Car accidents can cause devastating injuries, including broken bones, spinal cord damage and traumatic brain injuries.

Many people in California and across the nation rely on their vehicles to take them where they need to go. However, traveling by car may not be the safest mode of transportation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle collisions are the number one cause of death and injury in America. In just a split moment, these tragic occurrences can change the outcome of one’s life forever. Whether people are involved in a minor fender bender or a catastrophic collision, they may incur serious personal injuries as a result of another driver’s negligence. These injuries may include, but are not limited to the following.

Broken bones

From a clean break to a compound fracture, broken bones can cause a significant amount of pain. It isn’t uncommon for a break to damage surrounding tissues, such as muscles, ligaments, cartilage and nerves as well. For some accident victims, the pain of a broken bone is not limited to the initial break and healing period. Some people may experience chronic pain following a bone fracture, which may persist for years after the incident.

Back and neck injuries

Sudden impact to the back and neck may result in whiplash, spinal cord damage, broken bones or slipped discs. These injuries can be severe depending on the location and the extent of damage inflicted on the victim. According to the Mayo Clinic, motorcycle and car accidents account for more than 35 percent of spinal cord injuries every year, and are the number one cause of such damage.

In some cases, the damage may be catastrophic. The spinal cord is comprised of nerve fibers, which conduct neural transmissions from the brain to all other parts of the body. Spinal cord damage or swelling may result in quadriplegia, the partial or complete loss of all four limbs. It may also cause paraplegia, where the victim loses the ability to feel or control their arms.

Traumatic brain injury

Car accidents are the third leading cause of traumatic brain injury in the United States, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Brain damage can occur when the soft tissue of the brain hits a solid, hard object, such as the bony skull. TBI ranges from mild to severe cases. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, symptoms vary greatly from person to person but may include headaches, nausea, vomiting, difficulty concentrating, sensory deficits, muscle weakness and long-term memory problems.

While CT and MRI scans are used to detect moderate to severe TBI cases, mild injuries may be harder to diagnose and could go unnoticed. Studies show that even mild traumatic brain injuries can cause extensive and sometimes permanent disabilities if left untreated.

Contact an attorney

You should not have to suffer because of another motorist’s negligence. People should be held accountable for the consequences of their behavior. If you have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, you may want to contact an attorney in California who can help you explore your options. You may be able to collect compensation for any expenses associated with the accident.

Keywords: TBI, brain, injury, accident