About 20 to 50 million get injured in a car accident daily. It is a stressful and painful situation for anyone to be in. But that does not mean you should succumb to your injury. You should focus on your recovery to make sure you can enjoy your life as much as you can.
Here are some auto injuries you might sustain and how you can deal with them.
Facial Injuries
You can injure your facial bones, teeth, and skin, if you hit a loose object, another part of a car, airbag, and steering wheel, among others. Typically, you would need bandages for scrapes and stitches for cuts. A doctor may recommend surgery for severe injuries, like broken bones.
The severity of your injuries will determine how long your recovery will take. Scrapes heal in a few days to a few weeks, whereas surgical repairs heal in several weeks to months.
Brain and Head Injuries
One of the most severe injuries you can get is the brain and head injuries. People in cars are susceptible to it because they can hit the roof, side window, or windshield. You also need to watch out for a concussion. The symptoms may not appear for a few days or weeks.
If you think you have a brain or head injury, you need to seek professional help immediately to check for things such as bleeding in the skull. You must listen to your doctor if you get an injury in these areas.
Spinal Cord and Back Injuries
One of the most traumatic injuries you can get from an accident is spinal cord and back injuries. You could fracture, or twist or push your discs out of alignment. You could also pull or strain your back tendons and muscles.
Most people will be fine with over-the-counter pain medication, heat or ice application, and rest if they have minor back pain. However, if you notice the pain is still present after a few weeks, you should see a car accident chiropractor. However, you may need surgery if you have a severe injury.
Neck Injuries
There are many injuries that you can get in your neck due to a car accident. You could dislocate the vertebrae, which are the spine bones or get a mild neck sprain. You can use over-the-counter pain medication to deal with a mild neck sprain. However, if you get something like whiplash, you may experience symptoms for a few weeks. Depending on the injury, a full recovery can take you months.
Internal Injuries
Your seatbelt is meant to keep you from harm when you get into a car accident. However, if you wear it the wrong way, your whole body weight could get pressed rapidly against the belt, which can cause internal injuries. If you notice pain in the torso after the accident, you need to seek medical help right away. You could have something such as internal bleeding, which needs to be dealt with immediately.
You must take care of yourself after a car accident. While the information above can help guide you to knowing how long it will take to recover, make sure you listen to your doctor to get advice about your specific situation.
