What Are the Most Common Vehicle Accident Injuries in Texas?

When thousands of pounds of steel collide in a car accident, the result is typically bad news for drivers and passengers. Injuries can vary from minor to severe to fatal, and the degree of injury is usually the result of a combination of the point of impact, the force with which the vehicles collide, and other factors, such as whether or not drivers or passengers were wearing their seatbelts at the time of collision.

If you are suffering from any of the following injuries after a crash, be sure to seek medical care and consult with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible.

Soft-Tissue Injuries

Soft-tissue injuries are damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and they are very common in car accidents. Sprains and strains are two of the most common soft-tissue injuries, as is whiplash. Whiplash occurs when a person’s head is forced forward and backward quickly, resembling the motion of a whip.

Although soft-tissue injuries may at first appear insignificant, they can be very painful and debilitating.

Head Injuries

Head and traumatic brain injuries are also common in car accidents. They can occur because the head is shaken violently, because the head makes contact with a blunt object (such as the side of the window or the dashboard), or because the skull and the brain are actually penetrated.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that car accidents are responsible for 14.3 percent of all traumatic brain injury cases in the United States. The most common type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a concussion.

Facial injuries are also common, especially when a person’s face is impacted by an airbag. Bones in the face may be crushed, or the face may be cut or bruised.

Arm and Leg Injuries

A person’s limbs may be crushed, penetrated, or otherwise impacted with force during a car accident. In serious cases, limbs are twisted or forced into an unnatural and awkward position, resulting in torn ligaments (and other soft-tissue injuries), broken bones, or in the most tragic of cases, amputation.

Back and Spine Injuries

The spine is one of the most essential, and one of the most delicate, parts of the human body. Like the brain, damage to the spine can have catastrophic consequences.

During a serious car accident, a person’s spine may be punctured, hit with enough impact to damage the spinal column, or broken. In all of these cases, a person may suffer from extreme amounts of pain, disability, and in some cases, permanent and total paralysis.

What to Do After an Accident

If you are involved in a car accident and suffer an injury, seek medical care immediately to protect your health and improve your chances of recovery. Then, contact an experienced Texas car accident attorney who can help you understand your rights and build your claim to pursue full and fair compensation.

At The Bob Richardson Law Firm, we are ready to fight for you. Contact us today to schedule your free case consultation.