According to the Federal Highway Administration, there were over 40 thousand deaths from car crashes in 2022 alone. This doesn’t even account for those who were left with permanent injuries. Common crash injuries range from fractures to sprains; knowing what injuries fall in this range will help you understand what to do if anything is unusual after the accident. 

Head injuries

A head injury is an impact injury that can be very dangerous. The impact can lead to a traumatic brain injury, a concussion, or even a spinal cord injury. If you have been injured in an accident, you can contact a Dayton car accident attorney to see if you have a claim. 

Neck injuries 

The force of an accident can lead to neck injuries, and it often extends to the chest area. This chest area protects our most vital organs, and trauma to the area can lead to death. A good example is a broken rib. When a person’s rib is broken, it could puncture other organs and lead to internal bleeding.

The force of the accident can also trigger a heart attack. This attack may come instantly or after the trauma to the chest area. 

Sprains and bruises

Sprains are quite common in accidents and aren’t as severe as the ones mentioned above. However, they still require medical attention. The same applies to bruising. Bruises are usually harmless, but a hard hit on the chest could bruise the heart or lungs, which can cause other serious issues. 

Limb injuries 

Broken bones in the legs or arms are also quite common in car crashes. Due to the shock from the crash, some people may not notice they have broken a bone. This is why X-rays are ordered after crashes.

In some cases, joints can dislocate from their sockets. An orthopedic doctor can pop them back, but this is really painful. In more severe cases, car crashes can lead to complete amputation of the limbs. The limb may have been severely damaged during the accident and needed amputation to save the patient, or it may have been severed by the force of the crash. 

Organ damage 

Organ damage can be caused by both blunt force trauma and penetrating objects. It could be glass falling into the patient’s eyes or a rod impaling the victim on the spot of the accident. Organ damage is often hard to detect and, if not treated promptly, can lead to serious complications or death. 

Post-traumatic stress disorder 

With or without physical injuries, PTSD can be debilitating. PTSD takes victims back to the traumatic event through flashbacks and nightmares. This can make it difficult to function in society, which is why therapy is recommended after such traumatic events. 

It may take a while to work through the issues, but it is not impossible to work through them. Being able to get compensation may not recover what you have lost in the crash, such as your limb or mental health, but it goes a long way to helping you cope with the aftermath. Speak to a lawyer to find out how to proceed.