Here is a list of a few of the most common injuries that motorists sustain after an accident:
Neck Injuries (Cervical Spine)
Neck injuries after car accidents are extremely common due to the “whiplash” motion that your head and neck almost always experiences as the result of a vehicle collision.
The severity of a neck injury can range from mild muscle swelling and soreness in the neck and shoulders, to spinal fractures that can cause permanent disability, and everything in between.
Often when people experience sharp pain that lasts for more than a few weeks in their neck following an accident, it has to do with the discs in their Cervical spine. Traumatic accidents such as vehicle collisions can throw these discs out of alignment, causing them to bulge or even rupture. This bulging disc can press against the nerves in your spine, causing frequent and intense pain.
Lower Back Injuries (Lumbar Spine)
Lower back injuries are also an extremely common injury as a result of car accidents, especially if it was a rear-end accident which applied direct force to the lower back.
Like neck injuries, a lower back injury can range from temporary muscle soreness to a full-blown spinal fracture.
Often, however, like the neck, the cause of continuing lower back pain that does not improve with time after a vehicle accident is a spinal disc injury in the Lumbar spine. This type of injury is frequently missed on an X-Ray and may require an MRI Image in order to diagnose.
Shoulder Injuries (Swelling, Tears)
Another common result of the “whiplash” motion that people experience in car accidents are shoulder injuries. These injuries can range from mild swelling and bruising (bursitis) all the way to full labrum tears.
Sometimes it can be difficult for the injured person to differentiate between the pain from a minor injury and the pain from a major tear in the shoulder. Thus, these injuries also may require MRI imaging to diagnose.
Head Injuries (Concussion, TBI)
Finally, another common result of a car accident is a head injury, especially if the collision was so forceful that the airbags deployed.
The moments after a car accident can be extremely overwhelming. Many people who experience head injuries often do not think about it until hours later when they begin to experience a headache. However, any headache or pain you experience after a vehicle collision should be taken extremely seriously and we always recommend going to the Emergency Room right away if you are experiencing any symptoms of head trauma.
Even a minor head injury can lead to a laundry list of future negative effects that the injured party will have to navigate and should be taken seriously.
If you have been injured as a result of a car accident, we highly recommend that you contact a personal injury attorney to see if you have a claim. Contact us today for a free consultation and case evaluation.