There are more vehicles on the road than ever these days. People use their vehicles to drive to and from work and run errands; plus, rideshare services such as Uber and delivery services such as DoorDash have increased in popularity. With so many vehicles on the road, accidents can happen, and it’s essential to know how to handle the most common injuries of a car accident.
Exterior Injury
The most recognizable and frequent injury from a car accident is external injury. Wounds such as cuts, scrapes, bruising are painful but hopefully not life threatening. In the event of excessive bleeding or an open gash, seek proper care with a medical professional.
Concussions and Other Head Injuries
One of the most serious and often unchecked injuries is the dreaded concussion. Head injuries are common from hitting the steering wheel or airbag. A concussion occurs when your skull takes a blow in a way that affects brain function. Minor symptoms range from dizziness to headaches, but more severe injuries could result in death. Seek medical help to get a CT scan if you think you have head trauma.
Internal Bleeding
Like head trauma, internal bleeding is a frequent and unseen injury that people often sustain from car accidents. You may have internal bleeding if you’re coughing up blood or experiencing lightheadedness mixed with abdominal discomfort. In severe cases, you may need surgery to stop any lasting damage.
Whiplash
Caused by rapid back-and-forth movement, whiplash is an injury that most commonly affects the neck or back. Naturally, in a car accident, one may rapidly lunge forward and then fly backward thanks to their seat belt, causing this discomfort. Usually, ice or a massage will bring down this pain, but consider deep tissue therapy for a particularly bad case.
The best way to handle the most common injuries of a car accident is to seek medical attention and get an accurate assessment of the damage. Accidents happen for a multitude of reasons, from intoxicated or distracted drivers to weather conditions outside our control. Identifying the more common risks will aid in saving lives and keeping the roads safer for everybody.
