Types of Injuries Sustained in Auto Accidents

Whiplash

Whiplash is a personal injury term used to describe neck pain. Whiplash is one of the more common auto accident injuries. Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs by the sudden forward and backward motion of the head, most commonly in a rear end car accident.

A minor crash can cause whiplash if the vehicle comes to sudden and full stop. Rear end crashes are the most likely reason a whiplash injury can occur in a minor car accident. The force of the accident moves into the car seats and this jolts the occupants’ heads forward and backward suddenly.

If you have suffered a whiplash injury in a minor accident, it is critical to be examined by a doctor as soon as possible after the incident. Delayed onset whiplash, where pain & symptoms of whiplash can take days and sometimes weeks to show up, is also common.

Sprain and Strain

A strain occurs when the muscle tendon is overstretched or torn. Auto accidents can cause muscles to overextend, stretch or tear suddenly. The damage may occur in three areas:

  • The muscle itself may tear.
  • The area where the muscle and tendon blend can tear.
  • The tendon may tear partially or completely (rupture).

Joints are stabilized by thick bands of tissue called ligaments which surround them. These ligaments allow the joint to move only in specific directions. Some joints move in multiple planes; therefore, they need more than one group of ligaments to hold the joint in proper alignment. The ligaments are anchored to bone on each side of the joint. If a ligament is stretched or torn, the injury is called a sprain.

Back Injury

The spine has three distinct areas: cervical vertebrae (neck), thoracic vertebrae (upper back), and lumbar vertebrae (lower back). The spine is made up of vertebrae with discs in between and surrounded by muscles, tendons, and ligaments, which if injured can cause varying degrees of pain. Back pain can range from mild to debilitating, and from temporary to permanent.

Thoracic Spine Injuries Thoracic spine injuries are often the most serious. The thoracic spine, or upper back, connects to the ribs and chest region. Sprains and fractures in this area are primarily caused by high speed auto accidents, and may result in permanent nerve damage.

Lumbar Spine Injuries The lumbar spine is comprised of the five largest vertebrae in the spine. An injury to the lumbar spine can prove particularly painful. A sprain involves actual damage to the ligaments, while a strain is a stretching of the ligaments, tendons or muscles. Lumbar injuries may result in limited movement, swelling, bruising, and tenderness, and may severely impact your ability to perform daily activities.

Herniated and Bulging Discs Some car accident victims experience herniated or bulging discs. Discs are the cushions that separate the vertebrae and protect the spine. A herniated disc occurs when a disc is displaced. Often, the herniated disc then places pressure on the spinal cord or its surrounding nerves. Sudden and intense pain in the lower region of the back and numbness in the legs are the most commonly reported symptoms. A bulging disc is when a significant amount of pressure causes a disc to protrude through its outer casing. A bulging disc can often pinch nerves causing serious pain.

Spinal Cord Injuries The most serious back injuries involve the spinal cord. Such injuries range from bruising or excessive pressure to permanent damage to the spinal cord and nerves — leading to long term disability. Spinal cord injuries may result in total or partial paralysis, loss of feeling in certain areas of the body, and loss of reflex function. Further, depending on the type of injury or treatment received, victims of spinal cord injuries may also be at risk for secondary medical problems, such as infection due to surgery, blood clots, bleeding, pneumonia, and spinal fluid leaks.

Traumatic Brain Injury

There are many different types of traumatic brain injuries with varying degrees of severity. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden trauma, like a blow or jolt to the head during a car accident, causes damage to the brain. The severity of TBI can range from mild (a concussion) to severe (coma). A concussion may cause temporary confusion and headache, while a severe TBI can be fatal.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites the leading causes of TBI as:

  • Falls (28%)
  • Motor vehicle crashes (20%)
  • Being hit by or colliding with an object (19%)
  • Assaults (11%)
  • Others (12%)

The CDC also claims that the costs to society for care and lost productivity due to brain trauma are enormous and estimated at $76.5 billion annually. A traumatic brain injury can be a life-altering event that can have a serious financial impact.

Nick Martin
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