Most Common Car Accident Injuries - How to Diagnose them

Common injuries from auto accidents involve brain injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, and broken bones. In extreme accidents injuries can result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and death. In 2020, 14.31% of auto accidents in the state of New Jersey resulted in minimal injury, 9.15% resulted in “moderate” injuries, and 1.83% resulted in major injury or death. Here are the 2 most common injuries cause by car accidents, and how we diagnose them. 

https://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/accident/20/ARDSMRPT03.2020.pdf

What are the most common car accident injuries?

Head and neck trauma are some of the most common injuries sustained in car accidents because your head and neck are less restrained than the rest of your body. Since your head and neck are fragile and less supported, they are more vulnerable to impact.  The two most common car accidents injuries are whiplash, and concussions. These injuries can be caused by a direct head-one collision, but are often the result of severe jolting from with rapid deceleration or a quick change of direction.

Whiplash

This neck injury occurs when your head is thrown back and forth, causing the quick, forceful, and uncontrollable movement of your neck. Whiplash injuries typically cause some amount of trauma to the discs, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and surrounding tissues in your neck. Common symptoms include neck pain that worsens with movement, decreased range of motion, and headache pain.

Concussion

This head injury occurs when your brain bounces or twists inside your skull, creating chemical changes that lead to abnormal brain function. Concussions may cause a temporary loss of consciousness, or they may cause subtle symptoms that emerge slowly, such as headache or neck pain, general pressure, confusion, or dizziness.  There are different severities of concussions, however all head injuries are very serious and should be treated accordingly. 

How are auto accident injuries diagnosed?

After an initial evaluation, your doctor at Garden State Pain & Orthopedics sets to work diagnosing the nature and the extent of your accident injuries.They may use an X-ray to get a more detailed look at back trauma, while a CT scan can reveal the extent of spine and disc trauma, and an MRI provides a closer look at the inner workings of the spine. Electrodiagnostic testing methods evaluate unexplained muscle weakness, numbness, and pain.Many car accident injuries respond well to conservative treatments like pain medication, steroid injections, and physical therapy.

The injury and pain specialists at Garden State Pain & Orthopedics are dedicated to helping accident patients recover fully, providing customized treatment plans that address individual needs.