Every year there are right around 3 million people injured in car accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The residents of Albany, GA, are no strangers to those accidents.
The different injuries suffered in each accident in Albany are as varied as the make and models of the vehicles involved.
However, a few types of accident injuries show up more often than others, ranging from soft tissue injuries to fractures and everything in between.
Some of these injuries will heal on their own with a little rest, but some injuries can take months or even years to heal and result in permanent disability.
But right after the accident, it can be hard to tell the difference between the two.
Related post: Why Is It Important To See An Albany Chiropractor After An Accident?
In the article below, we will talk about some of the most common car accident injuries our Chiropractor for car accident injuries in Albany, GA sees.
Table of Contents
- Head Injuries
- Back Injuries
- Bruising or Contusions
- Chest Injuries
- Fractures and Broken Bones
- Whiplash
- Arm and Leg Injuries
- Shoulder Injuries
- Chiropractic Care For Accident Injuries
- Need a Chiropractor After a Car Accident In Albany? Visit The Arrowhead Clinic
Head Injuries
A head injury can take several different forms, some minor and some very severe.
When your car is impacted or stops suddenly during a car accident, it can cause your head to experience sudden and unusual movements.
This can easily cause your head to become injured.
If your head hits a side window, the steering wheel, or the dashboard, you can suffer scrapes and bruising or deep lacerations.
Severe accidents can cause closed head injuries, which is when the fluid and tissue inside your skull are damaged because of the sudden movement or impact to your head.
Minor closed head injuries can cause concussions, while severe impacts can cause traumatic brain injuries and sometimes permanent brain damage.
Back Injuries
Our bodies, and our spines especially, are not designed to sustain heavy impacts.
That's what makes back injuries very common after car accidents.
Not all back injuries are immediately apparent after an accident, and it could take days, weeks, or months for symptoms to show up.
But when they do show up, the pain from a severe back injury can last a lifetime if immediate treatment isn't received.
Bruising or Contusions
Even the most minor fender benders can still cause bruising.
Bruising is one of the most common car accident injuries because the impact of your car accident can slam you into your seat belt, as it should, leaving you with a bruise for a few days after the accident.
Fortunately, bruises usually aren't serious or require medical attention and will go away on their own in a week or two.
Chest Injuries
A chest injury is also prevalent during a car accident because of your seat belt.
Chest injuries usually appear as contusions or bruises, but those bruises can be a sign of broken ribs, internal injuries, or internal bleeding.
There is very little freedom of movement behind the steering wheel, which is why so many chest injuries occur.
If your body is thrown forward during the collision, even if you don't hit the steering wheel or dashboard, your chest can still experience a high level of force when it collides with your seat belt.
Fractures and Broken Bones
Fractures and broken bones are also very common during car accidents.
Many accident victims experience broken legs, ribs, arms, ankles, and wrists.
Some car accident victims even suffer a broken pelvis.
Severity ranges from simple breaks that require a cast to severe compound fractures that may require surgery and months of medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Whiplash
When you're driving down the road and you are impacted by another car, the force that is applied to your vehicle can cause your body to move in ways that it's not meant to, at speeds it's not accustomed to.
If you experience any neck pain or upper back pain after a collision, you might have a whiplash injury.
Whiplash is a strain or sprain to the muscles and ligaments in your cervical spine.
Whiplash can be very painful and take several weeks to recover from, but if you seek immediate medical treatment, whiplash rarely results in permanent injury on its own.
Arm and Leg Injuries
Another type of injury many accident victims experience is an arm or leg injury.
The same force that causes your head to move suddenly in a car accident can cause the same type of damage to your arms and legs.
If you are impacted from the side, your arms and legs could be thrown hard against your door.
If you're a passenger in the vehicle, your legs will have very little room for movement, causing your knees to hit the dashboard or the seats in front of you.
Depending on the type of accident you're in, injuries to your arms and legs could be minor bruises and scrapes, or they could be severe compound fractures.
Shoulder Injuries
A shoulder injury is a type of injury that usually occurs as a result of force absorption after bracing your hands against the steering wheel or dashboard during a motor vehicle crash.
Your shoulder will lock into position and receive excessive force from the impact of the collision.
Chiropractic Care For Accident Injuries
After an auto accident for a common injury, seeking immediate chiropractic treatment will allow you to make a complete and quick recovery.
If you choose not to receive proper treatment after your accident, you are more likely to experience long-term pain and develop chronic conditions.
A car accident chiropractor can treat everything from spinal cord injuries to knee injuries.
Chiropractors specialize in caring for the muscles, bones, nerves, and connective tissue in your body, so visiting accident chiropractic should be your number one priority after your car wreck.
Even if you were just in a fender bender, you might still have serious underlying injuries.
When you seek care from a chiropractor, you are more likely to make a recovery without any long-term complications.
Need a Chiropractor After a Car Accident In Albany? Visit The Arrowhead Clinic
The Arrowhead Clinic in Albany offers comprehensive chiropractic care that will help you recover from these common physical injuries.
The experienced team of chiropractors in Albany can evaluate and diagnose all types of injuries and then design a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs.
And if another driver's negligence caused your accident, the Arrowhead Clinic will refer you to an experienced personal injury attorney that will help with your financial recovery.
To ensure you make a complete recovery after your car accident, schedule your Free Consultation with the Arrowhead Clinic in Albany today.
