Most Common Car Accident Injuries
More than five million car accidents are reported each year in the Unites States and they are a leading cause of personal injuries. While a wide variety of injuries are caused by car accidents, there are some common car accident injuries worth noting.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 35,092 people were killed and an additional 2.5 million were injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2015, an increase of 7.2 percent from 2014. All these car accidents cost the economy $277 billion dollars each year.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, seek medical treatment and the help of a personal injury lawyer today.
Most common car accident injuries
Head injuries: In a high-speed car crash, it is common for the head to strike steering wheels, dashboards or windows. The impact can lead to traumatic brain injuries, ranging from mild concussions to comas and lasting cognitive problems. Head injuries can also be in the form of lacerations or skull fractures and lead to hearing loss and vision problems.
Back injuries: Serious damage to the spinal cord can lead to partial or full paralysis of arms, legs and other extremities. In some cases the paralysis is temporary and shows up as reduced sensation of and control over extremities. In some back injury cases, victims suffer a painful herniated disk; while this injury tends to be less severe than spinal damage, a herniated disk can cause numb or tingling sensations, muscle weakness and arm or leg pain.
Neck injuries: It is well known that car accidents are associated with whiplash injuries; a sudden jerking of the head and neck that can cause serious neck muscle and ligament damage. Whiplash often leads to neck pain and swelling and in some cases victims suffer from temporary vocal cord paralysis.
Chest injuries: Blunt force trauma from car accidents can cause broken ribs and collapsed lungs. Internal bleeding and damage to internal organs in the pelvis and abdomen can also result from a car crash. People with heart problems may go into traumatic cardiac arrest from the shock of the accident.
Hand, arm, foot and leg Injuries: Fractures, ligament damage, severed limbs, sprains, cuts and bruises are common car accident related injuries affecting the extremities of the body. Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to these types of injuries.
Emotional injuries: We don’t always talk about the psychological and emotional toll that a traumatic event can have on us. When a car accident happens with friends or family members in the car and severe injuries or death results then the emotional pain can run very deep. Victims should seek counseling and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder if needed.
A settlement from a car accident lawyer will usually cover both economic damages from medical expenses to lost wages and non-economic damages for pain and suffering and trauma.
If you or a loved one is dealing with an accident or injury, you have enough on your plate. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
