3 Common Types of Car Accident Injuries

Car Accident Lawyer

Car accidents are unfortunately common. While some are minor and do not result in any injuries, others end up doing harm to people in or around the vehicles. The damage that results from auto accident injury can range in severity as a car accident lawyer from a law firm like Tuttle Law, P.A. can explain. However, some types of injuries tend to happen more often than others.

1. Head Injuries

It is common for people in a car accident to hit their heads on parts of the interior of their vehicles, such as the back of the car seat, the steering wheel, the doorframe, or the window or windshield. Where you hit your head may depend on the direction of the impact. In any case, if you hit your head in a car accident, you may end up with a concussion or other traumatic brain injury.

A concussion occurs when your brain strikes against the inside of your skull. It can cause headaches, brief loss of consciousness, and deficits in cognition and memory. With prompt medical treatment, most people recover completely from a concussion. However, it can cause serious complications if left untreated. Other traumatic brain injuries can cause even worse damage, potentially sending you into a coma or causing permanent dysfunction.

2. Internal Injuries

In a car accident, the impact can affect the internal structures of your body without necessarily tearing the skin. If there is damage to your delicate organs, their tissues can tear and you may experience internal bleeding. Symptoms of internal bleeding are not always evident right away, but it can be extremely serious and even life-threatening if not treated promptly.

Your bones are meant to absorb impact to protect the internal organs, but even they have their breaking point. Bone fractures from motor vehicle collisions are very common. Fortunately, the prognosis for most broken bones tends to be good as osseous tissue is known for its ability to heal. Broken bones also tend not to go undiagnosed because of the pain they can cause.

3. Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissues are things like muscles and connective tissues between the bones. Two common soft tissue injuries resulting from car accidents are whiplash and herniated disks. Whiplash is a name given to strain on the muscle and ligaments of the neck when the head jerks back and forth from the impact. Disks are flat, roughly round structures of cartilage that provide cushioning between the bones of the spine. There is a soft inner layer that can leak out and push against the spine if the outer layer tears due to trauma.

Contact a local car accident lawyer if you suffered a serious injury in a car accident.