Driving with the greatest possible prudence and adhering to general traffic rules is one of the best ways to avoid the high rate of accidents that occur all the time. However, a traffic accident is an unforeseeable circumstance and its consequences are difficult to calculate. According to the Louisiana Car Accident Attorney Bart Bernard, there are a number of car accident injuries that have been identified as frequent in the context of road accidents.
Sadly, there are many fatal casualties as a result of traffic accidents, and also some people who suffer lifelong injuries. These numbers are decreasing thanks to drivers’ awareness and the efforts of road safety organizations, associations of accident victims and other public agencies to try to avoid them as much as possible.
The reality is that there are many more traffic accidents with minor consequences, especially in the cities, but just because they are minor, they shouldn’t receive less attention. The injuries suffered after a traffic accident often become chronic and deserve to be treated with special care. In addition, people who suffer these minor injuries in a traffic accident are also entitled to receive compensation for them. Some of the more common auto accident injuries include:
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Pain
Pain is probably the most common and minor injury among car accidents. There are different types and areas where victims feel pain such as:
1. Cervical and dorsal pain
Usually occurs after a sudden pull in the neck or whiplash that causes a rapid “forward and backward” movement. It is a very common injury among the occupants of a vehicle that is hit from behind or sideways.
2. Lumbar pain
This is also known as lower back pain, the origin of which has to do with the musculoskeletal structure of the spine. It is produced by a sudden and unexpected movement that may occur in a car accident. The most common manifestations of lower back pain are local or radiated pain, inflammation and the presence of muscle contractions.
Traumatic injuries
No area of our body is exempt from impact when a collision occurs. The impact triggers a chain reaction in our body that has the strength to break bones and move internal organs of our body. That is why it is essential to go to a hospital for a check-up and to rule out any serious injuries. Some examples of more serious car accident injuries include:
1. Sprains
A sprain is an injury to the ligaments that puts together two bones that form a joint. These ligaments are made up of very strong fibers, but when they are forced to the limit or make a very sudden and excessive movement, are broken or stretched excessively, the joint hurts and becomes inflamed.
2. Luxation
This is known as dislocation. Dislocation is the separation of a joint where two different bones exist. When your bones are dislocated in a car accident, it means the bones are no longer in their normal position. The person who suffers this type of injury will feel a serious amount of pain, and temporarily won’t be able to move that limb, not to mention he or she will also notice a noticeable deformity in the form of a bump where the dislocation took place.
3. Fractures
There are different types of fractures, partial or complete. A partial fracture is when the bone is only cracked and when the bone doesn’t fully break. There are also cases when only a certain part of the bone gets damaged and the rest of the bone bends somehow. When a fracture happens, the bone is broken into two fragments. This fracture can have different angle from where it breaks, horizontally or vertically. There are also some severe cases where the bone breaks in more than 2 pieces, called Multi-fragmentary Fracture.
4. Abdominal trauma
Abdominal injuries are potentially fatal and should be approached with caution. Abdominal traumas may be the origin of a broad spectrum of injuries which, if not diagnosed and treated quickly, can lead to harmful (and potentially deadly) consequences. Typically, these injuries are classified as either closed-head trauma or penetrating injuries. These types of traumatic injuries can be deadly because of all the internal damaged caused to the organs from the accident, causing internal bleeding and hemorrhages.
5. Thoracic trauma
Also simply called chest injury, occurs when a victim hits his chest against the car with a lot of force, usually the steering wheel. Chest trauma is a highly challenging situation in emergency management. It requires a lot of knowledge regarding the complications that can put the patient’s life at high risk in a few minutes. Of the total mortality of trauma, 75% is due to thoracic trauma as a primary cause or as a contributing element. That is why the immediate treatment of these thoracic injuries is essential in emergency work.
6. Head injury
This type of trauma is common in motorcycle accidents and occurs when you receive a hard blow to the head. During vehicle accidents, it is common when victims hit their windshield with their head, sometimes so hard that it even breaks. Head injuries can be minor and will give only a mild headache or represent serious and permanent neurological injuries to your brain or even concussions! Therefore, it is essential to go to a hospital whenever you experience a head injury in a motorcycle accident or any type of accident in order to rule out major injuries.
Aesthetic damages
Aesthetic damage is also considered an injury after an accident and is eligible for compensation. This type of damage is usually caused by cuts, burns or blows suffered in the accident or by the scars derived from the operations necessary to treat the injuries produced by the accident.
Psychological damage
Not only visible injuries occur during car accidents but also psychological wounds, like Post-traumatic stress disorder. This condition may include deep anxiety, lack of sleep, fear of driving again, and repetitive thoughts about the accident. When you are trying to submit a claim, it can be tricky to prove unless you have a certified therapist or psychiatrist that can back you up your diagnosis on time.
When you are involved in an accident the most important thing is to seek proper medical help of course. For this, you have to make sure your insurance is always in order, so all the expenses can be covered by it. If you have been a victim of a serious auto accident, it is important to submit a claim and ask for monetary compensation from the perpetrator, so make sure to contact an experienced attorney that can take care of this.