COMMON INJURIES RESULTING FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT

According to a survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than three million people are injured each year in automobile accidents throughout the United States. While minor auto accident injuries are easily healable, some might turn out severe and lead to permanent disabilities or even death.

Most common causes of road accidents

Accidents occur mostly due to human errors. However, sometimes, nature contributes as well. The most common reasons for roadside accidents are as below:

1. Driver’s negligence:

It might feel gratifying to master the art of multitasking, but it comes with a cost. Engaging in any activity while you’re driving is dangerous not just for you but others on the road. A prevalent cause of auto accident injuries is the use of a cellphone while driving. Scrolling through social media, texting or merely capturing videos while driving is hazardous. At times it’s even fatal.

Other distractions include adjusting seat belts, eating food or talking to the passengers present along with you.

2. Under-influence driving:

You’re lucky if you got home unhurt after driving under influence, without an auto accident injury. Influence is not just restricted to alcohol. Many DUI cases involve intoxicated by heroin, marijuana, cocaine and meth. Another cause can be prescribed medication and pills. It’s always advised never to drive after taking medicated drugs since they make you drowsy.

Whenever under influence, make sure you avoid driving yourself. Either ask a friend for a ride, catch a taxi or wait till you’re sober. Drunk driving is the worst gamble with not only your life but with that of others driving around you.

3. Over speeding:

People stay within speed limits not because they care about their safety but to avoid speeding tickets. The moment traffic police officers disappear from sight; reckless drivers often accelerate their vehicles. Whether you’re running late to work or want to feel the adrenaline of over speeding, it’s never worth it.

The faster your vehicle gets, the more you lose control over it. Any unexpected turn or break might be fatal for you or others on the road due to your lack of responsibility.

4. Reckless Driving:

Over speeding comes under the long list of reckless driving. Other aspects include taking abrupt breaks, spontaneously accelerating, driving between lanes, going wrong ways, not following the traffic light rules, rushing out of streets, taking illegal U-turns or switching lanes without indicators.

Reckless driving causes problems for everyone on the road. From traffic blocks to accidents, all of it can be avoided if a driver remains calm while driving.

5. Rain:

Although recommended but one can’t just wholly avoid driving in a rainy season. Rain alters road conditions drastically. It reduces traction, makes the road slippery, reduces visibility and digs and hides large potholes and puddles.

If you can’t pull over to wait for the rain to subside, you should drive staying extra aware and exercising great caution. Always maintain low speed on a wet road, and take familiar roads where you’re aware of potholes.

Injuries resulting from car crashes

Walking away from a car crash in one piece is a matter of sheer luck. While many are deadly, some accidents might be injurious instead of fatal. Some injuries caused by car crashes are more recurring than others.

Read below to learn about the five most common auto accidents injuries.

1. Whiplash neck injuries:

These are among the most common injuries resulting from rear-end collisions. Whiplash occurs when the head snaps forward and backwards in a whip-like motion due to the sudden impact of a car accident. It damages muscles, tendons and soft tissue in the neck. Severe whiplash impairments can last a lifetime, while the milder ones may take months to heal.

2. Spinal cord and back injuries:

SCI is damage to the spinal cord due to trauma. Usually, a severe spinal auto accident injury is caused by the other party’s negligence or recklessness. When a traumatic blow suddenly hits the spine, it fractures or dislocates vertebrae which cause bruising and tearing of the spinal cord tissue. This further results in either partial or full paralysis that can affect arms, hands, trunk, legs and pelvic organs, depending on the severity of the injury.

3. Soft tissue injuries:

When muscles, tendons or ligaments are damaged and exhausted, soft tissue injuries happen. Mostly it’s due to a sudden unexpected or uncontrolled movement like abruptly rolling over your ankle. However, soft tissue damage can also occur from exploitation and overuse of chronically fatigued muscles and tendons like excessive running or workouts. It is possible to cause trauma or strain to musculoskeletal structures after an auto accident injury.

4. Chest injuries:

After a collision, blows to the chest can cause a minor or severe injury depending on the intensity. Chest injuries might affect other organs like lungs, trachea (airway) or liver and puncture kidneys. A jolt to the front of the sternum can injure the heart or large blood vessels of the esophagus (tube leading from the mouth to the stomach). It may even break or crack a rib or injure cartilage of the rib cage. These dysfunctions cause shortness of breath and signs of shock.

5. Traumatic Brain Injury:

TBI is an injury to the brain due to a blow to the head from blunt or penetrating trauma. When collusion happens, the brain crashes back and forth inside the skull causing bruising, bleeding, and tearing of nerve fibers. Immediately after the accident or with time, the person may have a blurry vision and memory, dizziness, or lose consciousness. Then delayed trauma, swells and pushes the brain against the skull reducing the flow of fresh blood.

Severe auto accident injuries like TBI or fractures involve surgeries and proper medical care. However, others like whiplash, spinal or soft tissue injuries can be healed by joint dysfunctions and spinal manipulation by chiropractors. Many chiropractic clinics like Empower Health and Balance in Motion, offer these services. Despite being curable, it’s always advised to maintain your demeanor while you’re on the road to ensure your safety along with everyone else’s. It’s still better safe than sorry!