Miami Car Accident Lawyer Shares the Most Common Injuries from Car Accidents
In 2015 (the most recent reporting year), the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles recorded 374,342 total traffic crashes in the State of Florida. Of these traffic accidents, 159,795 resulted in injuries to a driver, passenger, or pedestrian. Both the number of total accidents and accidents with injuries increased from the previous years, with the number of accidents with injuries increasing almost 7% over 2014. In fact, over 243,000 individuals were reported as suffering injuries from traffic accidents in 2015. Across the United States, approximately three million people are injured in car accidents each year.
These statistics show that traffic accidents in Florida are far too common, and when these accidents happen, there is a 43% chance that someone involved will sustain an injury. While no two traffic accidents are exactly the same, similar specific injuries result time and again from car accidents.
A Miami car accident lawyer represents hundreds of people injured in a traffic accident during the course of a career. We also see the same injuries on a regular basis. Vehicle manufacturers try to address the most frequent accident injuries, but choosing not to wear a seatbelt, speeding, or otherwise ignoring safety precautions are major causes of traffic accidents and injuries. Moreover, certain risks in vehicular injury are difficult to mitigate, such as whiplash.
So, what are the most common injuries from car accidents in Florida?
Walking Away with Scrapes, Bruises, or Lacerations
Even minor vehicle accidents can result in injuries. Scrapes, cuts, bruises, and lacerations are among the most common injuries in Florida car accidents. Even the impact of an airbag or seat belt against bare skin can cause a cut. That is not to mention the scrapes and other injuries from broken glass or sharp metal. Often, the greater the damage to a vehicle, the more smaller injuries there are in an accident.
For the most part, individuals who sustain these minor injuries do not require medical attention. However, cuts, scrapes, and bruises from Miami car accidents can indicate other injuries beneath the surface.
The Aches and Pains of Whiplash
One of the most common injuries results from whiplash in car accidents. Whiplash is the impact of the human body hitting a seat belt or other restraint at the moment of collision. When the forward motion of the vehicle is stopped by impact, the body continues moving until the seatbelt or airbag stops this momentum. Whiplash causes injuries to the body’s soft tissue, including muscles and ligaments.
Often the soft tissue damaged from whiplash is in the neck, shoulders, and back. These parts of the body do not respond well to a sudden stop or change in momentum. The forceful jerk causes sprains to the lower back and can cause serious injuries to the neck. An issue with these soft tissue injuries is it could take days or even a week to feel intense or substantial pain.
Injuries Beneath the Skin
Several common car accident injuries in Florida do not show visible signs or symptoms. This is part of the reason people involved in even minor crashes should seek medical attention. One of these unseen dangers is internal bleeding.
The impact from a motor vehicle accident can cause damage to internal organs, bowels, or the aorta, the biggest artery. These injuries often go unnoticed at the time because there are few external signs. The adrenaline can be rushing after an accident, which also masks some of the pain associated with internal injuries. As a result, someone may not realize for several hours that something is seriously wrong.
Head injuries are also easy to overlook, with potentially dangerous consequences. Concussions and other trauma can cause temporary or lasting injury to the brain. A medical professional should treat even the slightest symptoms of a concussion.
Effects on the Spinal Cord
Some of the most serious injuries sustained in car accidents are those affecting the spinal cord. Despite the spinal cord’s strength in keeping us upright every day, it is a delicate part of the body. When the spinal cord is injured, the damage can be lasting. People who suffer spinal cord damage from a car accident can experience occasional tingling sensations from nerve damage, loss of feeling, and even paraplegia.
Contacting An Experienced Miami Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been involved in a car accident caused by someone else, you may have a valid personal injury claim to recover the costs of medical treatment, including emergency medical care. Given the severity of car accident injures, these costs can be substantial. Receive the compensation you deserve by engaging a qualified accident attorney in Miami. Our Miami car accident law firm handles car accident cases irrespective of seriousness and complexity. Every case receives careful attention and development of a thorough strategy based on the facts.
To arrange a complimentary and confidential initial consultation with an experienced Miami car accident lawyer, call Aronfeld Trial Lawyers toll-free at 1-866-597-4529, locally at (305)441-0440, or reach us by SKYPE or email at [email protected].
