In 2022, there were 381,156 total crashes in Florida, which resulted in 242,622 injuries and 3,292 fatalities.
One of the most important steps you can do to protect yourself after getting injured in a car accident is consult a skilled Florida car accident attorney who has experience helping injury victims.
Common Injuries After A Car Accident
Car accident injuries don’t just happen to drivers. They can happen to pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists, and anyone else who is sharing the roadway. So, virtually anyone who commutes or travels is prone to get into an accident. When an accident caused by a negligent driver leaves you with injuries, you need to take steps to protect your rights.
Below are some of the most common types of injuries that people suffer from traffic collisions.
Back Injuries
The impact of a motor vehicle collision can lead to a back injury that could have life-long consequences. One of the most common back injuries caused by car accidents are herniated discs. This is when the cushiony protective barrier of the spinal cord slips out of place. The crash force causes the disc to bulge due to slipping out of its normal location, thereby irritating nerves in the area. Symptoms of a herniated disc include pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling.
Very high impact collisions can also cause spinal fractures, which occur from the crash force separating the upper and lower body. With a spinal fracture, there’s a chance of pinching the spinal cord, so immediate medical care is vital to ensuring you prevent your injury from worsening. Mild or moderate spinal fractures may necessitate immobilizing the spine to let the fracture fully heal. More severe cases of spinal fracture may require surgery.
Broken Bones
The impact force of a crash at just 25 mph is the equivalent of getting hit by nearly 2,000 tons of bricks. Consequently, broken bones result nearly every day in Florida car crashes. Here are some possible different scenarios in a motor vehicle collision that can lead to broken bones:
- Vehicle occupants who are not wearing a seatbelt can get thrown out of the car.
- A motorcyclist can fly off the motorcycle and hit the pavement.
- The collision with a substantially larger vehicle (such as a commercial truck) often results in crushing injuries.
- Drivers often reach out in front to brace themselves when they crash as an instinctive reaction to protect their faces. This often leads to broken bones in the wrist, hand, and arm.
- Airbag deployment can cause facial bone fractures.
- Seat Belt restraints are also very powerful, and white they save lives, they can also result in broken bones.
The crash impact of a collision can break just about any bone in your body, depending on how the crash occurs. However, the most commonly seen broken bones in a car accident include:
- Arms
- Collarbone
- Hands
- Feet
- Fingers
- Jaw
- Legs
- Nose
Some broken bones are obvious – such as a protruding bone. However, it’s not always very obvious that you have a broken bone. You might feel pain and know that you’re injured, but not quite to what extent. Whatever injury you have, if you’re unsure about the extent of it, be sure to get a medical assessment as soon as possible. Signs of broken bone include swelling, bruising, redness, pain, extreme pain, and the inability to use the limb normally.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are injuries to muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Additionally, the injury site of soft tissue damage often occurs with pain, swelling, and bruising. Let’s say you get soft tissue injuries on your arm. You may have limited mobility and function of your arm and the swelling will slow the healing process.
Most people who get injured in a car accident walk away with cuts and bruises. These are also soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries can be caused by hitting your head on the steering wheel or window, or loose items flying in the car. An airbag that deployed can also cause soft tissue injuries on the face, hands, and arms.
Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries. It’s a neck injury that occurs from the rapid snapping back and forth motion of the neck. The abrupt and violent jerking motion of the neck can tear or strain the joints, muscles, or tendons in the neck.
Whiplash symptoms include:
- Soreness in the neck
- Neck pain
- Stiff neck
- Inability to move the neck or reduced ROM
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Sleep disturbances
- Pain in shoulders and lower back
Head Injuries
Car accident victims can easily end up with head injuries. From the steering wheel to airbags and loose objects in the car, it can happen in a number of different ways. A concussion is a common type of head injury after a collision, which is a type of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). TBIs can range from mild (concussion) to severe (contusion, or brain bleeding).
A contusion is from the sudden forceful impact that causes brain bruising with swelling and blood surrounding it. Skull fractures are also possible, which is where a part of the skull breaks. Finally, a penetrating injury can happen if a flying object hits and penetrates the skull, causing a traumatic brain injury.
Symptoms of a head injury to watch out for after a car accident include:
- Confusion
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dilated pupils
- Inability to concentrate
- Increased light and sound sensitivity
- Confusion
- Feeling tired
- Slowed or delayed reaction times
- Poor balance
- Changes in emotional regulation
- Seizures
Crushing Injuries Requiring Limb Amputation
The most serious type of car accident injuries are crushing injuries, where the occupants get crushed inside the car from the impact. Bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists have an increased risk for crush injuries because they don’t have the same protective barrier as vehicles.
In a vehicle collision, the smaller car always sustains greater damage than the larger car. So, for example, if a sedan colliding with a commercial truck, the sedan occupants could very likely sustain crush injuries. The results are usually catastrophic and leave life-long damages due to limb amputation.
Get Legal Help From Florida Car Accident Attorney
Injury victims can easily feel frustrated, confused, and even angry about their unexpected injuries and all the expenses that come with it. From medical bills to missed work, the damages can quickly snowball and become overwhelming. This is why there are laws in Florida to protect injury victims and allow them to seek damage compensation – if their injuries were caused by a negligent driver.
Our legal team wants to help you. We understand how difficult the times following an accident can be. While you’re trying to recover, the last thing you want to deal with is a legal battle. Let us handle your case so you can focus on healing.
As Florida personal injury lawyers with proven track records, we are passionate about protecting the rights of our clients. We fight tirelessly to ensure we get you the best possible outcome, including a generous financial payout.
Call us today for a free initial consultation.
