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It’s estimated that there are about 13 car accidents every passing minute in the US. In 2020, car accidents cost the economy $474 billion in expenses.

Car accident injuries are extremely common for those involved in these cases. The reality is that driving or being a passenger can be a dangerous experience.

Anyone can lose control of their vehicle at any time. There are also plenty of reckless drivers on the road that pose a risk to everyone else.

Keep reading to find out what the most common kinds of car accident injuries are.

Paralysis

A common kind of car accident injury is paralysis. This is cataloged as being a spinal cord injury that is very severe.

In fact, it’s estimated that around one third of the US’s spinal injuries occur from car accidents. The spine is a delicate part of the body that can sustain a great amount of pressure.

The reaction of being in a car accident can cause you to move about very quickly. This can cause dislocation or fracturing of the vertebrae that help your spinal cord stay together.

Any of these injuries could result in short-term or long-term paralysis. If this is the case, surgery, rehabilitation, and pain treatment are often required.

You may need tools to help you walk, or you could be wheelchair-bound in the future. The symptoms of paralysis don’t stop there, there are other side effects you could experience.

Most people experience a loss of feeling and don’t feel hot or cold temperatures. They may also suffer from spasms and chronic pain in their back.

Some people also suffer from infertility due to the damage the accident caused.

Back Injuries

If you were injured in a car accident, you could have experienced various back injuries. Paralysis is one example of this, but that is on the more severe side.

Most people in a car accident will experience some form of back injury. You may have strained your back which could have caused damage to the muscles and tendons.

Many people end up having a slipped or herniated disc that causes extreme nerve pain. You may also have a ruptured disc where the vertebrae are broken or opened.

Nerve damage and pinched nerves can also occur after a rough car accident. All of these problems can result in the need for surgery or long-term rehabilitation.

Back pain can be particularly severe, and you may need medication to manage it. Some people face a lifetime of disability due to these symptoms.

Internal Injuries

You may need to hire a car accident lawyer from alphaaccidentlawyers.com if you have internal injuries. The most common car accident injuries internally are internal bleeding.

This can often happen from the blunt force of a car accident. You may look perfectly fine, but your internal organs could be severely damaged.

This is the number one reason why people must go to the emergency room after a car accident. It could take hours or days before you realize something is wrong, and by then, it could be too late.

Improper use of a seatbelt can also cause internal bleeding. You may notice an abdominal hematoma or abdominal bleeding if you have internal bleeding.

Burns

Some people may experience skin burns if they have been in a car accident. This can happen if it is severe enough that the car catches on fire.

This often happens if a car is hit head-on or hits something else head-on. This damage is the engine can result in oil leaking and causing a fire.

Some people are also thrown from the vehicle in the accident. This can result in them having severe road burn injuries from hitting the ground.

The injuries can vary from mild burns to third-degree burns. If it is a road burn, it will need a different treatment since some of the skin may be missing.

In severe cases, burns may need a skin graft to repair the damage. This can result in surgery and the need for rehabilitation afterward.

Flesh Wounds

Some car accident injuries include various amounts of skin injuries. Something may have cut you in the process, such as a window shattering nearby.

Many people walk away with flesh wounds, whether they be severe or mild. They may require stitches or skin grafting if more severe.

They can result in scarring that can be chronically painful or limit movement. You may even have disfiguration if the wounds were severe.

Broke Bones

Fractured and broken bones are extremely common car accident injuries. The force of the collision will often move you around in the vehicle.

This can cause extensive damage to bones that are more exposed. This includes ribs, legs, and arm bones.

You may have severely broken bones where the bone is coming through the skin. This often requires extensive surgery to repair the damage inside and outside.

Some breaks are cleaner but still require surgery to mend the bone. Many people will have some form of a stress fracture from the impact, but this only requires rest.

In very severe car accidents, some of your bones may be entirely crushed. In this case, amputation is required if the damage cannot be repaired.

This is why car accidents are responsible for a portion of amputations. Sometimes the results will be better if the limb is removed to reduce the risk of chronic pain.

Whiplash

The most common car injury is whiplash. This is a term used to describe how your body reacts when you are in a car accident.

Your body is whipped around from the impact, causing significant damage. This may not result in broken bones or a back injury, but you will feel the effects.

Those with whiplash have a car accident case since the symptoms can be significant. You will most likely have severe back and neck pain that can even cause nausea and dizziness.

Whiplash can also cause cognitive issues like blurry vision and a lack of memory. You may struggle with ringing ears or develop insomnia after the accident.

Some people develop migraines or headaches as well as tingling and numbness in their limbs. It may take a while before your range of motion is back.

In most cases of whiplash, people are recommended to get physical rehabilitation. This will help them to gain their strength back and improve their mobility.

It can also help them to recover faster to reduce their symptoms.

Knee Injuries

The knees are in a vulnerable spot when you are driving a car. This is why some people experience knee injuries if they have been in an accident.

You could have a car accident lawsuit if you were knee hit by a part of the vehicle. This could result in broken bones or even a crushed kneecap.

You may have a limp or a lack of mobility after the accident. Cartilage can also be torn, as well as a variety of nerves in that area.

Foot Injuries

Another common car accident injury is foot and ankle injuries. This is because your feet are on the bottom of the car controlling the pedals.

You may have jammed your foot when you were trying to brake or control the vehicle. The bones in the ankle and foot are also quite delicate and thin in design.

This makes it particularly easy for these bones to break or shatter in a collision. At the very least, you will most likely have hairline fractures or stress fractures.

You may also tear important muscles and tendons in that area. All of these injuries could result in a need for surgery or rehabilitation.

You may struggle to walk for a while or develop a long-term disability. Many people are unable to go back to work after this kind of accident or have to quit temporarily.

Hand and Shoulder Injuries

Some car accident injuries include hand and shoulder injuries. Most people have these injuries because they use their hands to try to protect themselves.

For instance, you may hold your hands to your face to shield it. This could result in debris or glass hitting your arms and hands, causing flesh wounds.

You may also jam or break your arms and shoulders as you try to control the vehicle. Some people even brace themselves against the steering wheel, causing more damage.

Shoulder dislocations are also very common from the impact of the accident. These dislocations can be very painful and have long-term consequences.

Important nerves and tendons can be damaged, resulting in long-term pain or loss of feeling. You will also be very sore for quite a while after having a dislocation repaired.

Soft Tissue Trauma

Most people who have been in a car accident have some kind of physical trauma. This could include tissue trauma where you have significant bruising.

Bruising is not usually serious on its own, but it can have side effects. You may experience swelling and nausea as well as blood in your urine.

You could also have injured delicate tendons and other structures in your body. This can result in a lot of pain and a long recovery time for most.

Keep in mind that any kind of bruising could signify a larger issue. That is why you should always be checked out after an accident, even if you think you’re fine.

Facial Injuries

A car accident could also result in different kinds of facial injuries. Things may have flown through the windshield and struck your face, or you could have hit it on something.

It is quite common for people to have facial bone fractures. In more severe cases, the fractures may not heal correctly, causing disfigurement.

You may also have deep lacerations to your facial tissue. This often requires stitches and could result in significant scarring in the future.

You may experience eye injuries since your eyes are very vulnerable and unprotected. In some cases, this may result in eyesight loss or eye problems.

There may be dental issues as well from the impact of the accident. Some people have their teeth knocked out, or they break teeth if they hit the inside of the car.

This may require extensive cosmetic surgery as well as dental implants. If the impact were to break your jaw, significant surgery and recovery would be required.

Head Injuries

Something else you need to worry about are head injuries. The most common head injury from a car accident is usually a concussion.

This happens when any sudden movement comes to a stop. The brain moves around in the skull causing damage.

A concussion can be very dangerous since the signs may not be noticeable. This is why health responders will be very careful when caring for you after an accident.

You may feel fine at first, but a concussion can be life-threatening. If not treated, the damage to your brain could continue, causing a fatality.

Car accidents can also cause other types of brain injuries. These can be difficult to spot and could take some time before getting a diagnosis.

These injuries often cause mobility issues and trouble with cognitive function. In more severe cases, there could be life-threatening issues.

Car Accident Injuries: Which Are the Most Common?

When you are on the road, it is very important to practice every safety measure possible. Car accident injuries are very common and can be very serious.

Car accidents happen every minute and could completely change your life. Did you find this article useful? Keep reading for more helpful information on lifestyle and world news.