According to the World Health Organization, 20-50 million people worldwide sustain non-fatal injuries in car accidents. And unfortunately, nearly 1.3 million of these people die as a result of their accident. Most, if not all, of these injuries, can easily be prevented with improved driving safety habits.
Top Causes of Car Accidents
The roadways can be a dangerous place, with car accidents being the leading cause of death in the U.S. during 2019. There are plenty of reasons why car accidents occur, from sideswipes and head-on collisions to hitting objects. Below are a few of the most common causes:
- Distracted Driving (using your cell phone, adjusting the radio or heating/cooling settings, etc.)
- Drunk Driving
- Inclement Weather (low visibility or lack of control due to high winds, snow, ice, sleet, rain, etc.)
- Speeding
- Exhaustion (driving when you’re overly tired)
- Running Red Lights or Stop Signs
- Improper Lane Changes
- Automobile Defects (defective brakes, steering, etc.)
- Construction
- Drugged Driving (driving while under the influence of prescribed or unprescribed drugs)
- Tire Blowouts
- Hitting Animals
Car Accident Injuries
Drivers and passengers are both at risk the moment they step into a vehicle. Many people experience a variety of injuries during a car accident. Some of these include:
1. Whiplash
Whiplash occurs when the head is aggressively thrown forward and backwards like a whip. This injury ranks at the top of the list, as it’s often what happens when a vehicle is hit from behind.
2. Concussions and Other Head Injuries
Broken glass can cause lacerations to the face and head, while the collision’s momentum can cause the head to smack against the steering wheel, window, or another part of the vehicle’s interior. This usually results in minor to severe concussions or other brain injuries.
3. Back Injuries
Herniated or ruptured discs are among the most common back injures seen in auto accident patients. However, there are also instances where the patient suffers from a spinal injury, which (depending on severity) can cause paralysis in the body.
4. Fractures
Sometimes the force of a collision is enough to break ribs, arms, legs, and other bones in the body. Various fractures can occur, such as compound, stress, buckle, transverse, and many more.
5. Internal Injuries
These are probably some of the scariest injuries, as they can often go undetected for days or weeks after the accident occurred. Your internal organs and systems can experience mild to severe trauma in a car accident. You could puncture a lung, suffer from internal bleeding, or even rupture a spleen.
In some cases, you may be entitled to compensation for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. It’s essential to contact a car accident lawyer near you to help walk you through the process of filing a claim and receiving the justice you deserve.
You can do a few simple things proactively to prevent you and your loved ones from being injured in an accident.
- Wear your seatbelt at all times when you’re in the car.
- Minimize distractions while driving – silence your cell phone, avoid eating or drinking, etc.
- Follow all speed limits and road signs
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