7 Most Commonly Broken Bones in Car Accidents

Jun 9, 2021

7 Most Commonly Broken Bones in Car AccidentsUnfortunately, when you’ve been in a car accident, it is possible to get injured even if you were wearing a seat belt or the airbags properly deployed. Injuries to the neck and spine, as well as broken bones, are common car accident injuries and you want to get treated by the best. When looking for help, you might find yourself searching for a “car accident doctor near me” online. This type of search will turn up a variety of doctors who may specialize in treating car accident injuries. It is important that you get the comprehensive care you need for a car accident injury, even if it’s a broken bone.

Fracture vs. Broken Bone

If you went to the emergency room or urgent care after the car accident then you may have found out you have a fracture. The term fracture is used to describe what is more commonly referred to as a broken bone. Fractures can happen to any bone in the body, and since there are over 200 of those, it is important to get treatment from a doctor who understands the specific circumstances that led to your broken bone. Many people think of a broken bone as something that happens to kids and requires a colorful cast. However, there are also fractures that can occur to bones that can’t be put into a cast or that may seem so small but cause a serious amount of pain.

Car Accidents and Broken Bones

Whether you were rear-ended or involved in a multiple-car wreck, the force of impact when your car was hit by another can cause your body to get shaken up and jostled around. While the seat belt is there to prevent you from being ejected from the vehicle, it can’t keep your whole body safe. The airbag is designed to help soften the blow of a serious accident, but it can also cause unintended damage in certain circumstances. Broken bones can occur for so many reasons in the event of a car accident.

Here are the 7 most commonly broken bones in car accidents:

1. Facial Bones

The sudden impact of an accident can cause your head and neck to fling forward and you may even hit your head on the steering wheel, window, or dashboard. Facial bones are more delicate than other bones in your body, and a hard hit to the nose or cheekbone against one of the hard surfaces in your car can actually lead to a break.

2. Sternum

The sternum is more commonly known as the breastbone, which is where the ribcage joins together in the center of your chest. Your seatbelt typically goes across your chest from shoulder to hip, and if the force of the accident is strong enough it can cause you to strain against the seatbelt. Too much pressure on the sternum can actually lead to a fracture.

3. Clavicle

The clavicle is more commonly known as the collarbone, which is the bone that runs from your shoulder and across your chest. The clavicle bone is more delicate than some other bones in your body and is also susceptible to damage, especially if the seatbelt is worn improperly or pulls too tightly against this area of your neck and chest.

4. Arm Bones

It is a natural instinct to put your hands and arms out to brace yourself for an impact you see coming. When it comes to an auto collision, though, bracing your hands against the dashboard or steering wheel can actually lead to broken bones. Wrist fractures and upper or lower arm bone fractures typically heal well in a cast.

5. Leg Bones

Your legs are more susceptible to injury or fracture in a car accident if your legs become trapped between the dashboard and the floor. This type of fracture to such a large bone in your body that helps you walk and move around can end up requiring surgery or physical therapy.

6. Spinal Vertebrae

Back and neck injuries are common in car accident injuries, and any type of spinal injury should be taken very seriously. Misalignments or herniated discs are more common in car accidents, but it is possible for the vertebrae in your spine to become fractured as well.

7. Cranium

The most common car accident injury for people not wearing a seat belt is a head injury. The seat belt prevents you from getting jostled around too much or even thrown from the vehicle. If you weren’t wearing a seat belt and hit your head against the windshield or dashboard, it can cause a skull fracture.

It’s important to know how to find a doctor after an auto accident. Our team of orthopedic doctors and car accident specialists at AICA Orthopedics in College Park can help treat any kind of broken bone. Visit us online or at one of our convenient locations to be assessed by a car accident doctor near you to learn more about our comprehensive treatment options.

SHARE:

Contact Us

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.