According to research done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over three million people are injured in motor vehicle collisions each year. The scary thing about car accidents is that injuries vary greatly. The injuries that result vary from crash to crash and are dependent on the severity and the person. There are some types of injuries that are more common than others.
There are a few ways you can prevent serious injury during a car crash, and they include:
- Wearing a seatbelt
- Driving the speed limit
- Having well-maintained airbags in your car
- Relax your body if you can tell someone is about to hit you
Our Sherman Oaks personal injury attorney divides car accident injuries into two categories, which are impact injuries and penetrating injuries. Impact injuries caused by your body colliding with another object, such as the steering wheel, seatbelt, or windshield. Penetrating injuries are typically labeled as cuts and scrapes. Shattered glass or sharp metal debris from your car can cause a penetrating injury.
Our accident injury attorney in Sherman Oaks has listed more specific injuries that she sees on a regular basis.
Soft Tissue Injuries and Car Accidents
Soft tissue injuries are damages to the body’s muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and it’s the most common type. Soft tissue injuries can vary in severity and the part of the body they affect. Most often, soft tissue injuries are caused by the sudden, jerking motion of a car accident.
Car crashes in Los Angeles are often rear-end accidents, which can cause mid-back and lower-back muscle sprains. Whiplash can also occur, which is an injury to the neck, back, and shoulders when the muscles and ligaments are jerked violently.
Scrapes and Cuts
Car crashes often include shattered glass, which can easily cut you if you are too close. You can also injure yourself on objects inside your car that get thrown around in the collision. If you are bleeding after an accident, try to put pressure on the wound with your clothing until emergency personnel arrive.
Head Injuries and Car Accidents
If your head smacks against your window or steering wheel, it could result in serious brain damage. It can also cause scrapes and even deeper lacerations.
If it was a more severe impact, then you could have a brain injury. This is when the fluid and tissue inside the skull are damaged.
Chest Injuries
Wearing your seatbelt is important to protecting your head from going through your windshield in the event you are in an accident. However, they can sometimes cause severe bruising. If your chest hits the steering wheel, you can receive chest injuries such as broken ribs or internal bleeding.
Some injuries, like brain damage and internal bleeding, are not noticeable right away. That’s why you should always allow first responders to assess you. If you are injured, make sure your medical bills are compensated by the at-fault driver by contacting an injury attorney.