Car Accident Lawyer in Pittsburgh Reveals: The Most Common Injuries Resulting from Car Accidents in Pennsylvania

Car accidents can lead to a range of mild to severe injuries and even wrongful death. However, some injuries are more common amongst car accident victims than others.

At Hal Waldman and Associates, we’ve worked with numerous car accident victims across western Pennsylvania to help them secure compensation for their injuries. We’ve created this article to let you in on the most common car accident injuries our clients have experienced and a few steps you can take to prevent severe injuries in vehicular accidents.

Read on to learn more about these accident injuries, then contact our law firm to schedule your free consultation.

Common Injuries from Car Accidents

Whiplash

Whiplash occurs when the neck experiences rapid back-and-forth movement, straining the muscles. Whiplash often results from rear-end car accidents, as the impact of the car slamming into a vehicle from behind can cause the driver’s neck to bend forcibly forward, then snap back against the headrest.

Whiplash can range from mild to severe and may produce the following symptoms:

Many people experience ongoing effects of whiplash for many years. While whiplash is sometimes self-treatable, some cases require physical therapy, prescription medications, or injections.

Fractures

Car accidents also commonly cause bone fractures. Fractures typically occur when excessive force is applied to the bone, causing it to crack or split under the pressure. In car accidents, fractures often occur due to the impact of a car striking the vehicle or from the vehicle crumpling around the driver.

Some fractures heal on their own after a physician resets the bone and immobilizes it. Others require surgery or metal rods to recover fully.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries include any injuries to the spinal cord or the nerves near the spinal canal. These are some of the most severe injuries commonly occurring from car accidents.

Your spinal cord plays an essential role in delivering signals from your brain to the rest of your body. As a result, spinal cord injuries can often cause permanent loss of sensation below the injury site.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

Traumatic brain injuries occur when an outside force strikes the head, damaging the brain. In car accidents, traumatic brain injuries occur when the sudden impact from the accident causes the victim’s head to strike the internal surface of the car. These injuries can also happen when accident victims are projected from their vehicles.

Traumatic brain injuries can lead to a range of issues, including:

Car accidents are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries in young adults.

Road Rash

Road rash is a painful injury that sometimes results from car accidents. This abrasion occurs when your skin scrapes along pavement or another hard surface, producing superficial burns.

Crush Injuries

Crush injuries occur when a part of the body becomes crushed between two objects. These scenarios can produce mild injuries such as bruising and lacerations or severe issues such as bone fractures, tissue damage, or organ damage.

Tips to Prevent Serious Injuries in Motor Accidents

Car accident injuries are not always preventable. However, you can take a few steps to reduce your risk of experiencing a severe car accident injury. Here are our tips to prevent motor vehicle accident injuries:

Wear Your Seatbelt Properly

Wearing your seatbelt properly is the number one way to prevent severe injuries from car accidents. Seatbelt usage is the law for a reason. Wearing your seatbelt can prevent your body from shifting around during an accident, lessening your injuries.

You should not only wear your seatbelt every time you enter your vehicle, but also ensure that your seatbelt is fastened correctly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, your shoulder belt should sit snugly across the middle of your chest and away from your neck. Meanwhile, the lap belt should sit across your hips — not your stomach.

Perform Regular Car Maintenance

Some of the most severe car accidents have occurred because of vehicle malfunctions, such as brake failure or tire blowout. As a result, you may be able to prevent these accidents by prioritizing regular car maintenance.

Specifically, you should routinely take your car to a mechanic to perform the following tasks:

Adjust Your Seat and Headrest

Some of the most severe car accident injuries occur from the impact of airbag deployment. As a result, we recommend keeping your seat as far away from the airbags as possible while still maintaining a comfortable distance for your feet to reach the pedals and your hands to reach the steering wheel.

Meanwhile, you should be sure to position your headrest around two inches from the back of your head. The middle of the headrest should sit at ear level, enabling it to support your neck during an accident.

If you’ve been a victim of a car accident in Pennsylvania, our team can help. Our accident attorneys can help you secure maximum compensation to cover property damage, medical bills, and pain and suffering from your accident. 

Contact our Hal Waldman and Associates team today at 412-850-3061 to schedule your free consultation with a car accident lawyer in Pittsburgh.