Car accidents are an extremely common source of personal injury. For example, in 2017, Nevada reported more than 22,000 injuries related to crashes. While the severity can vary, these collisions can have serious consequences—including chronic pain, surgical needs, having to miss work for recovery, as well as time and money spent on legal proceedings. If you want to avoid these risks, here’s what you should know about common auto accident injuries and how to prevent them.

What Are Common Injuries Associated With Car Accidents?

Whiplash

Heads can snap rapidly back-and-forth in an auto collision, causing whiplash—a personal injury that affects the muscles and ligaments in the neck. Symptoms typically involve chronic pain, stiffness, and a limited range-of-motion in the neck. Treatment often requires wearing a brace, doctor-provided spinal manipulation, and physical therapy.   

Cuts, Scrapes, and Bruises

Bumping into or pulling against anything in the vehicle—such as the steering wheel, dashboard, airbag, seatbelt, or auto glass—can lead to cuts, scrapes, and bruises of varying degrees. Some of these injuries may require immediate medical treatment—such as stitches—to prevent further blood loss and physical damage.

Broken Bones

When an impact is strong enough, the force can cause vulnerable bones to break. For example, the force of the airbag and seatbelt can lead to broken ribs. Crashing into the dashboard may also cause trauma to the knee. This type of personal injury can require surgery and a lengthy period of rest and healing.

Internal Bleeding

Internal bleeding occurs when blood vessels or organ tissues rupture inside of the body. In many cases, these injuries will lead to pain, shortness of breath, stiffness, and confusion. However, since the damage is internal, you might not notice this potentially life-threatening problem right away. That’s why it’s critical to seek a medical evaluation immediately after an accident.

How Can You Prevent Auto Accident Injuries?

Practice Defensive Driving

No matter how many safety features your car has, obeying the rules of the road is critical to preventing accidents. In addition to following posted instructions—such as speed limits—actively watch for other motorists and hazards on the road so you have time to react and avoid them.

Wear Your Seatbelt

Buckling up only takes a second and it can prevent serious personal injury—and even death. In fact, in 2017, nearly 15,000 lives were saved by wearing a seatbelt.

Minimize Distractions

Put the phone away and avoid other distractions—such as applying makeup in the mirror or playing with the radio. These distractions could cause you to miss an on-road hazard, resulting in a serious accident.

When auto accidents do happen, consider legal representation from Goicoechea, DiGrazia, Coyle, & Stanton. Serving the Elko, NV communities since 1976, these experienced personal injury lawyers will carefully review your case to help you seek claims for damages—including those related to medical expenses and lost wages. Visit this law firm online for more details on their civil litigation capabilities. To arrange a consultation, call (775) 738-8091.