on your muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues in your body. Whiplash injuries are most common in the muscles in the neck and back, but it can happen anywhere in your body.
2. Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is one of the most dangerous injuries that can happen after a car accident. Unfortunately, they are also very common, as car accidents often result in an impact to the head. Many TBIs go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed, and without proper treatment, they can result in life-long neurological problems.
3. Broken Bones
Car accidents often result in broken bones because of the intense impact that happens during the accident. Broken ribs are particularly common because of where the impact tends to happen, but any bone can break during a car accident. For instance, if you've sustained chest injuries, some of the bones may have punctured your internal organs. Therefore, if you feel even the slightest discomfort, make sure to get medical treatment. Some breaks will heal quickly with the help of a cast or splint, but others will need surgery in order to repair.
4. Knee Injuries
In most car accidents, your knees will hit either the dashboard or the seat in front of you, depending on where you are sitting. This often results in severe knee issues, which can include shattered kneecaps, damaged ligaments in your kneecap, or damage to your meniscus. In the most serious cases, these knee injuries can make it difficult to walk or stand properly.
5. Burns and Lacerations
Since everything is moving quickly during a car accident, it is very normal for items in the car to go flying. Impact to the windows or windshield can also result in broken glass. If you are hit by these items during the crash, people in the car can suffer soft tissue injuries from lacerations. These soft tissue injuries typically require stitches and may leave scars. It’s also possible for cars to catch on fire during particularly severe crashes, causing burn scars.
6. Internal Injuries
Internal bleeding and other internal injuries often happen as a result of impact during a car accident. These injuries are often difficult to detect on your own, which is why it’s so important to see a medical professional soon after the crash. If internal injuries go untreated, they can be extremely dangerous and life-threatening.
7. Spinal Cord Injuries
Many car accidents put a lot of pressure or impact on the core section of the body, causing trauma to the spine. These types of injuries often result in severe damage to the spinal cord, like partial or full paralysis and can limit your ability to work and live a normal life.
8. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Even if you did not sustain severe injuries on the outside, you may suffer from mental disorientations. Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a very real symptom and sometimes may be more painful to deal with than physical injuries. Arm and leg injuries heal after a period of time, but PTSD may go on for years.
9. Wrongful Death
Unfortunately, some motor vehicle accidents are fatal for either the driver or passenger. There are many different injuries that can result in wrongful death. This can happen either at the time of the accident or after the accident. Wrongful death lawsuits typically command the highest settlement amounts of all personal injury cases.
What to Do After a Crash
The most important thing to do directly after a car crash is to seek medical attention and call 911. If you cannot physically call 911 yourself, ask someone else to do so for you. If you can move, make sure to get to the side of the road and out of harm’s way.
If you are able to move, exchange contact and insurance information with any other drivers involved. Do not admit or discuss fault during this conversation. If there are any witnesses nearby, get their contact information as well. If you can take photos or videos to document the crash, this may also help you later on.
After the crash, you will need to get a copy of the police report as well as any relevant medical documents. You will also need to notify your insurance company about the accident and file a claim.
If you have sustained injuries in a car accident in Anaheim, you may be entitled to compensation. Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer is crucial after a serious accident, because an experienced attorney can help you recoup the maximum amount of damages possible. If you’ve experienced a car accident in Anaheim, contact Katella Injury Attorneys today to see how we can help.