Common Types of Car Accident Injuries

There were almost 400,000 motor vehicle crashes in Florida last year, according to the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and more than 250,000 injuries. That equates to more than 1,000 accidents and just under 700 injuries a day.

Certain injuries are particularly common among car accident victims, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries. Closed head injuries, like traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), are typically caused by car accidents, sports injuries and falls. The damage happens when there’s a major blow to the head that causes it to whip back-and-forth, jostling the brain within the skull at a high velocity. For example, if a car rear-ends you at a high speed, the force of the collision might send your head banging into the steering wheel or a window. TBIs range in severity, but symptoms include headaches, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, mood changes, and seizures. Symptoms may not develop immediately.

• Whiplash and other neck injuries. Whiplash is a common neck injury that often occurs in rear-end car collisions. It happens when the force of the impact causes the neck to move rapidly back-and-forth. Other common neck injuries include neck sprains and strains. Symptoms typically develop within 24 hours and might include headaches, neck stiffness and pain, range-of-motion issues, fatigue, dizziness, ringing in the ears, and blurred vision.

• Spine and back injuries. Car accidents can damage the back and spine in many ways. For example, excessive force on the back can lead to lumbar sprains, which happen when the ligaments (which hold the bones together) are torn from their attachments. Symptoms include low back pain, stiffness and muscle spasms. Car accidents can also cause herniated disks, which can happen in the lower back and the neck. Herniated disks often cause nerve pain. Common symptoms include numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and arm and leg pain. Spinal stenosis, while less common, is another type of car accident injury.

• Broken bones. This type of injury is fairly straightforward. Any bone in the body is capable of breaking in a car accident, depending on the force of impact, the type of accident and numerous other factors. For example, your ribs might be broken from a deploying airbag, or your ankle might break from getting caught under the pedals.

Seek medical attention immediately after a car accident. Ask your doctor what symptoms to watch out for, considering that some injuries aren’t readily apparent. And remember that you have four years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida.

Contact Us Today

Contact an Orlando car injury attorney at The Pendas Law Firm today for a free consultation if you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, especially if not all of your expenses are covered by insurance. We will help recover the compensation that you deserve, including medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.

The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, Tampa, Miami, Daytona Beach and Bradenton areas.

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