Millions of car accidents happen annually and vary in severity. But did you know that even a low-speed car crash could lead to long-term damages? It’s true. Both drivers and passengers are at risk, and injuries can happen regardless of the car’s speed. 

With car accident injuries being unavoidable, we need to understand the types of damages sustained––that ranges from self-healing irritations to severe cases that require urgent medical care.

Types of Car Accident Injuries

Head Injuries 

Head injuries are dangerous and often require extensive, long-term treatment. Drivers and passengers involved in high-speed crashes can hit and injured their heads against dashboards, windows, or steering wheels.

The repercussions can be mild to more severe traumatic brain injuries, that could enter a person into a coma or face other long-term cognitive defects such as loss of vision, problems with hearing, and skull fractures. Likewise, in severe cases, a person may die. 

Back Injuries

Back injuries are one of the most well-known injuries following car crashes. The victim could suffer from a herniated disk, weakened muscles, numbness, and lower back pain.

In severe cases, a person suffers from spinal cord damage that can also affect victims’ nervous systems, leaving them numb. Consequently, a person will be unable to feel anything or control their hands, arms, legs, feet, and other body parts.

Spinal cord damage is so dangerous that if not treated properly, can also result in paralysis.

Neck Injuries

Whiplash is a well-known car accident injury. This condition occurs in crashes when the head and neck of the victim move suddenly and drastically. Whiplash injuries depend on the person’s health and the force he got hit by––the extent of damage varies from person to person. But no matter how strong a person is, this severe neck movement can make his life miserable.

Chest Injuries 

Chest injuries are often some of the most severe types of car accident injuries that come from sharp force trauma sustained in high-impact collisions. As a result, patients might suffer from collapsed lungs and broken ribs. 

Chest injuries can cause immediate internal bleeding and damage to the internal organs. Moreover, it can also harm your abdomen and pelvis. Heart patients are at great risk of getting traumatic cardiac arrest. So, you should not ignore any type of chest injuries and get immediate medical attention.

List of symptoms to be aware of post a car accident:

• Blurry vision
• Headache
• Fatigue, 
• Unusual sleeping patterns
• Clouded thinking
• Swelling and or bruising
• Nausea
• Neck and back pain
• Numbness
• Dizziness
• Pain and stiffness
• Abdominal pain or swelling

Other Car Accident Injuries

Furthermore, car accidents can also damage the hands, arms, legs, and feet of a person. Other serious damages include broken bones, sprains, cuts and scrapes, and ligament damage.

To discover any of the above injuries you might have, your car accident doctor may order specialized tests to reach to the root cause of the problem. Some of these tests are listed below:

• Electromyography (EMG)
• Flexibility testing
• Discography
• MRI
• CT scan 
• Muscle testing
• Physical exam
• X-Rays
• Nerve Conduction Study (NCS)
• Ultrasound
• Stress testing of ligaments and tendons
• Range of motion testing

Did you know?

Car accidents can also affect the victim’s mind and lead him to emotional distress for long, such as increased anxiety, insomnia, flashbacks, and post-traumatic stress disorder. To deal with such condition, you must speak with a physiatrist who will assess your problems and develop a customized therapy plan to bring you back to life.

Car accident doctors usually collaborate closely with neurological physicians to give victims appropriate care for their depression and trauma.

How to avoid auto accident injuries?

You cannot avoid car accident injuries 100%. But knowing about them and ways to avoid it would help you protect yourself and loved ones. Follow these useful tips so both driver and passengers are prepared in the event of a crash:

• Wear your seat belt, no matter whether you’re sitting in front seat or behind.
• Check the condition of a car regularly to ensure nothing goes wrong with the breaks, tiers, or other equipment while you are driving.
• Schedule an annual vision appointment for eyesight checking and use eyeglasses if you face trouble seeing.
• Never drive after consuming drugs or other medication, even if you believe you are perfectly fine.
• Drive slowly, no matter how urgent you want to reach the destination. 
• Remove distractions while driving. Keep the radio low, stay off your cell phone, and avoid eating while driving.
• Never rely on other drivers to follow the traffic rules and stay alert for their mistakes.
• Pay special attention when driving during illness. 
• Keep your headlights on at night to increase visibility and help other drivers to see that you are coming.
• Never forget to use your turn signals when switching the lanes.
• Last but not least, be aware of your car’s limitations. 

On the top, no matter what, you should always pay attention to the road and stay alert of other vehicles to prevent severe collisions on the streets.

Who to visit after a crash?

Usually, your Primary Care Physician treats normal pains and injuries. For car accident injury, you will need to visit an experienced chiropractor or an orthopedist as early as possible. This is a wise decision because your PCP has not have enough specialized training to evaluate car accident injuries appropriately. So you either start searching for doctors online or call your friends to recommend the best one. 

Final thoughts

We want you to stay safe on the road. Thus, you should learn both types of injuries sustained in a car crash and the best ways to avoid them.

Thank you for reading!

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