More than 30,000 car crashes happen each year and about 50,000 people will receive injuries due to these crashes, including pedestrians and cyclists. While many of these injuries will be minor, there are so many of them that are major, causing catastrophic injuries and in some cases leaving the individual with permanent disability. No one expects to be in an accident when they leave their home to do whatever it is they are going to do, but it happens so quickly that you don’t even know what hits you until it does. It’s important to be aware of the most common injuries received in car accidents, so you can do whatever you can to be more prepared for these injuries in case you are involved in an accident.
Brain Injuries
Almost half of the Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) that occurs throughout the year are the results of vehicle accidents. In the more serious collisions, the victims are hit head on with a hard blunt force to their car and the steering wheel and dashboard or window is what normally catches the body’s force and stops it from going further. This type of trauma can brush the brain and in some cases it can cause bleeding internally and you don’t even know it until later when symptoms start to show up. Sometimes the blunt force is so powerful, it can penetrate the skull and a sharp object in the vehicle can reach the brain during the force.
Concussions
Concussions are the most common form of traumatic brain injury. With a concussion, the injury is caused by a blow to the head or because of internal brain movement. Concussions can be mild to serious depending on several factors. When a concussion occurs, the blood vessels as well as the nerve cells in a particular area of the brain will become stretched sometimes to the point it will cause damage. In some cases, a blood clot will form causing death.
Whiplash
Whiplash is another type of brain injury. Neural structures located in the brain can tear apart if the head is rotated beyond its normal limits or if there is a lot of shaking. Depending on the tear of the neural structures, the damage can be severe, and the damage can be mild to severe. It’s very important that medical attention is sought when an accident happens just to be safe. Monitor symptoms such as headache, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, and loss of memory.
Broken Bones/Fractures
It happens often in a vehicle accident; bones get broken. A bone can sustain a certain type of fracture but if your human instinct kicks in and you have time to brace for impact, you can bet that this is going to likely increase the severity of your fracture.
Fractures can be mild to severe depending on several factors and is characterized by the X-ray performed under a doctor’s orders. If the bones can realign well, the break is not too bad and there shouldn’t be any problem in healing. However, if a break is severe enough to be protruding out of the skin or is broken into pieces within the body, then the doctor has to do more to heal this bone. There are many factors that contribute to determining how severe the bone will break; your age, your overall health, the impact of the accident, where it occurred, etc.
Life After an Accident
The extent of your injuries, the damage done, it’s there and it’s real. You are not learning to live your life after the accident. Every accident is different and so will your healing time. Before you do anything, call your injury lawyer in Cornwall and get representation as soon as possible. They will help you get the accident benefits and compensation to help you tide over the situation.