Modern cars have a wide array of safety features designed to keep passengers as safe as possible in an accident. There have been nationwide campaigns to promote seatbelt use and proper car seats for children. But even with all the advanced safety measures in place, the forces of a car crash can still wreak havoc on the human body. Even relatively minor physical injuries can cause significant disruptions in the victim’s life, causing them to miss work, suffer pain and discomfort, and spend time going to doctor or chiropractor visits. There are myriad ways a person could get hurt in a car accident, but some injuries are more common than others.

What Are the Categories of Car Accident Injuries?

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates, over two million people are injured in car crashes yearly. Some of these injuries heal within a few days, but others can cause life-long challenges for the victims. The types of injuries people experience in a car crash are loosely categorized by how the injury occurs. There are impact injuries, which happen when any part of the car occupant’s body collides with something in the vehicle. This could include their chest hitting the seatbelt or their head bouncing off the headrest. The other category of injuries is penetrating injuries. As you can probably guess from the name, these happen when the victim suffers from punctures or scrapes during the accident. These injuries are often caused by loose objects within the vehicle or broken glass from the windows.

What Are the Top Five Ways People Get Hurt in Car Crashes?

Every car accident is unique, and those involved can end up with many different types of injuries. Some people might look uninjured but could be suffering from internal damage or even mental harm such as PTSD from their accident. This is why it is critical for everyone to get a medical examination after an accident, even if they seem to be ok.

Other injuries are much more apparent. The five most commonly seen injuries after a car accident include:

• Soft tissue injuries: Soft tissue includes muscles, tendons, and ligaments. These can get strained or sprained in a crash. The most common varieties of soft tissue injuries sustained are whiplash (severe neck strain) and muscle sprains in the back.
• Head injuries: As the vehicle rapidly goes from moving to standing still during a crash, the victim’s head can be violently thrown in different directions and may impact the car’s interior. This can cause fractures, swelling, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and more.
• Cuts and scrapes: Anything sharp impacting your skin can leave you with wounds ranging from minor to severe.
• Chest injuries: While seatbelts undoubtedly save lives, they can also cause damage to the body as they hold it in the seat. Crash victims may have bruising, broken ribs, or internal injuries.
• Damage to extremities: Arms and legs are very susceptible to injuries during a crash. They can fly into objects, get crushed, or suffer lacerations and bruising.

Why Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer?

If you have been hurt during a car crash, you may face a long road to recovery, filled with doctor visits, large medical bills, and other stressful challenges. You should not have to handle these issues alone. A skilled personal injury lawyer can help you get the care you need, and they will fight to secure you the compensation you deserve for your injuries. If you have been hurt and don’t know what to do next, contact our personal injury team today for a free consultation.