There is an average of more than 130,000 traffic crashes on Kentucky roads every year. Many of these crashes leave families facing severe injuries that disrupt their entire lives. Here is a look at some of the most common injuries that can result from a car accident.
Head and brain injuries
In an accident, both drivers and passengers could suffer head injuries if their head hits their seat, the window, the steering wheel or even the airbag. There is a wide range of head injuries, including:
- Bruising
- Skull fractures
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
Many of these injuries can trigger long-term cognitive effects. Individuals might have reduced motor skills that can prevent them from working or even driving in the future.
Injuries to the neck and spinal cord
One of the most common injuries from a car crash is whiplash. Regardless of speed, sudden collisions jolt the neck back and forth quickly. Whiplash manifests differently for everyone, but it usually causes severe neck pain.
Neck injuries often impact the spinal cord as well. Collisions can damage vertebrae or disks in the spinal cord that affect movement and nerves throughout the body.
Bone and muscle damage
The sheer force of a motor vehicle collision also damages limbs, leading to broken bones and muscle tears. These injuries do not often have lasting effects after they heal. However, they can still keep injured individuals out of work during the recovery process.
Internal injuries
Car accident injuries are not always visible. While internal injuries are not too frequent, they are dangerous. The signs and symptoms of internal bleeding or organ damage might not appear right away. Even a minor collision could result in significant unseen injuries that could cause considerable damage if not treated immediately.
All of these injuries could keep people out of work while they heal. No matter the type of injury someone sustained in an accident, they could be eligible for compensation to support them and their family through the healing process.
