When you’re involved in a car accident, you may immediately begin assessing any damage to your car- but your car isn’t the only thing that can be hurt in a collision. Even in a low-impact situation, it’s common to experience a variety of issues following a car accident. Just like you’ll take the car to a mechanic, you should also be evaluated by a car accident doctor in College Park. Doctors that specialize in post-accident treatment will be familiar with the most common injuries and can help you determine the best way to move forward. Read on to see what kind of things these doctors may treat.
Broken Bones
The impact of a car crash can put an unnatural amount of force on your body, and when this force exceeds what your body can withstand, bones may break. Certain bones, like ribs and wrists, are more fragile and may break with even light pressure. However, the right angle or impact can break stronger bones like the femur as well.
If we see the crash coming, human instinct is often to brace for impact, often by reaching out arms or legs. This can be the cause of many broken bones as the limb is stiffened and then hits a hard surface. Other areas of the body are at high risk for fractures if they are near hard surfaces or are restrained by the seatbelt, like a shoulder or ribcage.
Depending on what bone has broken, your treatment plan may differ. Extremities like arms and legs are likely to be put into a cast, which holds the bones together and allows them to heal. However, when something like the ribs break, they cannot be neatly casted. College Park chiropractors may provide braces to prevent movement and the break will have to heal on its own. Luckily, by choosing an experienced car accident doctor in College Park, you will have providers who are experienced with broken bones and the best way to recover.
Soft Tissue Damage
Your bones are surrounded by muscles, ligaments, and tendons that are also susceptible to injuries. This can also happen throughout the body, and severity can be related to a number of factors in the crash.
When a ligament is torn or stretched beyond the normal range, this is known as a sprain. Ligaments are strong connective tissue bands that connect bones to one another, so when they are compromised, you may lose support in that area. Ankles, knees, and wrists are likely to suffer sprains because they are in close proximity to hard surfaces like pedals and the steering wheel. Also common is a strain, in which the tendon or the muscle it is connected to is injured. Feet, legs, and back are likely to be strained during a crash.
You may not know that it is a soft tissue injury, but you are likely familiar with whiplash. When the head or neck is jerked upon impact, it can cause sprains or strains in the neck and shoulder area. This can lead to pain, lack of movement, and ongoing back problems if not treated. Whiplash symptoms may not appear for days following an accident, so it is important to be vigilant and share any issues with your doctor.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
While the name traumatic brain injury sounds scary, it simply means an injury that occurs because of an outside force. This makes it likely that a car accident can cause a TBI when the head comes in contact with a hard surface. As impact occurs, the body may be flung back and forth, leaving an opportunity for the head to hit against the car. Your brain may even move enough to hit your skull, even if you haven’t made contact externally.
The TBI you are probably most familiar with is a concussion. This is a mild form of TBI caused by a blow to the head- these are typically not life-threatening, but can still be serious if not addressed quickly. Some people may lose consciousness or notice they are dizzy immediately, while others don’t notice a concussion for hours when they begin to feel confused or feel their vision blur.
If you have any symptoms of a concussion, or know you hit your head in a car accident, it is important to visit a car accident doctor immediately. Not only can an expert help determine your plan of treatment, but they can rule out any more serious injuries.
At AICA College Park, our team of specialists works together to identify and treat any injuries resulting from a car accident, regardless of what category it falls into. The chiropractors, pain specialists, neurologists, and orthopedists at AICA College Park will work together to reach the best outcome for you.