Motor vehicles are the most common mode of transportation and are used by most people everyday. While most of us travel by car daily, we often don’t think about the dangers of getting behind the wheel. Unfortunately, those dangers are on the rise!
Research by the National Safety Council shows that the number of traffic accidents which required medical attention increased in 2015. Not only that, but the number deaths and the costs associated with a motor vehicle collision rose last year as well.
According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, a traffic accident happens every 4.6 minutes in South Carolina and a person is injured in a traffic accident every 10.3 minutes!
While injuries are unfortunately common, the type and severity of common car accident injuries varies greatly and from case to case.
Common Physical Injuries in Car Accidents
A car accident can be a violent, traumatic experience which can often result in physical injuries.
Common car accident injuries result from several causes:
- Sudden jerks/movements as a result of the impact
- Striking part of the car (such as the steering wheel or windows)
- Restraints/seat belts
- Airbags deploying
Depending on the facts of your accident, common injuries range from the relatively minor to extremely serious.
The most common injuries resulting from car accidents are:
- Soft tissue damage (such as to muscles, ligaments, and/or tendons)
- Scrapes/Cuts
- Bruising/Swelling
- Brain/Head injuries
- Neck injuries (such as whiplash)
- Back injuries (often to the lower back)
- Chest injuries
- Internal injuries
- Arm/Leg injuries
- Broken bones
- Death
Additionally, some injuries may not be immediately obvious. According to research conducted by Peter G. Bernad, author of Closed-Head Injury: A Clinical Source Book, “for individuals under 44 years of age, closed-head injury, also known as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), is the leading cause of death” A large majority of those types of injuries are caused by car accidents, which shows why receiving appropriate medical care is so important. Even if you find out that you are O.K. after being checked out, you may still be entitled to compensation for the reasonable medical care and testing you received.
Mental and/or Emotional Injuries
Common injuries from car accidents are not just physical. They can be related to the mental anguish and emotional disturbance which often results from a car accident. Post traumatic stress symptoms have been known to occur in 75% in motor vehicle accident survivors who reported pain. Besides being entitled to compensation for medical expenses, you may be entitled to receive payment for your pain and suffering!
Contact Us Today
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, or even think you might be hurt, contact us at Rankin & Rankin for a FREE CASE EVALUATION to see if our qualified team can provide you our services. Schedule your free case evaluation by calling 843-248-2405 or by filling out the form below.
Rankin and Rankin Law Firm is located in Conway, South Carolina and serves the entire Lowcountry area including Horry County, Myrtle Beach, Georgetown, Charleston, and Hilton Head, SC.
