More than 3 million people sustain injuries from traffic accidents every year in the U.S.
Injuries from an auto accident can range from minor, such as scrapes and bruises, to catastrophic, such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or in some cases, death.
Here is a list of the most common types of injuries that can result from a car accident:
Head and Neck Injuries
Whiplash is a common auto accident injury, often resulting from a rear-end collision. This type of injury affects the soft tissues, leading to neck pain and limited movement of the head and neck.
The TMJ (temporal-mandibular joint) allows for movement of the jaw. An injury to the TMJ may result from a car accident involving acceleration and deceleration. A TMJ injury can affect the way someone eats, speaks, chews, etc. TMJ syndrome may lead to headaches, pain, swelling, and a locking jaw.
Disc injuries are often associated with auto accidents. Herniated, Slipped, bulging, or ruptured discs in the neck and spine are diagnosed by CT scans and MRI scans. Radiologists may refer to them as protrusions or herniations when they are the most serious. Bulging discs are generally not thought of as traumatically caused by accidents.
Brain Injuries such as concussions closed head injury, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) occur often inside impact auto accidents, but can also be caused by head-on, or rear end collisions. The sudden acceleration and deceleration in a car accident may cause the brain to move, resulting in an impact on one or both sides of the skull. When an injury involves a diffuse axonal brain injury, then we are talking about a potentially serious permanent injury.
Back Injuries Other Than Neck
Disc injuries affecting the thoracic spine (chest area), mid-back, and lumbar (lower back) may occur in car accidents. Thoracic spine injuries in car accidents occur much less frequently than neck or back, but when they occur, they can be very serious.
Compression fractures, as well as spinal cord compression, may also occur. Injuries involving herniated discs tend to happen in serious car accidents. The amount of strain that the spinal column experiences in the event of a car crash may cause movement of one of the discs in the spinal column. When a disc is out of place, a person can experience severe pain, as the slipped, ruptured, or herniated disc can press against the spinal nerves.
Upper Limb Injuries
Fractures and strains to the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, and rotator cuffs are common in auto accidents. In some cases, patients require therapy to regain their range of motion.
Lower Limb Injuries
Stress fractures and ligament injuries may result after a car accident. Hip, leg, knee, and foot injuries range from a laceration to dislocation and in some cases (such as severe knee and hip injuries) require surgery.
Injuries to the Internal Organs
Some car accident injuries may result in fractured ribs, which can potentially puncture the lungs as well as other internal organs. Another common injury is a torn spleen, which could require a patient to be hospitalized for an extensive period of time. Most fractured ribs, although initially painful with every breath taken, heal without permanent injury. However, rib injuries where the fractures are compound (not hairline), can cause persistent pain. Another condition called costochondritis, which affects the soft tissues between the ribs, can also be painful and can cause permanent injury. Sometimes, a ‘burning’ of the nerves, or actually ‘killing’ the nerves in the area, is a procedure recommended to eliminate or reduce that pain.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were approximately 32,788 traffic accident-related deaths in 2010 in the U.S. Driver distraction, such as texting and using cell phones, drunk driving, and speeding are just some of the causes of car accidents.
An auto accident can have serious physical, emotional, and financial effects on car crash victims and their families. During this difficult time, it is important to contact a personal injury lawyer to help you understand your rights.
Contact an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer Immediately After an Auto Accident
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, our Coral Springs car accident lawyers are here to help you. Attorney Dan Cytryn, the founder of our firm, has over 40 years of experience representing auto accident victims and their families and has tried nearly 100 jury trials, ranging from car accidents to slip and fall cases. Our experienced auto accident attorneys can help you recover medical bills, lost wages, as well as compensation for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case. We are here to answer your questions. Our attorneys have helped obtain justice for numerous clients who have been injured in Florida car accidents. Please visit Our Results page for more information on verdicts and settlements we have obtained for our clients.
We serve injured clients nationwide, but the highest percentage of our representation is in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties, serving all of the following cities: