What happens to your body after a car accident?

It’s no secret that the forces involved in a car accident can cause serious injury. But what happens to your body in a car accident? Knowing the answer can help you understand why it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after an auto accident and also why it is important to understand the personal injury legal process. Let’s take a look at what happens in these types of accidents.

Forces Involved in an Accident

Car accidents involve two major forces: the force of impact, which is the force generated when one object collides with another; and inertial force, which is created by rapid acceleration or deceleration. Both of these forces can cause serious damage to your body if you’re involved in a crash, even if you’re wearing your seatbelt.

Types of Injuries

The type of injury you sustain will depend on how severe the collision was and where you were positioned inside the vehicle at the time of impact. Common injuries that result from automobile collisions include

• whiplash
• concussions
• broken bones
• internal organ damage
• soft tissue injuries such as contusions and lacerations.
• spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries may occur in more serious cases.

Following an Accident

If you are involved in an auto accident, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately—even if you don’t think you have been injured—as some symptoms may not be immediately apparent. Additionally, following up with a personal injury attorney who understands the legal process is important for getting any compensation that may be owed to you for your injuries and any other damages related to your accident. Injuries you should look out for in particular are:

1. Head Traumas: During a vehicle crash, you may think your body halts to the speed of the car – however this isn’t always so. Instead, head and body continue their initial velocity until they come into contact with an object like airbag or dashboard; only then is momentum stopped abruptly – potentially leading to traumatic brain injuries such as concussions, skull fractures, contusions or internal bleeding.
2. Neck Injuries and Whiplash: When your vehicle is hit from behind, the resulting sudden jolt can cause major damage to neck and spine muscles. This condition, known as whiplash, occurs when the head snaps back then forward due to an abrupt impact – straining tendons and ligaments in those areas of the body.
3. Spinal Injuries and Trauma: Whiplash, the force of a car crash and even broken vertebrae can cause trauma to your discs between your spine. In some cases this type of injury to one’s spinal cord may result in crushed vital tissue or worse – bleeding.
4. Upper Body Injuries: Collisions can be incredibly dangerous for the upper body, with your collarbone and ribs being especially vulnerable. If hit at high speed, a broken rib could result in collapsed lungs – jeopardizing respiratory health. Wear seatbelts every time to increase safety on the roads.
5. Internal Injuries: During a car crash, the abdomen is subjected to immense forces from being propelled forward. This can lead to serious consequences for your internal organs – rupture or bruise, releasing harmful substances in the body and leading to excessive blood loss. The heart may take an especially hard hit and become bruised; if severe enough it could cause potentially fatal levels of bleeding.
6. Broken Bones and Fractures: Car crashes can have devastating consequences, including severe pelvic fractures that require costly surgeries and expensive rehabilitation. In addition to these serious injuries in the torso area, limbs are often more susceptible due to being less protected from contact with interior surfaces leading to cuts, bruises and even broken bones.
7. Psychological Impact (PTSD): A car crash can have serious effects on your physical and mental wellbeing. When the body encounters such a traumatic event, hormones like adrenaline and endorphins are released to help manage pain and stress, which is why some victims seem calm after an accident. Unfortunately though, psychological trauma from crashes may last much longer – including symptoms of anxiety or depression as well as PTSD in more severe cases where there was great loss or damage associated with it.

Car accidents are serious business and they can cause significant injury or worse. Understanding what happens to your body in a car accident can help inform decisions about seeking medical attention and understanding legal processes related to personal injury claims following an accident. If you’ve been involved in an auto accident, make sure that you get checked out by a doctor right away and speak with a knowledgeable attorney about filing any necessary claims or lawsuits related to your particular situation.