Top 5 Most Common Car Accident Injuries

Imagine driving down a busy street and you slowly come to a stop at the red light. Suddenly, out of the blue, the car behind you fails to come to a stop in time, and rear ends you. Not only is your car now totaled, you now suffer from back pain. This is a very common situation many car drivers find themselves in after going through an accident. If you or a loved one have sustained injuries from a car accident, call our experienced car accident attorneys.

Car Accident Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 33,000 car accidents that ended as fatalities in the year 2019 in United States. About one in ten drivers were likely to end up in a car accident in California Those drivers located in more populous and urban cities, such as Las Vegas, had a higher chance of ending up in a car accident. Further, a large percentage of the number of fatalities had drivers who had a high blood alcohol level when tested at the accident site.

Although many drivers still neglect to wear a seatbelt, those not wearing a seatbelt are half as likely to end up with serious injuries after an accident when compared to those who wear a seatbelt. In 2019, about 91% of Americans reported wearing seatbelts on their daily drive.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Whiplash

The most common type of car accident injury is whiplash. Whiplash occurs when your car hits another, and from the sudden impact, your body moves. The sudden movement causes pain in the lower back. Whiplash could affect both muscles and bones. In severe cases, the back disks could get damaged, which need long term medical care for the pain it causes. This trauma has lasting effects, and drivers who have suffered any time of whiplash motion should seek medical attention immediately to see if they have sustained any injuries.

Head injuries

Oftentimes when a car hits another (regardless of the position the car was hit from), can delay the time for the airbags to go off. Therefore, when the drivers get hit by another car, the drivers head could bend forward and hit the hard steering wheel. If the airbag does go off, the drivers head is pushed back. Both types of situations lead to head injuries, such as headaches. The most common symptom of head injuries is lack of sleep. It can also lead to severe injuries, such an internal bleeding that requires long term care and treatment.

Knee injury

A common injury that is overlooked are knee injuries sustained. Usually, drivers who seek medical help get X-rayed for any injuries that have occurred at their back. This injury is common in passengers, when their knee hits the dashboard after sudden impact. When that happens, bones could get fractured. The pain is not felt right away, usually it would take days until pain or numbness is felt. Because of the numerous bones and the joints that are at the knee, knee pain can be caused by several complications. Drivers in accidents should seek medical help immediately.

Chest injuries

Chest injuries occur when the seatbelt pulls the driver or passenger back when the car braces for impact. Even though not wearing a seatbelt could have substantial fatal effects, wearing a seatbelt could often lead to bruising. The most severe injury caused by the seatbelt are broken ribs and damage to internal organs. This could also occur when the driver is pushed forward, and their chest hits the steering wheel. The deployment of the airbag could also lead to similar injuries.

Cuts

Cuts and scrapes are very common among all car accidents, and not much can be done to prevent it. Cuts are caused by flying objects that break apart as a result of the impact. Although car windows have become safer and less likely to break through time, there are still other risks with other objects. For example, when the airbags go off, your glasses could be shifted around on your face, and the glass could break, causing cuts. A purse from the back can be flown forward and hit the passenger of the car.

Causes of Car Accidents

Accidents are caused by a variety of reasons. The most common causes of accidents are:

1. Distracted driving: This is the top one cause of car accidents. Distracted driving are ways the driver has taken his eyes off the road. This includes texting, changing the station, or eating/drinking.
2. Speeding: speeding is another common cause of car accidents. Many rush to get home from work as they become impatient in rush hour traffic. During intervals when the road is open, a driver may step on the gas, and will not have enough time to come to a complete stop when the other cars in front have come to a stop.
3. Weather conditions: poor weather conditions can lead to dangerous roads. This makes it harder to drive, and many will continue to drive recklessly in these conditions. This poses a risk not only for the driver, but for the other surrounding drivers as well.
4. Drunk driving: drunk driving is most dangerous cause of accidents. After drinking, a driver’s ability to react is slower than average, and so they will not be able to press on the brakes in time. Further, vision is blurred, causing the driver to sway from one side to the next.

Statute of Limitations

Drivers who are involved in an accident have 2 years to file a personal injury claim if you’ve been injured in California. Drivers who have been involved in a car accident in Nevada have 1 year to file a personal injury claim. Usually, the time in which the “clock” starts to run to determine the Statute of Limitations is from the date the accident occurred.

These injuries listed above are only five out of the many that could be suffered as a result of a car accident. If you have suffered any other injuries that are not on this list, contact our attorneys to see what type of damages you could potentially recover from the other driver. We have convenient offices located in major cities, including Los Angeles, Fresno, San Jose, Irvine, and Las Vegas.

If you have been in a car accident in California or Nevada, our experienced accident lawyers at Heidari Law Group are able to help you throughout every step of the legal process and ensure that you are equipped with all the tools that you need in order to receive fair compensation for your injuries. Our experienced attorneys are specialized in various types of car accidents, and can help get you the representation you deserve. For more information regarding our car accident attorneys, you can view our experience here.

***Disclaimer: This blog is created by Heidari Law Group for educational purposes. This article provides a general understanding of the law. It does not provide specific advice. By using this site and reading through this blog, there is no attorney-client relationship created between you and any member of Heidari Law. Further, due to the constant change of the law, some parts of the information above may no longer be good law.