Five Most Common Car Accident Injuries

Accidents happen, and when they do we are seldom prepared for the potentially severe repercussions. Car accident injuries in particular affect millions of people each year, and these injuries can be serious and potentially life threatening. Even a seemingly minor fender bender could require a hospital visit or trip to the doctor’s office, with injuries that take weeks, months, or even years to heal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over two million people are seen each year in hospital emergency rooms as the result of car accident injuries, and these injuries result in billions of dollars worth of medical expenses and lost wages, as well as causing untold suffering for victims and their families. In some cases, injuries are more traumatic and may result in permanent, lifetime disabilities or death.

Common Car Accident Injuries

The following are five of the most common types of injuries suffered by people involved either as drivers or passengers in automobile accidents:

1. Cuts and Lacerations: According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, cuts and lacerations can pose a serious risk for blood loss, infections, and can result in permanent scarring. Multiple, deep cuts are common in car accidents due to breaking glass and twisted metal, and anyone who suffers even a small cut should seek medical treatment right away to prevent infection.
2. Muscle Strains and Sprains: According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), muscle and ligament strain, sprains, and tears can result in limited movement and use in the affected area. These injuries are common in car accidents, and can end up resulting in a permanent, chronic condition that impairs functioning if not dealt with properly.
3. Fractures: Fractures, or broken bones, and common in car accidents, and victims may suffer multiple fracture injuries. The NIH advises people with suspected bone fractures to have a doctor perform x-rays to determine the type and degree of damage. While some breaks may be treated by immobilization or with a cast, others require surgery to install metal pins and plates to hold the broken bones together.
4. Head Injuries: According to the CDC, head and brain injuries are one of the most common types of injuries suffered in the United States. These can range from mild injuries, resulting in headaches and temporary dizziness or confusion, to severe and catastrophic injuries resulting in disability and even death. Patients often suffer impaired cognitive, physical, or intellectual abilities, and may require assistance in performing day-to-day tasks.
5. Back and Spinal Cord Injuries: Back and spinal cord injuries may involve damage to the discs or vertebrae along the spinal column and can be among the most devastating type of injuries suffered in a car accident. These injuries range from mild damage that limits range of movement to severe, life threatening injuries that can cause permanent paralysis and a dramatically changed way of life.

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If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact the Anastopoulo Law Firm. Our experienced South Carolina car accident attorneys understand the serious damages that can result from these accidents, and can assist you in holding responsible parties accountable. With offices in Charleston and throughout South Carolina, we fight to assist our clients in getting the compensation they deserve. Call Akim Anastopoulo today for a free review of your case.