What Is The Leading Cause Of Death In Traffic Accidents?

There has been an increase in road traffic accidents in the past few years that prove to be fatal in the majority of the cases.  Roads are filled with cars, buses, motorcycles, trucks, broken  guardrail, animals, pedestrians, and mopeds. The development of motor vehicles has made man’s life extremely easy and has revolutionized travel.

However, every year’s thousands of vehicles are involved in crashes that are responsible for thousands of deaths and severe injuries. According to statistics, over four million people are injured every year in traffic accidents.

The injuries sustained by both parties depend on many different factors and unique characteristics of each collision, but some injuries are more common than others. Some injuries may resolve within a few days without any medical attention, whereas others may be very serious and cause permanent physical and mental disabilities.

The severity and type of injury inflicted on the people present in the vehicle at the type of the collision depend on multiple factors such as the direction of the hit, whether the seat belts were worn or not, was the person sitting straight, or was he turned to a particular direction, was it a high-speed collision or low-speed crash, and were the airbags inflated?

Road traffic injuries are classified into two main categories:

1) Penetrating injuries

Such injuries involve cuts, penetration by shattered glass pieces, and injuries by loose flying objects inside the car.

2) Impact injuries

Such injuries occur when a person’s body hits a part of the car, such as the window, dashboard, or any other part of the car. This includes the head hitting the window and the window shattering or the knee hitting the dashboard.

Soft tissue injuries

A soft tissue injury involves the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Soft tissue injuries are the most common type of injury seen in traffic accidents. Soft tissue injuries can be of many forms.

1) Whiplash injury

A whiplash injury to the upper back and neck is a very common sot tissue injury that occurs due to excessive stretch of the head and neck connective tissue caused by sudden movements.

These forces can also cause injuries to the back. Collisions usually cause mid-back and lower-back muscle injuries and sprains. Back injuries are usually more severe because they may involve the spine. 

2) Cuts and scrapes

During a collision, any loose flying object within the car becomes dangerous as it is thrown around the car’s interior. Such objects include mugs, purses, books, cell phones, and eyeglasses. If any of these floating items strike you during a collision, they can penetrate your skin and cause severe injuries.

Mostly such cuts are minor and do not need any medical attention. However, serious injuries can cause the loss of a lot of blood and cuts that require stitches.

3) Brean Damage & Head injuries

Head injuries may be of many forms. They may be minor or may be very serious. A car’s unexpected halt or sudden change in direction can cause the head to strike a surface or experience sudden movement that can damage the internal structures. This can also cause muscle strains in your back and neck. If the head strikes the window or dashboard, there may be bruises, deep lacerations, and scrapes afterward. Very severe collisions can cause closed head injuries.

A brain injury can have devastating consequences, both for the person who suffers the injury and for their loved ones. The damage caused by a brain injury can range from mild brain damage to total paralysis, and the resulting medical bills can quickly add up. In addition, brain injuries often lead to long-term problems such as difficulty with speech or memory loss. If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury, it is important to find an experienced brain injury lawyer who can help you navigate the legal system and fight for the compensation you deserve. A knowledgeable brain injury lawyer will be familiar with the most effective treatment options and will work tirelessly to get you the justice you deserve.

Due to sudden movement, the fluid and tissue inside the head can become damaged. Concussions are also commonly seen but are of less severity and are resolved in a few days, while the other severe head injuries can cause brain damage.

4) Chest injuries

Car accidents can result in chest injuries that may prove to be fatal. Such injuries include broken ribs, internal injuries, penetrated lungs by an object flying around, and bruises. Drivers are commonly seen with chest injuries as they are behind the steering wheel, and during a collision, the driver’s chest goes and strikes onto the steering wheel.

If a person collides with the steering wheel or dashboard, the chest will experience a high level of force due to the seat belt, which may cause bruises on the chest and shoulder region. If a sharp flying object penetrates the lungs, it can become fatal. Also, if ribs are broken such that they penetrate the lungs, it can be an alarming situation.

5) Brain injuries

Road traffic accidents are a leading cause of Traumatic brain injuries that occur due to a blow to the brain or due to penetration. Every year. Nearly 51000 people die due to TBI, and the other 85,000 suffer from long term permanent disabilities,

6) Spinal cord injuries

The forces involved in road traffic accidents and the torque they produce on the body can cause severe injuries to the spinal cord that may cause long-term disability and paralysis. Damage to the spinal cord can cause total or partial paralysis.

7) Burns

If the person’s skin comes into contact with hot fluid, burning steam, surface, or dangerous chemicals, they can sustain severe burns. Severe burns require immediate surgery and skin grafting. The vehicle may also catch fire after the collision, which may also result in severe burns.

8) Internal organ injuries

Internal organs may be damaged if an object penetrates the skin. Internal bleeding may also occur, which requires immediate medical attention.

9) Disfiguring facial injuries

The person’s face may be disfigured due to broken glass pieces that may strike and penetrate the face. Also, severe impact of the face with the dashboard, steering wheel, side window, car seat, windshield, or any other hard surface can cause disfigurement, which may require immediate surgical correction, and if the victim survives, they may get a scar that will last for a lifetime.

10) Limb amputation

Appendages such as the arms and legs can be crushed or damaged severely, such that they may require immediate surgical amputation. Such a sort of injury will leave the victim permanently disabled.

11) Crushing injuries

If any body part is crushed between the two objects under immense pressure, the person will sustain a crush injury. Lacerations and bruises are common and serious damage to organs, muscles, tendons, and cones may also occur.

12) Post-traumatic stress disorder

Nobody wants to be involved in a car accident. Being a part of a car accident is no joke and has physical and mental consequences. Not all injuries are physical. Some people may suffer from mental problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder that may last for many years and may require psychological therapy.

Everyday tasks and daily chores may become difficult for you, and you might have difficulty sleeping at night. Emotional suffering can have a serious toll on your life, for which you will need to attend therapy sessions.

13) Leg injuries

The forces involved during a collision that throw a person towards the dashboard also act on the person’s legs and arms. If you are thrown towards the side, your legs and arms may be thrown towards the door or the other passenger.

Your legs have very little space for movement. During car accidents, the person’s knees usually hit the seats in front of them or the dashboard, which may cause sprains, bruises, scrapes, and even bone fractures. Depending on your position, the direction of force, and the severity of force, the injuries may be slight or may be severe.

It is very important for you to remember that not all injuries are external and apparent after a car accident. This is why if you ever get into a car accident, immediately seek medical treatment and then contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Bridgeport, CT, who will help you get compensation for your injuries.

A car accident lawyer will help you collect evidence, represent you in court, take care of all legal matters and make sure you get the compensation you deserve. The compensation will help you pay the medical bills, hospital bills, mental treatment bills. The nature of the injury will decide whether it will take days, weeks, or months for the injuries and symptoms to appear.

This is why you should seek immediate medical treatment for even the slightest discomfort and pain you feel. Do not ignore any pain you feel. According to statistics, about 1.4 million people die every year due to road traffic accidents. Road traffic accidents cost the majority of the countries nearly 4% of their GDP.

Also, the majority of road traffic accidents include the death of cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. According to statistics, road traffic accidents are the major cause of death in children and young adults, which is why special focus should be given to the safety of children when driving.

Road traffic not only causes the loss of lives but also causes economic losses to individuals, their families, and the country. These losses take the form of medical bills, treatment bills, and loss of movement of those who sustain permanent disabilities. The family of the affected individual needs to take time off from work, school, or university to care for their loved ones who were injured.

Who is most likely to get involved in a road traffic accident?

1) Socioeconomic class

Majority of the road traffic accidents occur in low and middle-income countries. Majority of the road traffic injuries occur in Africa. When it comes to high-income countries, people belonging to the lower socioeconomic background are more likely to be involved in road traffic crashes.

2) Age

Children and young adults of age 5 to 30 years are mostly affected by road traffic injuries.

3) Gender

Males are more likely to be involved in road traffic accidents than females. Nearly 74% of all road traffic deaths are seen in young males under the age of 26 years. Young males are three times more likely to be killed in a car crash as compared to young females.

Also, check – Why You Should Hire the Services of a Semi-Truck Accident Law Firm