Going through a car accident can make your life flash before your eyes. If you have undergone critical injuries, each passing moment has a sense of uncertainty about it. You may find your mind racing between the possibilities of how you got injured and how extreme your case may be. Even though vehicular technology has become more technologically advanced in recent times, car accidents may still occur. Regardless of the severity of an accident, you may go through a life-changing experience. You may end up having to deal with pain, agony, and long-term disabilities. Before we dive into what exactly happens due to car accidents, it is essential to discuss the causes.
The Most Common Causes
Most traffic accidents don’t happen because an individual doesn’t know how to drive a car but because of impulse decisions in particularly intense situations. These very situations may take the wrong path and lead to a horrible outcome. A detailed study suggests that 94% of accidents on the road are due to human error. Below, we will list the causes that usually lead to these car accidents.
- Distracted Driving: This particular scenario causes the most accidents and can make you end up in a car accident clinic. When you are driving, your brain is incapable of handling more than one task simultaneously. If you are engaged in other activities such as texting or calling someone, you are bound to be distracted, and you won’t have your complete attention on the road.
- Drunk Driving: Responsible for the deaths of 29 individuals regularly, driving while you’re drunk puts innocent lives in danger. This recklessness may kill you and anyone who comes in your path. When you are intoxicated, your brain does not function as well as it usually does. Your responses and reaction times slow down, and you probably won’t make the right decisions in high-pressure situations.
- Over-speeding: Many people on the road have a natural urge to over-speed their cars when they are behind the wheel. Even though driving at high speeds sounds enticing, it can lead to more harm than good. The faster you are going, the less responsive your car is going to be under your control. Since there is lesser control over your vehicle, dealing with other people’s mistakes can often lead to accidents.
The Possible Injuries
Regardless of the cause or whose fault the accident may have been, the repercussions could lead to severe injuries.
- Whiplash: More commonly recognized as a neck sprain, whiplash is the most frequent car accident injury that people go through. In an accident where your car is hit from behind by another vehicle, your neck may jolt violently in a forward or backward direction. Due to the sudden movement, the muscles and soft tissues surrounding the neck undergo strain and damage. This condition can lead to neck and back pain, a stiff neck, muscle spasms, headaches, and severe fatigue. Additionally, whiplash can also induce neurological problems that affect how your brain works. The symptoms may be memory loss, insomnia, mood swings, and difficulty in staying focused. Whiplash injury treatment takes a lot of time and patience for a proper recovery.
- Concussion: As it is a traumatic brain complication, a concussion affects your cerebrum’s functionality. In most cases, it is due to a direct impact on the head, which can shake up your brain-skull system. As far as car accidents are concerned, any sudden movements that jerk your head and neck can lead to a concussion. The whiplash from a potential rear-end car crash can also cause this condition. The symptoms may be undetected initially but can show themselves up to 72 hours after the accident. These signs may include headaches, nausea, dizziness, blurry vision, etc.
- Fractured Vertebrae: Considering there are so many spinal segments in your body, possible damage to any one of these can give you a world of pain. During the fracture of a vertebra, your spine may undergo compressions. The seriousness of the fracture depends mainly on the stability of your spinal column after the accident.
- Herniated Discs: The discs in the spinal column are shock-proof and intended for your protection. They have a soft interior and durable cartilage on the outside. During an accident, the cartilage may break, and the inner contents of the disc spill out into the surroundings. This complication will put unwanted pressure and lead to severe pain in your back.
- Pinched Nerve: The nerves in your body transmit signals throughout the body. The spinal cord, in particular, is densely packed with nerves. In the case of a traumatic accident, these nerves can experience damage. The spinal discs affected due to the impact of the crash can press on the nerves, causing numbness and discomfort.
How to Tackle the Aftermath
Even if it seems as if everything is alright, you should still seek medical help to be cautious. There are several symptoms of car accidents that take time to manifest themselves. When they become apparent later on, it could prove to be quite troublesome. Upon arrival to an emergency medical service, your body will undergo examinations for a proper diagnosis.
Possible Treatments
After your doctor has run diagnosis tests to determine the problems, you shall receive the appropriate treatment. There are several paths possible depending on the severity of your situation.
- Chiropractic Care: After the accident, you may be experiencing extreme discomfort in bones, ligaments, nerves, and joints. Not only can a chiropractor identify these problems, but also effectively treat them. Thanks to physical manipulation techniques, you can have essential spinal alterations to address acute feelings of pain. This natural and non-invasive treatment can help you address any shoulder pain after a car accident. Chiropractic treatment can also lead to back and neck pain relief, improved movement, and an overall relaxed feeling in your body.
- Medication: During the initial stages after the car accident, it is crucial to address any pain you may feel. Prescribed corticosteroids offer comfort to inflamed regions of your body. This relief is possible by countering the swelling caused by the impact of the crash. These are given in the form of injections and pills when used to treat pain. Opioids may also be usable as they are narcotic pain medications that relieve acute discomfort. Unlike some pain relievers, these medications don’t cause internal bleeding. However, they may become addictive if taken for lengthy periods.
- Surgery: Considerably a last-resort treatment in most cases, surgery isn’t usually recommended by medical practitioners. However, it may be crucial in some cases. Depending on the area of your body that has suffered damage, you will undergo the appropriate operation. These operations can permanently alter your body’s anatomy and have life-long impairments.
Final Thoughts
Even though there is a wide array of treatments available, it should not lead to any carelessness on your part. Educating yourself and following the traffic guidelines is what is best for everybody. This cautiousness can ensure your security when you’re on the road. However, some situations aren’t always in your control. If you do end up in a car accident, it is advisable to opt for medical attention. The sooner you act and get help, the better your chances of preventing life-long complications.
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