Driving is a huge responsibility, and every time you take a seat behind the wheel and set off on the road, you have to acknowledge and accept the duty you have to drive safely, not only for your own safety and well-being but also for the safety and well-being of your passengers and all those you encounter along the way.
If every driver in the world truly accepted this responsibility and treated it with the importance it merits, the roads would be a much safer place, and the world would lose far less people to auto accidents. Unfortunately, in the real world, auto accidents are still immensely common, with millions happening every single year.
Many of these accidents are caused by drivers failing to follow the rules, behaving recklessly, or with a lack of care and thought for one another. Others are caused by other factors, such as poor weather conditions, issues with the road, or mechanical faults and failures with the cars involved. Either way, accidents happen a lot, leading to many people getting injured.
The injuries of car accident victims can be debilitating and life-changing in many ways. They can vary in severity and may lead to a wide array of different symptoms and side effects. The more you know about the possible injuries, the more motivation you may have to drive safely and reduce your own risks of ending up in an accident altogether.
Whiplash
When it comes to car accident injuries, whiplash is one of the most common types of all. Whiplash is a form of neck injury that occurs when the neck is subjected to a large force, leading to a rapid and sudden back and forth movement, just like the crack of a whip. This sort of injury often happens in rear-end collisions, as the sudden impact of the two vehicles colliding causes the driver’s head to be flung forwards and then backwards really quickly.
Fortunately, even though this is one of the most common auto accident injuries, it’s also one of the least serious injuries too. Many people get better on their own, without any need for specialist treatment or surgery, within just a few weeks. However, in the meantime, patients do usually suffer quite a lot of pain and stiffness in the neck and the effects may last months of years in the worst cases.
Crush Injuries
One of the worst types of injury you might suffer in an auto accident is a crush injury. Crushing injuries occur due to the huge, heavy forces involved in auto accidents, and they can occur in other situations in life when a person becomes physically crushed under something heavy or between two heavy objects.
These types of injuries result in immense pressure being applied to the body, and they can have many effects like fractured bones, broken bones, lacerations, bleeding, bruises, nerve damage, tissue damage, and even infection too if the person isn’t treated quickly enough. Crush injuries can be life-threatening in the worst cases, and it’s vital for crush victims to get rapid medical aid.
Broken Bones
A lot of auto accident victims also suffer from some sort of breakage or fracturing of their bones after crashes and collisions. This happens quite often in auto accidents due to the fact that people inside the car tend to get flung around with great force when the crash actually happens. The huge forces take their toll on the body as it connects with other objects like doors, seats, steering wheels, and windows.
If you get flung forward during a crash, for example, your ribs might connect with the steering wheel at great speed, leading to a fracture or break. These types of bone damage can occur all over the body, from the legs and arms right up to the skull. In terms of treatment, surgery may be needed, along with plenty of rest to give the bones time to heal.
Brain Injuries
Another possibility after an auto accident is a brain injury. Again, this will happen if the person’s head is flung forwards due to the impact of the crash, connecting with a hard object in front of them like the dashboard or seat. Even if your head doesn’t hit anything, the force can shake the brain around and cause a lot of damage on its own.
Brain injuries can vary in severity, leading to a lot of potential symptoms and side effects. In the mildest of cases, a person might only suffer a light concussion and headaches that should fade away quite quickly. In more serious situations, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can occur, leading to issues like memory loss, mental health problems, and cognitive issues.
Cuts and Bruises
Not all auto accidents lead to debilitating and life-changing injuries. There are some accidents that are relatively mild in nature and may only lead to minor injuries that can heal on their own without any particular need for urgent medical care or attention, such as basic cuts and bruises.
If an auto accident leads to the breaking of a window, for example, some of the glass might fall onto the driver and passengers, causing cuts. The impact of the collision might also lead to minor bruising around the body, without any actual fractures or breaks. Still, even if you only appear to have minor bruising after an auto accident, it’s wise to speak with your doctor for an official medical diagnosis.
Mental Health
It’s also important to note that the health effects of an auto accident aren’t always physical in nature. Many people struggle with a wide range of mental health issues after auto crashes and collisions too. Someone who has a bad accident may experience a newfound phobia of driving, for example, or might find themselves suffering from stress and anxiety.
Symptoms of depression and PTSD are also common after auto accidents, and the long-term consequences of these mental health problems can be very difficult to deal with, potentially leading to knock-on effects in a person’s personal and professional life such as relationships troubles or loss of income due to problems at work.
Conclusion
These are only some of the injuries you might incur after an auto accident, and it’s clear to see that crashes and collisions can be hugely damaging for those involved. Be sure to drive safely to avoid accidents and take the right steps if you are involved in one.
