New Orleans Personal Injury Attorneys

Most Common Car Injury Accidents

On Behalf of | Nov 3, 2016 | Car Accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that more than three million people are injured in car accidents annually. Car accidents obviously can’t always be avoided. However, it can be helpful to be aware of the most common injuries that occur as a result of these kinds of accidents.

When you understand what those injuries are, it can help you to be more aware of what symptoms to look for in the event that you are ever injured in a car accident. It is important to note that in many cases, symptoms may not show up right away. It is also important to note that even if your symptoms show up after time has passed since an injurious accident, an experienced personal injury attorney can generally still aid you in seeking compensation related to your injuries.

Neck and Back Injuries

Whiplash is a very common injury that occurs during a car accident. Whiplash can happen when a collision forces the head to jolt forward or sideways suddenly, depending on the position of the impact. The ligaments of the neck are stretched and/or torn, resulting in extreme pain and loss of movement. While most cases of whiplash heal with proper therapy, some cases lead to more serious conditions, such as disc hernia.

Your back and spine can be severely affected after experiencing a car accident. With these types of injuries, sometimes the pain and swelling doesn’t occur until after you’ve returned home and the adrenalin in your body has dissipated.

Limb Injury

When a car is impacted from the front or side, the chassis of the car can get smashed into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. In instances like this, legs and knees can be severely gashed, bruised, broken or worse. Similarly, arms, hands and wrists can be broken when drivers and passengers brace for impact or have them crushed by the force of whatever the vehicle slams into.

Although most limb injury is relatively obvious in the wake of an accident, more minor fractures can be missed at first glance and may only be discovered when persistent pain continues over time.

Concussion

Concussion occurs when the brain is knocked up against the inside of the skull. When sudden impact occurs against the head, the brain can get hit against the head, causing the injured person to experience concussion symptoms such as memory loss or other brain damage. No head trauma is ever truly “minor.” However, less severe concussions may not be detected right away even though they may lead to lasting symptoms over time.

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