Most Michiganders are aware that — despite seat belts, airbags and other protective devices in vehicles — the impact of a collision can exceed the limits of the body’s resilience. The severity of injuries typically depends on where car occupants were seated, whether they wore their seat belts, the speed at which the accident occurred and the point of impact. These are some of the most common injuries in car accidents.
Fractured bones and back injuries
Broken legs, arms, ankles and wrists are most common. However, these typically go along with lacerations, bruises and neck injuries caused by whiplash. Back injuries could have long-term, life-changing consequences. Spinal cord damage could lead to paralysis, and herniated, displaced discs could cause numbness and chronic pain in the extremities. The most serious back injuries involve the lumbar or thoracic spine, whether in the lower or upper back.
Internal organ damage
These injuries often remain hidden if an accident victim declines a trip to the hospital. However, they could be life-threatening if not diagnosed. Examples include liver damage, internal bleeding, punctured lungs, kidney damage and brain injuries.
Common types of car accidents
The following are the common types of accidents, which play significant roles in the resulting injuries:
- T-bone or side-on collisions
- Rear-end crashes
- Head-on collisions
- High speed and distractions causing the vehicle to leave a straight or curved roadway
- Smashing into a stationary object
- Multi-car accidents
- Rollovers
The first thing to do after any type of car accident is to seek medical attention and have a thorough physical examination. The sooner injuries or internal damage is diagnosed, the greater the chance of recovery. If a car accident in Michigan resulted from another party’s negligence, injured crash victims might have viable claims for damage recovery by filing personal injury lawsuits.
