According to World Health Organization, around 1.3 million people suffer from vehicle crashes every year. Some of them are fortunate enough to make it out alive or at least with fewer injuries, while others have to experience lifetime disability. In this article, we will discuss some common car accident injuries and their treatments.
Commonly Reported Car Accident Injuries
The number of injuries incurred through a car crash can be numerous. From limb loss to no scratches at all, anything is possible. Below are a few of the car wreck injuries:
Bruises and cuts
Bruises and cuts are the most common kind of injury in an accident. The front glass may break and cut through your skin, or you may experience rashes from the seat cover. The cuts can be negligible or severe relative to how they incur, but you should not ignore them anyway.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Again, fractures and cracked bones are common. It usually happens when something hits you by force. In a car crash, if the front part of your car crushes, chances are your leg bones might have broken as well.
Whiplash Injuries
Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when your neck rocks back and forth by force. It involves damage to your neck plates, tendons, muscles, and nerves. Remember, Whiplash is not Concussion and it is related to brain injury.
The symptoms of whiplash injury are many, but some of them are the following:
- Neck stiffness and pain
- Fatigue
- Shoulder pain
- Headaches
Brain Injuries
If you are habitual of wearing a seat belt, this type of injury is rare but possible. If your head bangs on the steering wheel of something else, this type of injury can occur. Common brain injuries include Concussion, Diffuse Axonal Injury, Open Head Injury, etc. It can cause further issues like sleeplessness and hindrance in proper brain functioning.
Spinal Injuries
Spinal injuries can be very costly. Such injuries occur when something hits you by force. The worst part about a spinal injury is that it can put you in paralysis. A herniated disc, fractured spine are some of the spinal issues that may occur.
Internal Bleeding
Internal bleeding can be life-threatening. It occurs when any of your internal organs rupture due to high force. Such injury can be lethal as the patient may not be aware of it in some instances.
Can There Be No Injuries In An Accident?
Yes, it is possible, but the chances are rare. There are accidents where no injuries get reported. If you ever encounter such a situation, don’t relax; hasten to the nearest hospital immediately. Internal injuries might have occurred.
Can Small Injuries Be Overlooked?
You can not ignore minute injuries. Never! Ignoring injuries like bruises or cuts can turn out to be fatal. So, they are equally crucial, and you can not overlook them. You may only see their effects after a few hours or days.
Treatments
Injury recovery is a gradual and time-consuming process. As we said earlier, no injury, big or small, should be neglected. If you see no apparent injuries, please don’t go back to your home. We still recommend you visit a doctor because care is better than cure.
Various treatments are available for car wreck injuries, but what treatment to give is chosen based on multiple factors and conditions. The doctor would first diagnose and then decide what to do.
Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Adjustments
Physical therapy is a combination of stretching and strengthening exercises. It is handy for the restoration of maximum bodily movements and mobility. In the post-crash scenario, a physical therapist would examine your situation and develop a plan for you. You can undergo this therapy in case of pain or strain.
If the alignment of your bones has changed, you would have to visit a chiropractic physician.
Whiplash Care
Since it’s a neck injury, it can be painful. Therefore, it requires proper care; otherwise, pain can increase.
The doctor would diagnose your problem and recommend the needed treatment. Some of the typical whiplash treatments include:
- Medication
- Applying heat or cold on the affected area
- Rest
- Putting on Foam Collars
In case of a whiplash injury, whiplash care becomes essential. There are other treatments as well, such as Kyphoplasty and injections.
Laser Therapy
Low-Level Laser Therapy reduces the production of scar tissues. This way, the recovery of tissues speeds up. Remember, you may experience pain after few hours due to the start of the healing process.
Surgery
In cases like internal bleeding or damage to your organ, you might undergo surgery.
Miscellaneous
Some other treatments include bandages, plaster, and wound sewing.
Leading Causes of Car Crashes
There are many reasons why car crashes occur. It is good to know a few of them to avoid them.
Distracted Driving
If you use a cell phone while driving or get lost in the scenery, your chances of a crash are high. Valuable insight, isn’t it? Make sure you are heedful of the situation next time you drive.
Over Speeding or Drunk Driving
If the speed limit says 100, you better comply with it. Over speeding contributed 26% in accident casualties in 2019. On the other hand, drunk driving causes 10,000 deaths every year. Keep these numbers in mind while starting the engine in the morning.
Improper Turns
People realize they have to make a turn at the last moment. Often this results in the person behind either crashing into you or something else. But if the person hits your car while you’re taking a turn, your car might turn upside down.
If you realize that you have to make a turn at the last moment, please drive straight and take the next turn!
Wet Roads
If it’s raining or the roads are wet for some other reason, chances are, it would be slippery as well. It is your responsibility to drive slowly on such roads keeping in sight the safety of others.
Driving at Night
Although there are many causes of the accidents, this one is last on the list. If you drive at night, you may not see the front objects clearly. Even if the street lights are properly working, please drive carefully. Sometimes, you may experience glares in the eyes and end up crashing into something. Therefore, you are obliged to steer with eyes wide open to ensure the safety of others and yourself.
Safety Tips
As wise people say, it is always better to be safe than sorry. If you follow the guidelines, the chances of risk reduce significantly. Following are a few of the things you should keep in mind while driving:
- Don’t drink and drive.
- Wear the seat belt.
- Keep the speed limit in check.
- No phone calls.
- No distractions.
- Keep your eyes wide open.
- Stop when the signal asks you to.
Conclusion
The injuries resulting from a car crash are countless, from broken bones to torn muscles and others. Every injury requires diagnosis and suitable treatment.
Remember, saving yourself from a car accident is difficult. It is often your negligence that puts you on risk. But there are ways through which prevention of such incidents is possible.
