Car accidents can occur on Georgia roads when you least expect them. A driver could suddenly swerve into your lane too quickly without signaling or be momentarily distracted and collide with your vehicle. Minor situations can leave you unscathed, but more serious crashes can result in these injuries.
Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries from motor vehicle accidents. It occurs when a person’s head jolts sharply forward and then back upon impact and can cause pain, stiffness, headache and limited range of motion. Usually, those involved in rear-end collisions are most likely to sustain this injury. Whiplash often clears up on its own within a few weeks.
Broken bones
Depending on the severity of an accident, victims can suffer simple or compound fractures. The former causes a clean break, but the latter results in out-of-place bone penetrating the skin. Broken arms and ribs are the most likely of these injuries to occur.
Lacerations and soft tissue injuries
Lacerations and other soft tissue injuries occur in crashes when a person comes into contact with broken glass or metal. It can also happen when loose objects in the vehicle go flying and strike the occupant. Although some of these injuries are minor and can heal quickly, others are worse and require surgery.
Brain injuries
Car accidents can cause traumatic brain injury when a person hits their head on the dashboard or a window or when something breaks and penetrates their skull. Mild concussions are the most common form of this injury, but in severe crashes, it’s possible to suffer permanent brain damage.
Spinal injuries
Spinal injuries stemming from car accidents are often catastrophic and can result in damaged or broken vertebrae, limited range of motion and chronic pain. In the worst-case scenario, a victim can be left paralyzed from the waist down or neck down.