Whether you drive your personal vehicle or a work one, you have probably noticed how crowded the roadways in and around Kitty Hawk have become. With an increasing number of vehicles on the roads, you may eventually collide with a negligent driver’s car.
In 2017, there were more than 275,000 car accidents in the Tar Heel State. In these crashes, almost 128,000 individuals sustained some type of injury. Of course, back injuries are common in even minor car wrecks. Accordingly, you should always seek emergency medical treatment after any collision. You should also know about common back injuries. If you have an automobile accident, you may experience one or more of the following types.
- Whiplash
You have no doubt heard about whiplash. This condition, common in rear-end collisions, causes damage to the soft tissues in your neck. You may, though, experience pain, numbness, tingling and loss of motion in your upper or lower back following a whiplash injury.
- Fractures
Your body has 32 vertebrae that make up your spine. During a car crash, you may fracture any of these bones. Even worse, because your spinal column protects your spinal cord, a broken bone anywhere in your back may damage your body’s nervous system. This, of course, may lead to complications, such as paralysis or loss of motion.
- Bruising
Bruises are common in automobile accidents. In many cases, though, minor bruising is not a problem. Still, a bruise to your spinal cord may have life-altering consequences. Further, bruises may eventually cause an infection.
- Herniated discs
There is cartilage between the vertebrae in your back. This cartilage cushions the bones to prevent them from rubbing against each other. If a disc slips out of place, you may develop soreness or have difficulty moving. Often, herniated discs require a surgical repair.
Your back is vitally important to your quality of life. If you have a back injury, you may require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation to return to normal. By understanding the sort of back injuries that tend to occur in North Carolina car crashes, you can better advocate for your overall health.
