No one wants to be involved in a vehicular accident of any kind. But no matter how careful or alert you are, there will come a time when you will find yourself in a car collision. So, it’s better to know what to expect and be ready when the unthinkable happens, especially if you or your passenger sustained an injury.

In 2019, the DOT reported that over 2.74 million people in the US sustained injuries from auto accidents. Of those reported, approximately 3,183 car collisions resulted in deaths in Florida. 

Of course, not every vehicular accident will result in the death of the people involved. There are many types of injuries you can get depending on the cause and severity of the collision. These factors also prove crucial in the amount of compensation you can receive when your personal injury lawyer in Broward County files a case. 

But first, let us discuss the seven most common vehicular accident injuries and what you should do about them.

1. Bruises and lacerations

Bruises, cuts, and scrapes are some of the most common minor injuries a car accident victim may sustain. Even the slightest hit in your car’s rear-end may cause you to bump into the dash or slam into your seatbelt, causing a bruise to develop after a few days.

But if the accident involves shattered glass windows or sharp debris, then victims can sustain lacerations. This type of injury refers to a deep cut in the skin that can damage the soft tissues underneath. If you suffer from any form of laceration, the best thing to do is stop the bleeding by putting pressure with a clean cloth.

2. Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries

Whiplash refers to an injury that occurs when the neck forcibly bends or whips in a back and forth motion. This sudden, forceful motion causes the muscles in the neck to stretch beyond their normal limit, thus causing intense pain in the neck area. 

Some of the symptoms of whiplash include neck to lower back pain, headache, dizziness, blurred vision, and ringing in the ears. Whiplash may seem like a simple injury, but studies suggest its symptoms can still affect a person five years after the accident. 

Other body parts that may suffer from a strain or sprain after an accident include the following: ankle, knees, hands, fingers, wrist, shoulder, and legs.

3. Fracture and dislocation

Another common yet severe injury you can get from a vehicular crash is broken and dislocated bones. This can happen when a forceful impact comes in contact with a certain body part during the accident. For example, the wrist or fingers hitting the dashboard or airbag.

Fractured and dislocated bones may also occur when a body part gets twisted or trapped inside the car or by heavy debris. The severity of these conditions may vary from simple dislocations to complete bone fractures that may need surgical intervention.

Some of the most common body parts to sustain these musculoskeletal conditions include the neck, back, spine, ankle, and wrist.

4. Facial injuries and scars

Your face is also vulnerable to many kinds of injuries during a car collision, especially after a high-speed impact accident. The face can sustain various injuries ranging from simple cuts and bruises to open wounds, burns, and fractures. Some of the most common facial features to get injured is as follows:

• Broken bones in the nose
• A broken lower and/or upper jaw
• Deep cuts in the facial features

In severe cases, facial injuries may result in disfigurement and permanent scarring, affecting a victim’s quality of life.

5. Traumatic brain injury

During a car accident, it is common to hit your head on parts of your car after a forceful impact. When this happens, you may suddenly experience dizziness, headache, confusion, blurred vision, and even memory problems. Some may even have a hard time remembering where they are or what happened before the collision. Such a condition is called traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injuries or TBI are severe conditions that usually occur after a severe blow to the head, causing the brain to hit the skull. TBI has many types, and its symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the trauma. 

Regardless, all cases of traumatic brain injury should be met with prompt treatment to avoid further damage to the brain.

6. Internal injuries

Severe car collisions can injure your delicate internal organs or cause a blood vessel to rupture, resulting in internal bleeding. This condition can be dangerous since internal bleeding or internal injuries don’t always have outward symptoms. There can be times when internal injuries will only be detected several days after an accident, which can be extremely dangerous. Some of the most common internal injuries you may sustain after an auto collision include:

• Internal bleeding
• Broken ribs
• Pneumothorax
• Damaged organs

So even if you don’t see any bruises after an accident, it’s still crucial to seek medical help and check for internal damages.

7. Post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD

Auto accidents (even minor ones) cause not only physical injuries but also mental and psychological trauma. According to studies, it is common for motor and car collision victims to experience PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder days or even years after the accident. 

PTSD is a mental disorder that develops in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic or dangerous event. Symptoms of PTSD may appear days or months after the incident. But there can be times when its symptoms can occur years after the accident.

An individual suffering from PTSD due to a car accident can experience the following symptoms:

• Intrusive thoughts about the accident, e.g., dreaming about the accident or psychologically re-experiencing it.
• Avoidance behaviors, such as refusing to drive or being reluctant to ride a car.
• Changes in emotional responsiveness, such as becoming detached from others.
• Negative changes in mood and behavior, such as irritability or constant negative thinking
• Disturbed sleep

The mental consequences of a car accident should not be taken lightly. So besides physical medical help, victims should also seek psychological assistance from a counselor or psychiatrist.

Get legal advice from the best car accident attorney 

After seeking medical help, the next best course of action after a car accident is to consult with a knowledgeable no win no fee personal injury lawyer, like Attorney Gonzalez.

Atty. Rafael A. Gonzalez has more than 20 years of experience as a civil litigator in Downtown Miami and Hialeah, Florida. As one of the best car accident attorneys in Plantation, he specializes in handling motor and other vehicle accidents.

Atty. Gonzalez is also devoted to handling personal injury cases to help victims of negligence get the justice and compensation they deserve. He knows how confusing the justice system can be, so he’s here to guide you and explain your legal options, may it be in English or Spanish. Atty. Gonzalez also specializes in other practice areas, such as:

• Geico car accident settlement
• Progressive car insurance claims
• Hit and run accident
• Truck crashes
• Drunk driving accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Leased vehicle accidents
• And more!

Contact and ask the attorney now at 954-961-5100 to get your free initial consultation and understand your legal rights.