Most Common Injuries in Motor Vehicle Accidents
According to the California Highway Patrol, 159,115 motor vehicle collisions occurred in 2011 that caused injuries to 225,602 Californians. No two car accidents are the same, and the types of injuries that result can vary widely. The following are some of the most common injuries that Californians suffer in motor vehicle accidents:
Neck Injuries
The wide range of neck injuries that commonly occur in car accidents are often referred to by the non-medical term “whiplash.” Whiplash happens when the neck suddenly jerks forward and then snaps back, much like a whip. This jerking motion can cause damage to ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissue in the neck. Often, pain from whiplash can extend into the back, shoulders, and arms. Moreover, there is generally no concrete cure for whiplash besides weeks of physical therapy and stretching. Unfortunately, many of these injuries do not show up on MRI or CT scans, making the claim rest on the injured person’s credibility and likeability in the eyes of a jury.
Spinal Injuries
Injuries to the spine are very common in car accidents and can be devastating for victims. Many victims of spinal injuries endure surgical procedures and/or hospital stays while their injury is stabilized. Depending on the severity of the damage to the spinal cord, spinal injuries may cause permanent loss of sensation or complete paralysis in the limbs. Even minor spinal injuries may take weeks or months of rest to avoid any further damage to the spinal cord.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
When a person suffers a bump or blow to the head, chances are high that they may suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBIs can range from mild concussions to serious and permanent brain damage. Moreover, a TBI may occur even if a motorist never hits their head, as TBIs can result from the brain jostling around inside the skull even without impact to the head. Such jostling often happens with the jerking of the head motion commonly associated with whiplash. TBIs may affect a victim’s physical, mental, emotional, and cognitive functioning, and such injuries may take many months to resolve.
Burns and Contusions
Obviously, serious burns may occur if a fire results from an auto accident. However, accident victims may suffer burns and contusions even if no fire occurs. Airbag deployment often causes burns, cuts, or bruises on a victim’s face, chest, and arms.
Broken or Crushed Bones
Bones are often damaged in car accidents. Sometimes, the break may be easily fixed. Other times, compound breaks may require surgery with screws and/or pins, and extensive rehabilitation to heal. Sometimes a bone is crushed, which doctors call a comminuted fracture. These crushing injuries are sometimes treated with a mixture of putty and ground bone, in an effort to reconstruct the crushed area. A common location for this type of fracture in pedestrian injury cases is the portion of the knee joint called the tibial plateau.
Regardless of the type of injury an accident victim suffers, many people incur significant medical bills, lose weeks or months of wages, or suffer permanent disability. If an accident happens because of someone else’s negligence, a victim deserves to receive full and fair compensation for all of their injury-related losses, including bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Talk to A California Car Accident Attorney
Call now if you have suffered any type of injury in a car accident in California. The accident may have been someone else’s fault. The experienced car accident attorneys of Callaway & Wolf can help you recover. Contact us for a free consultation.
Boone Callaway is a personal injury & medical malpractice lawyer in San Francisco who has been working with clients in the Bay Area for over 25 years. Mr. Callaway is one of only a few personal injury litigators in San Francisco who is a Super Lawyer, AV Rated and is also a member of ABOTA – American Board of Trial Advocates.
