woman in blue denim jacket and black denim jeans sitting on hospital bed

Photo by RODNAE Productions on <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-blue-denim-jacket-and-black-denim-jeans-sitting-on-hospital-bed-6129050/" rel="nofollow">Pexels.com</a>

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people get injured on the nation’s roads. It’s one of the leading causes of morbidity and something that touches the lives of nearly everyone. 

Getting injured in an accident can be a jarring and frightening experience. You want everything to go well in your life but you suddenly find yourself in the office of a semi truck accident lawyer, discussing your injuries and case.

This post takes a look at the most common injuries on the road and some of their consequences. Let’s take a look. 

Concussions

Concussions occur when the brain jerks inside the skull due to an impact. We typically associate it with head injuries and contact sports, but it can also occur during a vehicular impact. 

Concussions often feel like headaches, but they can be life-threatening. That’s because the brain is responsible for maintaining a constant state inside the body. If it gets injured, that becomes impossible. 

Unsplash – CC0 Licence

Back Injuries

Road accidents can also lead to back injuries. While permanent disablement is rare, it can still happen. 

The most common type of injury is a strain. This happens when muscles and tendons get damaged in the back. 

Sprains are also common. These occur when ligaments stretch and become damaged. 

Passengers and drivers can also experience ruptured discs. Here, damaged or open vertebrae occur. 

Leg And Foot Injuries

Leg and foot injuries are also common in car accidents because of the way vehicles crumple around passengers when damaged. Parts of the car often crumple into the leg and cause damage. 

Whiplash

Whiplash is perhaps the most common injury that occurs during car accidents and something insurance companies pay out millions of dollars each year for. Symptoms of this injury include a stiff neck, worsening pain when you move the neck, and a loss of motion. Some victims can also get headaches and numbness in the affected area. 

Around 120,000 people get whiplash injuries every year. It’s most common during rear-end collisions, where the head suddenly tilts back and knocks into the head restraint. Fortunately, it usually heals within a few weeks, meaning you can go back to your regular life quickly. 

Facial Injuries

Facial injuries are surprisingly common in road accidents. The nose, eyes, mouth, and ears all contain delicate parts that accidents damage easily. 

Bone fractures, for instance, may occur after an accident. If you do not receive medical attention, then you might not heal properly, causing disfigurement. 

Soft tissue injuries are also common. Accidents can damage the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. 

You can also get facial burns if there is heat or fire after the accident. 

Broken Bones

Lastly, broken bones are a common injury on the roads. These usually result from heavy collisions at high speeds, but paramedics may not detect them at the scene of the accident. It is only afterward they become apparent. 

Displacement fractures are common where the bone breaks in multiple places and then moves. You might also have a non-displaced fracture where the bone breaks but stays where it is.