5 Common Road Traffic Injuries

It is an unfortunate reality that car accidents have been around almost since cars were put into mass production. Thankfully, most car accidents are not that serious, the number of fatal car accidents per year keeps falling. And nowadays even the most basic and affordable cars have advanced safety features to keep the occupants of the car, as well as everyone else on the road, as safe as possible.

All of that means that car accidents are not as frequent or dangerous as they used to be. But they do still happen, and when they do, injuries can occur. Those injuries may not be as fatal as they once were, but they can still be quite serious. That is one of the reasons why people involved in car accidents should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as they can. The attorney can help them to get the compensation they need to take care of medical bills and other accident-related injuries.

1.  Whiplash

Soft tissue injuries are common in traffic accidents. These types of injuries involve the body’s connective tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Whiplash is the most common type of soft tissue injury and occurs when the impact of the car coming to a sudden stop causes the head to violently whip back and forth. This can cause damage to the muscles and tendons in the neck. Symptoms include stiffness and pain in the neck, which can lead to a loss of range of motion that can make moving the head around difficult and painful. Some whiplash injuries can heal over time, but others may require surgical intervention.

2.  Broken Bones

Fractures and broken bones are a common occurrence in many types of traffic accidents and most commonly happen in the limbs, namely the arms, hands, and legs, but broken ribs are also common. Naturally, the harder the impact, the higher the chance of more severe injuries. Most broken or fractured bones will heal over time, but more serious breaks may require surgery to repair. However, the person will be debilitated while they are convalescing, which can limit the amount of work and leisure activity in which they can engage.

3.  Head and Spine Injuries

Even if the head does not come into contact with anything during a traffic accident, the violent back and forth jerking of the head that accompanies an impact can cause injuries besides whiplash. A concussion is one of the more common head injuries possible in a car accident and it occurs when the brain slams into the skull during a violent impact. A concussion can cause neurological problems like difficulties with memory and concentration. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, a feeling of pressure in the head, seeing stars, and a temporary loss of consciousness. Those symptoms might manifest right after the accident, but it might also take hours before they appear. Either way, anyone who experiences those symptoms after a car accident needs to see a doctor as soon as possible.

4.  Cuts and Bruises

From shards of glass to pieces of metal to debris lying around in the car, there are a lot of things that could cause lacerations in a traffic accident. In many cases, those cuts are not that serious and can be treated easily on the scene. However, deeper cuts can cause a risk of blood loss and may require stitches to close. Bruises are also a common injury in car accidents since various body parts can slam into the solid parts of the vehicle. Many bruises are minor and will eventually go away but some might be a sign of internal bleeding, which is a very serious condition.

5.  Psychological and Emotional Damage

The effects of a car accident are not just physical, it can leave psychological and emotional scars as well. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the more common psychological problems that someone may experience after a car accident. As the name suggests, PTSD can cause accident victims to have heightened levels of stress and anxiety when something triggers a reminder of the accident.

Depression is another psychological problem that can occur since the accident victim may not be able to perform tasks that they could before or experience the same level of enjoyment that they used to. That can take a heavy emotional toll on a person, which is why anyone feeling any emotional effects after a car accident should seek the help of a psychologist and/or psychiatrist.

Treat Any Accident-Related Injuries As Soon As Possible

As you can see, traffic accident injuries can range from the mild to the serious, which is why you should get evaluated and treated as soon as possible after being in one. Even if you believe that you escaped the accident unscathed, that might not necessarily be the case because some injuries can take a while to appear. So be sure to take care of yourself both mentally and physically after a car accident. A personal injury attorney can help to get you the compensation that you need to get the care that you need, so make sure to get in touch with a qualified car accident lawyer to help you with your case.