There are just a few common types of accidents that more often than not result in injuries for the victims involved. The following are just a few of the cases we deal with most frequently.

 

REAR-END ACCIDENTS

A rear-end accident happens when a driver crashes with a car in from of them. These types of accidents can result in minor or extremely severe injuries. This depends on the speed the vehicle that crashed was traveling and the circumstances under which the accident occurs.

in most cases, the driver of the vehicle that rear-ended the other is at fault. These types of accidents most often occur because the driver was not paying attention or was traveling too closely. However, there are circumstances where the driver that was rear-ended could be found liable for the accident.

 

T-BONE ACCIDENTS

This is known as side-impact collisions, which occurs when the side of a car is hit by the front or rear of another vehicle. These types of accidents can result in serious injuries for both parties.

 

SIDESWIPE COLLISIONS

A sideswipe accident often occurs when one vehicle hits the side of another vehicle when they are traveling in the same direction. The most common cause of a side swipe accident is when a driver fails to check their blind spot before making a lane change. Another common reason is when a driver in a parked vehicle re-enters traffic without first ensuring the lane is clear.

While going at a slow speed, sideswipe accidents may only result in property damage, but at high speeds, the injuries can often be serious and significant.

 

HEAD-ON COLLISIONS

Head-on accidents happen when two or more vehicles crash directly into each other while going in opposite directions. Even at moderate speeds, head-on collisions can result in severe injuries or possibly death.

 

SINGLE VEHICLE CRASHES

These types of accidents involve only one car and can be the result of a crash with a free-standing object or because of veering off the roadway. These types of accidents can occur due to driver error due to intoxication or fatigue. They can also happen as the result of unsafe roadways or conditions and bad weather.

 

ROLLOVER ACCIDENTS

This type of accident occurs when one of the vehicles is overturned due to a collision or running off the roadway. Rollover accidents are usually severe and result in very serious injuries and possibly death.

 

HIT AND RUN ACCIDENTS

Hit and run accidents can be any type of accident described above in which the driver involved in the accident decides to flee the scene. The definition of a hit and run is when the driver leaves the scene of the accident without providing contact information to the other driver. This can result in criminal charges being filed.

COMMON INJURIES IN A CAR ACCIDENT

Auto accidents are some of the greatest causes of personal injury in the US. More than 5.6 million car accidents occurred in the United States in 2012 and more than 30,000 people died as a result of these car accidents. 1.6 million serious injuries were reported. Below we will look at some of the most common automobile injuries that happen, and what you should do if you or a loved one are ever involved in a car accident.

 

1. SPINAL INJURIES

Even though this is not the only neck injury a collision can cause, one of the most frequent injuries is commonly referred to as “whiplash.” Whiplash happens when a vehicle involved in an accident causes the victim’s head to be suddenly thrown forward, backward, or to the side. The speed and velocity of this sudden impact can inflict severe strain on the muscles and ligaments of the neck and upper back.

 

Most cases of whiplash can be treated with time, some can be disabling for a very long time if not permanently. The trauma of a vehicle collision can cause many different forms of damage to the soft tissues of the upper and lower back. In many cases, this can lead to disc herniation or skeletal trauma. If that is the case, recovery will last a very long time, and may require treatment through surgery, physical therapy, and/or long-term pain management.

 

Severe spinal injuries can also cost a lot of money to treat. Severe trauma to the spine can often result in paralysis, both partial or total, as well as death. In some of the cases, a victim with a spinal cord injury will never fully recover, resulting in permanent disability. This will result in the person not being able to work, care for themselves, or engage in normal everyday activities.

 

2. BRAIN AND HEAD TRAUMA

Over 17 percent of all TBI’s (Traumatic Brain Injury) in the US are caused by car accidents. Traumatic Brain Injury can occur when a sudden movement of the skull causes the brain to hit the hard surface of the skull; because a human’s brain rests freely within the skull, and not in a fixed position, a sudden impact with enough force can cause damage to the soft tissues of the brain. Traumatic Brain Injury may result in bruising, swelling, or bleeding of the brain. TBI’s can also cause your skull to fracture. Many victims may lose consciousness, however because Traumatic Brain Injuries are very hard to diagnose, many do not suffer encounters of the symptoms until much later.

 

A visit to the emergency room is very important in cases of Traumatic Brain Injury, and many cases may require extensive follow-up treatment, including brain imaging diagnostics such as CT scan or MRI.

 

3. BROKEN BONES

The bones of a body are particularly susceptible to injury, especially the upper and lower limbs. Bones can be broken in the event of an automobile accident and will require emergency and follow up treatment. There is a high risk of infection for broken bones. In many cases broken bones will require physical therapy and surgical technique to fully repair the injured limbs. In very serious accidents, loss of the limb is possible causing dramatic impairment to the victim’s quality of life and their ability to complete everyday tasks and responsibilities.

 

Minor broken bones, sprains, or spurs are also very common in automobile accidents. Even though these types of injuries are not complex to treat; they require an extensive period of healing and rehabilitation to restore functions in the injured area.

 

4. FACIAL INJURIES

Facial injuries come in many different forms, such as bruises, scrapes, or cuts, to more severe, including fractures, deep lacerations, burns or dental and jaw damage. Lacerations such as deep cuts, scrapes or punctures into the underlying skin are sometimes seen in minor car accidents. This is because the soft tissue of the face is susceptible to trauma to impact with the vehicles interior such as flying objects or glass.

 

Damage to the facial bones can also occur during car accidents. These can range from cosmetic damage to debilitating injuries such as a broken jaw. In some cases, victims will require reconstructive surgery to restore the look and function of the face. Some injuries include a broken nose, jaw dislocation which requires very lengthy periods of treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery.

 

5. PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURIES

Whether the physical injury following an accident was severe or not, many victims will suffer from one or more associated psychological symptoms as a result of the car accident. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is a common diagnosis after a car accident which requires treatment from a professional after an automobile accident. Car accident victims suffering from PTSD may suffer from severe distress resulting from the accident. This distress may last a short period of time or can last several years, requiring a lengthy period of treatment to obtain a full return to normal thought processes. Disorders resulting from a car accident can also include anxiety, severe panic attacks, and/or depression, whether due to the trauma of the event or ensuing recovery.

 

The treatment for psychological injuries can be long and difficult. It requires therapy with a trained professional, medication and along period of rehabilitation to return to a normal mental state. Victims may be entitled to compensation for emotional distress resulting from the car accident.