Road accidents are scary and can lead to long-term injuries. News reports often contain unsettling stories about serious accidents that drivers suffered on the road. But how severe are most injuries from road accidents really? What are the most common injuries?
Broken, fractured bones and traumatic experiences are most common
Studies have revealed that fractures and broken bones are some of the most common injuries on the road. This includes broken legs, ribs, arms, ankles, and wrists.
Any accident does not only have physical effects but is mentally very stressful, which makes Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder an unfortunate result of road accidents. You might suffer from mental and emotional injuries because of an accident without even realizing it.
Often, we are so focused on our physical injuries that we might neglect how traumatizing it was to experience an accident. Even if the accident itself wasn’t very severe it is still a shock to most drivers as it shows how easily accidents can happen while driving. If passengers such as family members and especially children are injured, it can be very hard to process mentally and emotionally what happened.
Road rash
This is a very painful injury that is suffered by riders who skid across the road or pavement after a motorcycle accident. Unfortunately, motorbikes are sometimes driven dangerously in between cars in traffic, making riders vulnerable to accidents.
If you own a motorbike and are considering lending it to a friend, don’t do so unless you know that your friend drives responsibly. It’s also always a good idea to insure yourself first, in case the bike is damaged or legal fees are required if an accident is caused. Since most people have fun while driving, safety is often neglected.
Head injuries
Head injuries have the potential of being lethal and even the mildest concussion should be investigated by a medical professional. Call 999 if you think you may need medical attention and experience symptoms such as difficulties seeing or notice clear fluid coming from your ears or nose. If your ears are bleeding after a head injury or you discover bruises behind your ears alert the NHS by dialing 999.
Other symptoms include having a seizure, finding it difficult to stay awake and keep your eyes open. The NHS recommends calling the emergency number immediately if you or someone else has ‘hit their head in a serious accident, such as a car crash, and has useful information about how to treat minor injuries to the head.
Back injuries, traumatic brain injuries, burns, and injuries to the spin can be especially damaging, making it very important to get help immediately. By staying safe on the road you are also ensuring the safety of other drivers.
