No area of the body is safe from injury in a car accident, but what are the most common car accident injuries? Depending on where you were seated, where the point of impact occurred, and how bad the accident was, any part of your body could be affected.
However, some injuries occur more often in car accidents than others. These injuries could be minor, meaning they might require little treatment or care, or they could be severe, meaning they could significantly impact your life and require expensive medical treatments.
Either way, if you are injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation that can help you cover the cost of your injuries and other damages. To get help with your case and ensure you are fairly compensated, consult with a local Kentucky car accident attorney in your area.
Most Common Car Accident Injuries
As personal injury and car accident attorneys, we often hear people asking about the most common car accident injuries. And while we’ve handled cases dealing with a wide range of injuries, we see certain injuries happening more often than others. These include:
- Soft tissue injuries, such as sprains and strains
- Whiplash or other neck injuries
- Broken bones, such as simple and compound fractures
- Back injuries, such as herniated discs, lumbar strains, and spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), such as concussions, hemorrhages, and hematomas
- Chest injuries, such as bruising, broken ribs, or lung damage
Recovery Time for Common Car Accident Injuries
The recovery time for the injuries listed above can vary greatly, as it depends on the person and the exact type of injury they sustained. How long it takes to fully heal will also depend on how severe the injury is.
With whiplash, for example, these injuries can be minor and heal within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, whiplash can also be more severe and result in long-term pain and headaches. It just depends on how bad the whiplash is.
Recovery time for TBIs can also vary. A minor concussion might heal quickly and result in minimal symptoms, whereas a hemorrhage can require brain surgery and could lead to permanent damage or land other long-term complications.
Severe Car Accident Injuries and Their Effects
Some of the more severe car accident injuries tend to be traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, as these have higher chances of complications and long-term damage. Both a severe TBI and a severe spinal cord injury could lead to permanent damage, which could result in loss of bodily functions, loss of mobility, breathing problems, sexual dysfunction, chronic pain, and even paralysis.
Of course, severe car accident injuries like a head injury or a spinal cord injury could lead to death in the worst situations. This is why you should always seek emergency medical attention after being in a car accident. Some TBIs, for example, such as a brain bleed, might not be apparent right away, but if you delay treatment, you could die.
It’s also worth noting that severe injuries don’t just affect car accident victims physically, but they can also affect you emotionally. Many people who are badly injured in car accidents can experience PTSD from the trauma, which can be debilitating and affect them long-term if they don’t seek professional psychological help.
Preventing the Most Common Car Accident Injuries
Sustaining an injury in a car accident can severely affect your life. As such, it’s important to take measures to protect yourself and prevent accidents from occurring in the first place.
To prevent car accidents and injuries:
- Avoid common distractions (cell phone, grooming in the mirror, eating while driving), and stay alert.
- ALWAYS wear your seat belt.
- Do not drink and drive.
- Avoid fatigued driving and driving late at night.
- Limit passengers if talking distracts you while driving.
- Keep up with a regular maintenance schedule for your vehicle.
- Avoid driving in poor weather conditions or drive more cautiously when the weather is bad.
- Practice defensive driving, meaning pay attention to what other drivers are doing and avoid them if they are driving recklessly.
Car Accident Injury Claims and Compensation
Though being injured is never fun, the good thing is that you can file a car accident claim for most car accident injuries.
Kentucky is a “choice no-fault” state, meaning you can opt into no-fault insurance coverage, which will protect you in case of an accident. However, no-fault insurance has limits, and if you are severely injured, it might not cover all of your expenses and damages.
“Choice no-fault” also means you can also opt out of no-fault insurance. If you do this, you retain the right to file a claim against the guilty party for compensation.
If you choose to opt out, you would file a claim against their insurance, or you could even potentially sue the driver directly for the damages you suffered. In this case, you can get compensation for your economic losses, such as medical costs, lost wages, and car repairs, and you can also get compensation for non-economic losses, such as pain & suffering, emotional trauma, and even permanent impairment.
No matter the situation, consulting with a personal injury attorney is wise to ensure the best possible outcome. There is no guarantee that the insurance company will award you the full and fair compensation you deserve. Insurance companies often look for ways to devalue or deny claims altogether, but a lawyer can help you fight against this.
Trust McCoy & Sparks—Premier Car Accident Injury Attorneys in Central Kentucky
If you suffered a car accident injury and need help with your claim, our legal team at McCoy & Sparks can assist you. We can help you file your claim, gather evidence, and stand up to the insurance company to ensure they pay you fairly.
McCoy & Sparks is continually recognized as one of Central Kentucky’s best law firms. We represent thousands of clients in Central Kentucky with a focus on providing premium service.
You owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Make the right call to (844) 4KY-WINS for a risk-free consultation with one of our Kentucky car accident attorneys today.