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The road is a dangerous place. Vehicle drivers are involved in many accidents each year. In the United States, car accidents are one of the most common causes of premature death. Not all car accidents are fatal, however. Here is a quick guide to some of the most common injuries suffered by victims of vehicular accidents.
Whiplash
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Whiplash is one of the most commonly suffered injuries caused by vehicular accidents. Rear-end accidents are especially likely to cause this problem. According to the Mayo Clinic, whiplash is primarily caused by the quick backward and forwards motion of the neck during a sudden stop.
Symptoms of whiplash are usually felt immediately after an accident of once shock has subsided. They include:
- Tingling and/ or numbness in the arms
- Painful headaches starting at the base of the skull
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Loss of movement in the neck and shoulder area
- Neck and back pains
For people with limited medical insurance, whiplash can also have some serious financial repercussions. Call a trusted car accident attorney if you have had to pay steep hospital fees thanks to whiplash.
Lacerations
All sorts of lacerations can be received during vehicle accidents. All but the smallest open wounds need quick medical attention. Modern road vehicles contain plenty of materials that can pierce flesh and skin during a crash: from the glass of the windscreen to the twisted metal of a ruined bonnet.
Blood loss should be the initial concern of any person attending a laceration. Apply pressure to the wound as much as possible and call immediately for medical help.
Broken Bones
Vehicles are extremely heavy and carry a great deal of kinetic energy as they travel. A sudden stop due to an accident is relatively likely to result in broken bones for any driver, passenger, or nearby pedestrian. Bone breakage is an extremely varied kind of injury.
Complex fractures require surgery and rehabilitation, whereas hairline examples usually heal if reset and put into a sling without any surgical intervention. Broken bones can be immensely painful. Again, medical help needs to be sought immediately if you suspect that you may have broken a bone.
Concussion
A concussion is a kind of traumatic brain injury caused by the sudden movement of the brain. It is regularly suffered by victims of trucking accidents. Concussion symptoms include:
- Short term memory loss
- Personality changes
- Blurry vision
- Confusion
- Vomiting and nausea
- Feelings of pressure against the skull
Concussions can be extremely serious. Although most concussions do not cause life threatening damage, they are often paired with bleeding inside the skull, which is immensely dangerous and requires surgical intervention.
No matter how serious or minor a concussion feels, always head for the hospital. Medical staff can conduct CT scans to check for bleeding or swelling inside the skull. Symptoms of even the most minor concussion can last up to a month. Serious brain injuries paired with a concussion can be life-changing and even fatal in rarer cases.
