Each year in the United States, over $380 million is spent on the treatment of car accident-related injuries. Most people fail to realize how dangerous the roadways in their area can be.
Even if you take proper precautions to avoid accidents, the other drivers around you may not. The negligent actions of one driver can result in lots of damage to both the surrounding cars and the drivers in these vehicles.
Common Car Accident Injuries and How They Are Treated
If you find yourself on the losing end of a car wreck, your main goal should be getting medical attention. There are a number of traffic accidents in which the drivers don’t contact the authorities because they view the damage caused as not significant. However, the injuries sustained in a car accident may not always be immediately evident. This is why you need to get checked out by an EMT immediately following the accident.
Are you looking for information about the common car accident injuries and how they are treated? Here are the most common occurrences you need to be aware of:
Whiplash Can Be Extremely Painful
Perhaps the most common injury experienced by people involved in car accidents is whiplash. This injury occurs when a driver’s neck is jarred by a sudden back and forth motion. Typically, this injury occurs in rear-end collisions. People who have whiplash will usually experience problems like stiffness in their neck and persistent headaches.
In most cases, doctors who treat whiplash will focus on things like pain management and physical therapy. The physical therapists that work with whiplash sufferers will try to get their range of motion restored in a relatively short amount of time. This timely turnaround can only happen if the patient gives their all and listens to the advice given to them by their doctor.
Head Injuries are Very Common
One of the most severe problems you may face after a car accident is a traumatic brain injury. If an accident victim received large gashes on their head or a concussion during an accident, their road to recovery will be a long and challenging one. Doctors who treat these types of injuries usually focus on finding the right medicines to help their patients cope with the pain and confusion caused by these injuries.
When experiencing these serious injuries, an accident victim needs to consider filing a lawsuit against the other driver. Traumatic brain injuries can affect a person’s ability to reason, remember, and even work following an accident.
Going in and speaking with a lawyer is essential when trying to assess whether you have a winning case. Once the lawyer looks over the details of your case, they can let you know if you should pursue the lawsuit.
Dealing with Back Injuries
Another part of the body that is put through the paces during a car accident is the back. The amount of force that is generated when two cars collide can lead to the back and spine getting seriously damaged.
Healing your spine after one of these injuries will take time. Wearing braces or limiting your physical activity will be needed when trying to get back to normal after a spine or back injury.
Take The Right Steps After a Car Accident
If you are involved in a car accident, the first thing you need to do is contact members of law enforcement. By calling them, you can also get an ambulance on the way to the scene. Even if you don’t think you have injuries, it is best to get checked out before leaving the scene of the accident. Finally, you may want to sell your vehicle after an accident. Most people do this since it can be costly to repair it on your own.
Throughout the year, our writers feature fresh, in-depth, and relevant information for our audience of 40,000+ healthcare leaders and professionals. As a healthcare business publication, we cover and cherish our relationship with the entire health care industry including administrators, nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and more. We cover a broad spectrum from hospitals to medical offices to outpatient services to eye surgery centers to university settings. We focus on rehabilitation, nursing homes, home care, hospice as well as men’s health, women’s heath, and pediatrics.
