Did you know that as many as 50 million people worldwide are injured from car accidents each year?
Although no one wants to imagine getting into a car accident, being prepared can save your life.
Do you want to know more about the most common car crash injuries? Keep reading to learn 10 different auto injuries and ways you can avoid getting them.
1. Whiplash Is One of the Most Common Auto Injuries
People suffer from whiplash often because this injury can occur when driving at any speed. Seatbelts may stop our bodies from moving, but our heads continue to go forward. This means that necks endure the most strain after the sudden stop.
It’s important to take it easy after an accident and pay attention to any neck pain that develops.
2. Concussion
Car accident injuries that affect the head are severe. If you hit your head during the crash, it’s important to see a doctor to ensure you don’t have any brain bleeds. If you want to know what questions to ask a doctor after a car accident, this list can help.
3. Bruising and Cuts
If your body hits something hard, you could get deep bruising. The restraint from the seatbelt can also be powerful enough to bruise your chest. To reduce inflammation, you should rest and ice the affected areas.
Cuts are also typical car accident injuries. If they’re not severe enough to get treated by a professional, be sure to clean the wound, apply an antibacterial ointment, and cover with a bandage.
4. Herniated Disc
Depending on how hard you get hit, it’s possible that some of the vertebrae in your spine can shift or rupture. Rest and physical therapy are effective at lessening the severity of this injury.
5. Broken Ribs
If you’re driving fast when you get into an accident, it’s possible that the seatbelt can fracture your ribs. To prevent this, always make sure you obey the speed limit and keep an eye on other drivers.
6. Other Bone Fractures
Arms and legs are also susceptible to fractures if they make contact with hard parts of your vehicle. It’s helpful to maintain a proper posture and remove any objects from your car that could become projectiles in a crash.
7. Internal Bleeding
Some impacts can be forceful enough to damage your organs and rupture your blood vessels. The best way to avoid complications is to get examined by a doctor as soon as possible, even after minor crashes.
8. Knee Injuries
Knees are fragile since they’re composed of lots of soft tissue. If you’re hit from the side, you’re most susceptible to tearing your knee. Whenever you’re a passenger, make sure to keep your feet off the dashboard to avoid serious knee damage in case of an accident.
9. Other Soft Tissue Injuries
Hands, feet, and elbows also have lots of tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissue. Untreated soft tissue injuries can lead to chronic conditions like arthritis. To avoid this, go to a doctor and physical therapist if you start to notice any pain developing.
10. Mental Health Conditions
Car wreck injuries aren’t always physical. Since accidents can be traumatic, it’s important that you stay in tune with your emotions. If you develop anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other negative feelings, don’t delay booking an appointment with a mental health professional.
Want to Learn More About Cars?
Now that you know 10 of the most common auto injuries and ways you can avoid them, you can feel much safer on the roads.
If you want to learn more about cars, maintenance, and more, then Motor Era is your ultimate guide. Check out the rest of our blog for more helpful information.