Motorists in California may benefit from learning more about some of the common injuries people suffer in car accidents. There are approximately 6 million car accidents in the US every year. While less than 50,000 of these accidents are fatal, nearly 5 million of them result in people suffering minor and major injuries. Some of the most common injuries include soft tissue damage, head and neck injuries, scrapes and cuts, and back injuries, chest injuries, among others.
Soft tissue damage
Soft tissue damage involves sustaining injuries to the body’s connective tissue, including the tendons, ligaments, and muscles. Soft-tissue injuries can come in a variety of forms. Whiplash, one of the most common vehicular injuries, results in damage to the soft-tissue muscles and ligaments in the head and neck from sudden movements. Lower-back and mid-back muscle sprains are common soft tissue injuries caused by a forceful impact against the spine. DamagIng the spinal cord can also cause nerve damage.
Head and neck injuries
Sudden changes in direction and unexpected stops can force the head to move around in unnatural directions causing sprains and strains on the neck and back. A forceful impact against the head can cause a traumatic brain injury resulting in damage ranging from a mild concussion to long-term chronic cognitive issues. Head injuries may also result in hearing loss, skull fractures, and vision problems. Neck pain and swelling are also common in these types of motor vehicle accidents.
Recovering from an accident
Blunt force trauma to the upper torso may result in chest trauma injuries, collapsed lungs, and broken ribs. Damage to the spinal cord may affect the arms and legs, and could even result in total paralysis. Injury victims may be due compensation for the damages caused by the crash if the driver who caused the accident is found to be liable by a judge or jury.
