Injuries that are a result of car and truck collisions number in the millions across America annually. While statistics place the average number of roadway deaths at around 50,000 annually and in a recent year the number of major and minor injuries numbered nearly 3 million.
This would include broken bones, internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, head trauma, burns, loss of limbs and other bodily parts, and even cuts, bruises, minor aches and pains, whiplash and residual emotional and psychological trauma.
Let us consider the statistics of the most common vehicle collision injuries more closely. Often the facial and head area is the first area to sustain injuries as they are directly in the ‘line of fire’.
Victims may suffer facial and scalp lacerations, bruises or even fractures – such as to the jaw. In addition, those involved in auto accidents may require dental work as well. Injuries to the brain include everything from concussions to closed head injury.
The worst of these is a traumatic brain injury that may forever alter a person’s way of life. Brain injuries are often accompanied by negative long term effects.
The neck and shoulders are also very vulnerable to minor to severe damage. The most common of these are sprains and strains. Whiplash and fractures are also regular results of severe auto accidents.
Shoulders may also be dislocated from collisions both minor and severe depending on the direction of the impact. Back and spinal injuries are some of the more dangerous concerns because of the possibility of partial or full paralysis. All extremities have the possibility of simple or compound fractures as well as clean breaks in which the bone may or may not protrude through the skin.
Finally, automobile accidents have great potential to cause internal injuries as well as long term psychological repercussions. None are pleasant – drive defensively.
Closed head injury and car accidents
A variety of physical injuries can result from an auto accident. Broken bones, paralysis, internal injuries or even cuts and bruises may lay you up for days, weeks or even months. One type of injury that is especially difficult to treat is the closed-head injury. Let us consider this in today’s post to our car accident lawyer blog.
Traumatic brain injuries are unlike any other kind because they alter a person’s ability to think and may even impact their personality. Perhaps the most insidious part of a brain injury is the fact that it is not always apparent and symptoms may not manifest themselves immediately.
A blow to the brain may cause one to begin to lose their memory over time and it may even interfere with his or her ability to speak. This can happen simply by jostling the brain – even when there is no apparent head wound.
There are several types of closed head injuries. A concussion is usually a minor brain injury that is the result of a blow to the head that shakes the brain inside the skull. Symptoms of a concussion include disorientation or slurred speech or the victim could actually be unconscious.
A second type of traumatic brain injury is subdural hematoma. In this case the actual skull bone is not broken but there is severe trauma to the brain and an artery bursts. Unless treated immediately death is all but certain.
The third type of traumatic brain injury is the epidural hematoma. This happens when the brain hits the side of the skull and ruptures the delicate matter surrounding it. The victim may first experience a headache but quickly bleeding puts pressure on the brain and often surgeons need to bore a hole in the skull to relieve pressure.
Finally, it doesn’t take a medical professional to realize that head injuries have the potential to be fatal. If you are the victim of a car accident be cognizant of your symptoms and seek medical help.
Better to be safe than to be sorry.