Road accidents range in severity and so do the injuries they cause. While some people may be lucky enough to escape without any injuries at all, other drivers, passengers or pedestrians are not so lucky and may suffer anything from minor cuts and bruising, to life-altering or life-threatening injuries.
Here are some of the most common injuries caused by car accidents.
Brain injury
Brain injuries are extremely serious. Sudden propulsion of a person or the movement of hard objects towards a person’s head can cause brain injury and/or skull fractures, which can be long and difficult to recover from. Even if the skull does not fracture, damage can be caused to the brain tissue, leading to bruising or even bleeding of the brain. Serious brain injuries can cause permanent and devastating impairment.
Spinal injury
A spinal injury is an injury to the spine, which consists of both the bone and tissue structure running from the base of the skull down to the tail bone and the spinal cord.
The spinal cord runs through the middle of the spine and is the main control centre of the body’s nervous system. Without a functioning spinal cord, the brain fails to transmit messages to the rest of the body.
A spinal injury can involve structural damage to the vertebrae, to the discs, to the spinal cord or even a combination of any of the elements making up the spine. As with all injuries, a spinal injury can be mild or it can be debilitating, depending on which part of the spine was damaged and to what extent.
Neck injury and whiplash
Many injuries can happen in car accidents because of seatbelts, but that’s not to say they aren’t important! Despite sometimes causing injuries to the chest, collarbone or shoulders seat belts should always be worn.
Whiplash is the name for injuries to the neck’s soft tissue, including muscles, ligaments and tendons. Whiplash is extremely common in car accidents and can even occur in slow-moving vehicles.
Lower back injury
Lower back pain is another common complaint after experiencing whiplash. It may also occur independently as a standalone injury caused by a road accident. A lower back injury can often result in conditions like sciatica, which can cause ongoing back and leg pain and weakness.
Knee injuries
Knee injuries are common in road accidents as they can occur when the body is propelled forward with force, leading to the knees being the first part of the body to hit the vehicle. Minor knee injuries may result in bruises or abrasions whereas serious ones may cause the cartilage in the knee to tear, ligaments to be torn due to twisting or the knee cap to fracture.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Road accidents can be traumatic and as such, not all car accident injuries are of a physical nature. If you have been in a car accident you may suffer from flashbacks, anxiety about travelling in a car and/or post-traumatic stress disorder. Fortunately, most psychological injury caused by car accidents can be treated, however, they should be taken seriously, and medical attention should be sought in the same way it would for physical injuries.
If you have suffered an injury in a car accident you should seek the advice of a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer with experience in this area can help you to submit a claim for compensation to cover your medical bills and/or loss of income.
Contact Cairns Compensation Lawyers today for a free claim assessment.