Common Car Accident Injuries

5 Common car accident injuries 

A car accident is never a situation someone wants to find themself in. Unfortunately, car accidents are an extremely common occurrence – especially in Florida. Nearly every year, you can find Florida in the top 10 list of states with the most car accidents. 

This is a list of some of the most common injuries sustained in a car accident. 

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Bruises and soft tissue injuries 

Bruises are rarely considered a severe injury, and they often heal by themselves within a few days or weeks, but they can still cause pain and discomfort that makes it difficult to move freely. However, soft tissue damage such as sprains, strains, and injuries to tendons, muscles, and ligaments can be long-lasting and very painful. Severe soft tissue injuries can also have life-altering effects. 

Whiplash 

Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries, and it occurs when your neck and head are suddenly forced forward and backward or vice versa. This sudden movement can lead to various muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries and can cause pain to radiate to other areas in the body like your shoulders and back. Symptoms of whiplash can include neck pain, stiffness, reduced range of motion, neck instability, shoulder pain, back pain, and numbness in the neck, shoulders, and arms. 

Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

These types of injuries can be fatal or have life-altering effects. A concussion is a type of TBI. Many people often injure or hit their heads during a car accident. This impact can leave them with a concussion or worse. After sustaining any head injury – even if you believe it is minor – you should always seek medical attention as soon as possible.  

Fractured or broken bones 

The impact of a car accident can put your overall body and bones under overwhelming physical stress that can lead to bones fracturing or breaking. Bones that often break in a car accident include your legs, arms, ribs, and ankles. The severity of the injury depends on many factors, including the car you’re in, the speed you or the other car was going at the time of impact, where your limbs were located at the time of impact, and many more. Serious compound fractures can become very serious and often require surgery to fix. 

Neck and back injuries 

The human spine contains an amazing network of vertebrae, nerves, joints, ligaments, and muscles that work together to help support your entire body. However, the spine is not equipped to deal with heavy impacts, so excess strain, pressure, or stress placed on the spine can result in very serious injuries with life-altering or potentially fatal effects.