Road safety should be a crucial concern for every driver. Despite advances in vehicle safety, car accidents still happen every day, and many of these accidents result in devastating injuries. Bad car accident injuries can sometimes be avoided or reduced by focusing on better road safety practices. Some of the worst car accident injuries we represent clients for involve the spinal cord, brain, bones, and internal organs.
In this blog post, we examine five of the worst car crash injuries and offer some practical advice on how to avoid them. Our goal at Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP is to inform and encourage safer driving habits. Familiarizing yourself with how to avoid injury is the first step toward prevention.
1. Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic Brain Injuries, or TBIs, are among the most severe injuries we see in car accidents. When your head is tossed around inside the skull during a collision, it can result in brain damage. TBIs can vary from mild concussions to permanent brain damage. Symptoms range from headaches to significant cognitive issues, including coma. Additionally, accident victims who have suffered a previous head injury are at a greater risk for a more severe one.
Seeking medical treatment following any head injury is crucial. Your prognosis might improve with timely medical intervention. It’s common for doctors to mandate head injury victims avoid stressors, including television and the phone, while recovering from a concussion or other more severe brain injury.
2. Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries in car accidents are often catastrophic and life-changing. These injuries occur when a forceful impact causes damage to the spinal cord. Because the spinal cord is delicate, the impact doesn’t have to be that great to cause a severe injury. The effects of a spinal cord injury range from a temporary loss of mobility to permanent paralysis.
Injury severity also depends on the injury’s location along the spinal cord. For example, a spinal cord injury in the neck is typically more severe than one in the lower spine. That’s because paralysis occurs below the injury site. Someone with a cervical spinal cord injury may not be able to eat or move any extremities, whereas someone with a lumbar spinal cord injury might have full use of their arms and upper body, just not their legs.
3. Internal Organ Damage
Internal organ damage is a less recognized but still very dangerous outcome of car accidents. These injuries can be life-threatening because they affect the liver, kidneys, spleen, and other vital organs. Blunt force trauma or penetration injuries often cause internal organ damage.
Seatbelt usage is vital in reducing the risk of internal injuries. They prevent the body from being thrown against hard surfaces or objects inside the car. Children must use the correct safety seat for their age and size. Some people argue that seatbelts and airbags can cause internal injuries. While there are some situations where the impact can lead to seatbelt and airbag injuries, the alternative is far worse.
4. Fractures and Broken Bones
Fractures and broken bones are common in car accidents. You might think a fractured or broken bone is a non-serious injury. While many simple breaks heal with minimal intervention, there’s also a risk of severe injuries that require complex surgeries and result in life-long pain for victims. Bones in the legs, arms, and pelvis are among the most commonly affected areas.
5. Facial Injuries
Facial injuries in car accidents can be particularly traumatic, and not only because they affect your physical appearance. They can also impact your vision, speech, and ability to smell or eat independently. Minor facial injuries include cuts and bruises. In contrast, severe ones might involve eye injuries or facial fractures.
You might think airbags cause facial injuries, but they can help prevent them. The airbag provides a cushion and can prevent you from striking the dashboard, steering wheel, or other hard surface. The key is sitting safely from the airbag to avoid deployment injuries.
How to Avoid a Car Accident Injury
Avoiding car accident injuries requires a combination of vigilance, responsible driving, and adherence to safety procedures. While controlling all factors on the road is impossible, taking proactive steps can significantly reduce your risk of bad car accident injuries.
Use Seatbelts and Safety Seats
Wearing a seatbelt is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to reduce the risk of severe injuries in a collision. For children, using age-appropriate safety seats and ensuring they are adequately secured is crucial for their protection. Avoid the urge to skip the seatbelt because you’re going somewhere close to home or riding in the backseat of an Uber or taxi.
Drive Defensively
Defensive driving involves being aware of potential hazards and preparing to react safely. That also means keeping a safe distance from other vehicles, being aware of your surroundings, and anticipating other drivers’ actions. Obeying traffic laws, including speed limits and traffic signals, is fundamental to defensive driving.
Avoid Distractions
Distractions are a leading cause of accidents. Avoid using your phone, eating, or any other activity that takes your focus away from driving. Checking the GPS or turning to speak to someone in the vehicle can result in tragedy. Your full attention should always be on the road.
Keep Your Vehicle Regularly Maintained
Regular vehicle maintenance is also crucial in preventing accidents and injuries. Get your brakes, tires, lights, and other critical components routinely inspected. Ensuring that safety features like airbags and seatbelts are functional is also crucial.
Adopting these practices can better protect yourself and your vehicle occupants. At Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP, we understand the profound impact that injury car accidents can have on you and your entire family. That’s why we are committed to helping promote safer driving habits and preventative measures.
Contact a Texas Car Accident Lawyer
We believe that our relationships with clients form a sacred trust. You will never be treated as just another case file when you hire Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP. We have years of experience representing victims of catastrophic car accidents and understand the physical, emotional, and mental toll these injuries take. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through the legal process alone. Let us be your advocate and help you fight for the compensation you’re owed. We know what it takes to build a successful case and are prepared to go to trial if that’s in your best interests. We have extensive trial experience and aren’t afraid to litigate a case. Please get in touch with our office today to schedule an initial no-obligation consultation.
C.J. Baker represents victims with serious injuries and has won millions of dollars for victims of 18-wheeler crashes, oilfield equipment failures, offshore platform explosions, and defective medical devices. C.J. graduated summa cum laude from Texas Tech University School of Law in 2016. He was an editor of the Texas Tech Law Review and a top national trial and moot-court advocate.