Every year in the United States, 3,000,000 people survive car accident injuries. It’s not something to go crazy obsessing over, but the reality is that every time you get in the car, you’re taking a risk. Because of that, it’s important to be prepared in case you do get injured in a car accident.
Knowing where to get medical care is vital, but to be able to do that, you need to know what kind of care you need. There’s an infinite number of car crash scenarios, but there are some particularly common injuries.
Unless you’re psychic, it’s impossible to know exactly what will happen to you—if anything does. But by knowing these five most common injuries from car accidents, you’ll know what to expect in case of an emergency. Keep reading to learn more.
Probably the very most common car accident injury of all is easy: scrapes and cuts.
In most cases, these injuries aren’t very serious. However, they can range from Band-Aid worthy to life-threatening. If scrapes, cuts, and bruises from a car accident are causing you much grief at all, it’s a good idea to see a doctor about it.
Whiplash is a common term for soft tissue injuries that occur in car accidents. You can get mild whiplash just from taking a turn too hard, but those injuries usually aren’t serious enough to need much care. Whiplash from crashes is often more severe and more dangerous.
Whiplash usually heals pretty quickly, but worse cases and other neck injuries like a slipped disc in the neck or a broken neck are also common.
Broken bones are one of the most common car accident injuries, but that’s a broad category. Some of the very most common broken bones in car accidents are ribs. Ribs are fragile, and your chest takes impact in a wreck, even from the seatbelt.
If the idea of a seatbelt injury makes you want to leave yours off, though, consider that the alternative is being thrown through the window! You’re much less likely to survive that, so keep your seatbelt buckled.
Concussions and whiplash often come hand in hand. Your head is heavy and is easily moved by the force of gravity, and there are a lot of things to hit your head on in a vehicle. Concussions and head injuries from car accidents cause a variety of physical and mental issues, including light sensitivity, mood swings, and memory loss, among other things.
It might not be the first thing to come to mind when you think of car accident injuries, but your knees are vulnerable when sitting in a car. If you’re in the front seats, your knees are likely to hit the dash in a wreck, and the chances of passengers hitting the back seats with their knees are just as high.
Now that you know these five most common injuries people get in car crashes, you’re ready to make emergency plans at home and away. If you’re injured in a car wreck in the Bossier or Haughton, Louisiana area, Coastal Urgent Care is prepared to give you the care you need.
Offering telehealth and in-person appointments every day of the week, we combine the best quality of care with convenience. If you want to set up an appointment or have questions, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
