Every year on average there are about 6 million car accidents with about half of those resulting in injuries. That 3 million subjected to injuries may suffer anything from minor to severe but studies have shown that around 2 million injuries result in some type of permanent damage.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
If those numbers aren’t scary enough, there is a 1 in 4 chance of a person being involved in an accident over the course of five years. The odds of you being injured in a car wreck are just as high.
Not all accidents will result in severe injuries and some may resolve themselves in just a few days or weeks. However there are factors that come into play that will determine the severity of your injuries such as:
- The use of seatbelts
- The area of the car was hit in the crash.
- How was the person sitting in the seat, straight or at an angle?
- Was it a low-speed collision or a high-speed crash?
- Did the airbags deploy?
With those factors in mind, that will ultimately decide your fate whether or not you walk away from the accident on your own or in the back of an ambulance to a nearby medical facility.
Traumatic Brain Injuries and Head Injuries
When a person hits their head on the steering wheel or their head makes contact with the windshield or side window, there is potential for a traumatic brain injury or other head related injuries.
A TBI can range from mild to severe and ultimately upsets the brains function. A minor TBI or concussion will resolve itself on its own within a few weeks but still requires medical attention.
On the severe end of the spectrum, the brains cognitive function can be greatly impaired. When a person is involved in a car accident their injuries ranging from skull fractures to bruises on the brain can leave permanent damage.
Spinal Injuries
When a person is rear-ended, their body is forced forward in an awkward manner out of its normal range of motion and their head and neck is forced to snap back which can cause whiplash. When this occurs, the ligaments can become strained resulting in pain.
Sometimes, Whiplash can be difficult to diagnose as it is a soft tissue injury and sometimes can be overlooked. Consulting with a doctor or even a chiropractor can help to avoid this oversight and get you the proper treatment to avoid any permanent damage.
With any back, neck or spinal injury, reaching out to a doctor and receiving a physical examination can help rule out any long term effects of the injury.
Broken Bones
Typically in auto accidents, wrists, ankles, arms, and ribs are the most commonly broken bones as they are most likely to face the most impact in the crash. Casting is the most common form of treatment for clean breaks and long term damage is not common.
Orthopedic Treatment
However, if your break is more severe and requires surgery from an orthopedic surgeon, you should continue to follow up with your doctor to ensure that no long term damage has occurred following the surgery.
After the shock of the accident wears off, injuries may present themselves so seeking medical treatment right away can provide you comfort in knowing that your injuries if any have been treated correctly and any future damage has been minimized.
Seeking care from an Atlanta auto injury doctor can ensure that your injuries will be treated with the utmost care and you will have the best chance at a full recovery. If you would like to learn more about how our team of doctors can help you recover from an auto accident please call us at (404) 855-2141.
