The Ways that People are Most Often Hurt in Motor Vehicle Accidents
In a motor vehicle accident, where two 3,000+ pound metal behemoths collide with each other, the potential for serious injury is significant, even when those vehicles are traveling at relatively slow speeds. Some injuries are readily apparent, but other may not be. It helps, then, to know the types of injuries to look for, should you or someone you love be involved in a wreck. Here are some of the most common types of injuries people sustain in car, truck and motorcycle crashes.
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions (minor TBIs) – When you are involved in a collision, the force of impact may throw you against the dashboard or windshield, or you may be thrown from the vehicle and bump your head. You can also suffer a TBI without making impact with another object, should you experience whiplash. Whiplash can cause your brain to careen off the inside of your skull, causing bruising, internal bleeding, swelling and other damage.
Unfortunately, the symptoms of a concussion or other head injury are not as readily apparent as most other types of injury. If you or someone else loses consciousness, is dizzy or disoriented, experiences nausea or persistent headaches, it’s a likely sign of a brain injury, and should be treated immediately.
- Whiplash – This may be the most frequent injury suffered in motor vehicle accidents. It’s caused by the impact of a crash, where your forward motion is suddenly impeded, causing your head and neck to snap violently forward, then back. In addition to the strain it puts on muscles and other connective tissue in your neck and shoulders, it can also cause your brain to strike the inside of your skull, resulting in contusions, lacerations and inflammation.
- Fractures or broken bones – The force of impact with your car, another vehicle, a roadside object or the pavement can lead to fractures, often in your extremities, such as leg or arm bones, ankle, wrist, fingers or toes.
Contusions, lacerations or burn injuries—You don’t need to hit the pavement to suffer cuts (lacerations) or bruises (contusions). You may be injured by shattering glass, by twisted metal or even by personal items flying around the inside of the car. - Internal, or “soft-tissue” injuries – A type of injury that can typically take a few days or even weeks to fully manifest, this includes damage to internal organs, such as heart, liver, lungs, kidneys or spleen. It can also take the form of bruises/contusions, where internal blood cells are broken, causing black and blue marks or similar spots.
- Emotional trauma – Often forgotten amongst the physical injuries you’ve suffered is the emotional toll a motor vehicle accident can take. It’s common to feel effects similar to post-traumatic stress disorder, including stress, anxiety and depression, particularly when the accident was serious and others sustained serious and/or catastrophic injuries.
Spinal cord trauma – The force of impact can displace the vertebrae in your back, as well as the discs that provide cushioning between your vertebrae. You may sustain a herniated or ruptured disc, which can cause nerve impingement, or you may damage your spinal cord, which protects all the neural pathways from your brain to the rest of your body.
Contact the Proven Personal Injury Lawyers at Bailey & Galyen
At the law office of Bailey & Galyen, we know impact that any personal injury can have on your day-to-day life. If you have been hurt in a motor vehicle accident, let us help. We’ll be your advocate throughout the legal process, acting as your liaison with insurance companies and as your advocate in all legal proceedings. Contact us by e-mail or call our offices at 844-402-2992. Our phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.