Vehicle Accidents
Vehicle accidents are an unfortunate and often devastating part of life. As drivers continue to populate roads and various distractions increase, so do accidents. Between 2018 and 2022, the number of fatal accidents in the U.S. increased by more than 16%. The number of fatal accidents in 2022 totaled 42,795.
These vehicle accident statistics show that distracted and impaired driving and speeding are some primary causes of vehicle accidents.
Non-fatal accidents may not lead to death but can cause severe injuries that require immediate medical attention.
Common Injuries Sustained During Vehicle Accidents
Injuries resulting from car accidents range from minor to severe. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Broken bones – Arms, legs, ribs, and collarbones can break during a violent collision.
- Cuts and lacerations – Broken glass and twisted metal can cause deep cuts in the skin.
- Internal injuries – Crushing impacts can cause internal injuries affecting the lungs, liver, or spleen.
- Spinal cord injuries – Sometimes, a vehicle accident causes spinal cord injury, which may lead to paralysis or other long-term disabilities.
- Traumatic brain injuries – These range from concussions to more severe damage.
- Whiplash – This is a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth neck movement.
What to Do After a Vehicle Accident
It is not easy, but staying calm is crucial after a vehicle accident. Panic can make the situation worse and exacerbate injuries. It is critical to check for injuries and ensure that others involved in the accident are not injured. If possible, move vehicles out of traffic and call the police. If there are no major injuries, collect details for insurance purposes and take photographs of the vehicles. If you or others are injured, you must contact emergency services immediately.
Visit UF Health Central Emergency & Urgent Care for Treatment After a Vehicle Accident
UF Health Central Emergency & Urgent Care is here to meet your medical care needs by providing affordable pricing and quality care. As part of Intuitive Health’s innovative hybrid model ER and urgent care system, patients are only billed for the level of care they receive from professional and highly trained medical staff.
Our Emergency & Urgent Care Centers are open 24/7 to treat vehicle accident injuries.
Sources:
https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/auto-insurance/fatal-car-crash-statistics/
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10154805/
https://www.kraftlaw.com/car-accidents/common-injuries-car-accidents/
https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/overview/introduction/
https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/post-crash.html
https://www.wkw.com/auto-accidents/blog/10-common-causes-traffic-accidents/
https://www.travelers.com/resources/auto/safe-driving/7-common-car-accidents-and-how-to-avoid-them
