5 Most Common Injuries after a Car Accident

With so many drivers on the road and so many of them driving drunk, sleepy, distracted, it is a miracle any of us survive the bustling roads we rely on daily to get around. Thousands of auto accidents occur annually in New Jersey, leaving many to fall victim to carelessness, recklessness, or just plain inexperience.

There are dozens of injuries you can endure as the result of a car accident or motorcycle accident. Here are the top 5 most common injuries.

Whiplash

The top most common injury suffered from car crashes is classic whiplash. Whiplash refers to the sudden and forceful back-and-forth movement the neck experiences upon a sudden collision. Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, stiffness in the neck, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and tenderness in your shoulders and upper back. Rear-end auto collisions are the top cause of whiplash, which can take months to fully recover from. Some people continue to experience pain for years afterward.

Concussions

A concussion is a type of brain injury caused by a violent blow to the head, or intense shaking of the head and body. It temporarily alters the way your brain works, and affects memory, balance, concentration and coordination. A concussion can often cause you to lose consciousness, but not always. Sometimes, people experience a concussion without even realizing it. Most of the time people who suffer from concussions recover fully but for some, symptoms like headaches, nausea, decreased coordination and weakness can last several weeks. It is crucial to seek medical attention if experiencing any of these symptoms.

Vocal Cord Paralysis

When the nerve impulses to your larynx, or voicebox, are disrupted, you experience vocal cord paralysis. It affects your ability to talk and breathe. Vocal cords are for more than just producing sound; they protect the airway in your throat from food, saliva, and anything else that can make you choke. This type of paralysis can occur when your chest and neck are injured, which are prime targets for injury in an automobile accident. Treatment for vocal cord paralysis is often surgical.

Herniated Disc

Your spine is made up of a series of vertebrae that are cushioned together by a series of disks. These spinal disks are like tiny donuts with a soft center encompassed by a hard exterior. Herniated disks happen when the soft material pushes out through cracks in the harder material. When this happens, the nearby nerves in your spine become irritated, causing pain, numbness, or weakness in your arms and legs. Medications and physical therapy are good treatments for herniated disks.

Facial Lacerations

Your face is part of the head, the most sensitive and at-risk area of the body in a car accident. Lacerations and bruises from flying pieces of glass or impacts with the steering wheel, airbag, or car seats are fairly common in rear-end and head-on collisions. Facial injuries can be as mild as a bruise or as severe as a fracture of your skull, jaw, or nose. Dental injuries are also possible.

If you are experiencing pain as a result of auto accident injuries, Garden State Pain Control’s experienced doctors can provide you with more than prescription painkillers. We are a licensed clinic specializing in revolutionary treatments to help you manage your pain long-term. Contact us today to set up an appointment in one of our three convenient New Jersey locations.