There are several car crash injuries that may result when you are involved in an accident. Safety devices such as seatbelts in a vehicle are designed to reduce serious injury and even death from occurring when involved in a car accident.
There are many ways to prevent injury from occurring. Promoting the use of seatbelts by all passengers in the vehicle is one way to minimize the impact of a crash. Observing the road carefully as the driver and paying attention to road signs and signals also reduces the chance of a car crash and injuries.
The types of injuries that are common in a car crash and are preventable include injuries to the face, head, brain, neck, back and lower extremities such as legs, knees and foot. Preventing these common injuries involves observing safe practices and being smart.
Face and Head Injuries
Face and head injuries are those that include any scrapes or bruises as well as a laceration, fracture, or injury to the teeth or jaw that requires dental surgery. These injuries occur the most when a passenger is suddenly forced into a window or door through the impact of a car crash. Having the passenger strap themselves in safely by using the safety restraint system nearest them is the easiest way to prevent being thrown about the vehicle when an accident occurs.
A passenger should also learn how to cover and protect their face and head in the event that an accident does happen. Instinctively moving hands to cover the face and wrap the head, as if your arms were a helmet, may also deflect some of the impact from the accident and avoid a more serious injury.
Brain injuries are a serious result of a car crash. These types of injuries include a concussion, head injury or traumatic brain injury that may lead to a coma or loss of memory. Brain injuries can be prevented to some extent when riding in a vehicle with recommended front and side impact air bags.
There are those that argue that air bags cause more injuries than preventthem. Based on the information and data provided through the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety seems to suggest that the risk of injury from the deployment of an air bag system is minimal compared to the permanent effects of a serious brain injury.
Neck injuries are commonly associated with car crashes and can be prevented by simply wearing a seatbelt with neck restraint. Such a system can reduce the amount of whiplash and spinal disc injury that occurs as a result of a car crash.
Injuries that occur to the back can linger for many years as a result of a car crash. Back injuries can include a minor sprain to a fracture, slip disc injury or other injury to the spine and lower back. Seatbelts and other restraint systems can help reduce the impact of a car crash.
Leg, Knee and Foot Injuries
Keeping legs, knees and feet positioned together and not at an awkward angle can reduce or diminish the risk of injury to these parts of the body.