The National Safety Council (NSC) released data that shows nearly 4.6 million people in the U.S. required medical treatment following a car accident in 2016, which was a 7% increase over the previous year. These car accident victims may have suffered a number of different injuries that range in severity. Some of the most common car accident injuries include:

Whiplash

If you have been involved in a rear-end collision, you may start to experience symptoms of whiplash after the crash. Whiplash occurs when the impact of the collision causes the muscles in your head and neck to suddenly extend and contract in a back and forth motion that resembles the cracking of a whip. Symptoms of this condition include neck pain, headaches, loss of range of motion in the neck, shoulder pain, and numbness.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

It’s common for drivers and passengers to hit their heads on the dashboard, windows, or steering wheel during a collision. Even if you do not have any visible signs of injury, bumping your head during a car accident could lead to a traumatic brain injury. The severity of this injury will depend on how much damage has been done and what part of your head was hit. It’s important to note that you may not experience any symptoms at all if you have a brain injury, or you may only experience minor symptoms such as a headache and slight confusion. If you have hit your head during a collision, seek medical treatment regardless of how you feel.

Back Injuries

Car accidents can also cause back injuries, including strains, sprains, herniated discs, and spinal cord damage. Similar to brain injuries, the symptoms of a back injury may not be immediately obvious. In fact, you may feel completely fine until the day after the accident, where you start to notice stiffness, pain, and limited mobility.

Internal Injuries

People who have been involved in high-impact car accidents may also sustain internal injuries. For example, it’s common for victims to fracture a rib during a high-impact collision. A fractured rib could cause secondary injuries if it punctures an internal organ such as your lungs. Even if you don’t fracture your ribs, you could still bruise or rupture internal organs during a car accident.

These are just some of the many different injuries that you may sustain during a car accident. If you are ever involved in a car accident, it’s important to seek medical treatment regardless of how minor you think your injuries may be.

If you have sustained any type of injury in a car accident, seek legal representation right away. The attorneys at Reisch Law Firm can help you recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.