Accidents happen every single day, and many leave no lasting impacts. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the outcome as several other accidents often result in injuries. These injuries can vary in type and severity, from minor inconvenience to life-threatening. Here’s a list of the five most common types of injuries and what causes them.
#1: Broken Bones
A bone is a rigid, living organ that makes up the skeletal system in the human body. There are 206 bones in the adult human body (~300 in children and babies). Some bones (such as the leg bones) are harder to break than others (like the rib bones), and it can take anywhere between 6 and 12 weeks for a broken bone to heal— healing usually takes longer the older you get.
Several things can cause broken bones; it just takes a strong enough impact to fracture or break them. Adults typically receive broken bones either from falls or vehicle accidents. The risk is particularly higher if they suffer from osteoporosis, or “brittle bone disease”.
#2: Cuts and Scrapes
Cuts and scrapes are the type of injuries that are more associated with children, which isn’t surprising because children are more likely to suffer from cuts and scrapes. However, adults are also likely to suffer from cuts and scrapes— they just don’t necessarily get them in the same way that children do. Children are more likely to receive cuts and scrapes from playing (falls from bikes, skates, etc.), while adults are more likely to get work-related cuts and scrapes when working with certain equipment and materials.
This type of injury may not seem as severe as the other injuries on this list, but cuts and scrapes can range in severity from minor to potentially life-threatening. Both cuts and scrapes can become infected if not treated properly, and cuts can be deep enough to affect the nerves.
#3: Head Injuries
Like cuts and scrapes, head injuries can range in severity from minor to life-threatening, but head injuries are almost always serious. Arguably, the most important organ in the body is the head (the brain), and any impact to the head has the potential to cause decreased brain function, whether temporarily or permanently. This type of injury can cause headaches, memory loss, and even a total loss of brain function.
Head injuries are serious at any age. Kids can suffer head injuries from falls, and so can adults. Adults can also suffer head injuries when working dangerous jobs, such as construction, especially when not wearing protective equipment, such as a hard hat. This is why protective gear is important, and so are helmets for kids (and adults).
#4: Sprains and Strains
Sprains and strains are similar injuries that describe the overstretching or tearing of the joints. A sprain is the tearing of ligaments (bands of tissue that connect bones to joints), while a strain is the tearing of muscles or tendons. Both sprains and strains present with swelling, limited flexibility/range of motion, and pain, but sprains often come with bruising as well. Both are likely to occur in the following body parts:
- Wrists
- Thumbs
- Knees
- Back
- Ankles
These are some of the most common injuries, resulting from athletic activities, slipping or falling, overextending yourself, and prolonged repetitive motions. The good news is that both sprains and strains can be prevented. Make sure to stretch before any athletic activity, and use proper lifting techniques when lifting heavy objects.
#5: Whiplash
Whiplash is a more specific type of strain, specifically a soft tissue injury to the neck. It happens when your body moves too quickly in a short amount of time, such as in a car accident. Car accidents are common for all age groups, and you can suffer any of these injuries in a car accident.
Any of these injuries, whether from a car accident, work injury, etc. can leave you with limited mobility and chronic pain. Nashville personal injury lawyers at Mitch Grissim can help get you compensation if your injury was a result of a car accident or work injury.
Accidents can also cause mental, or psychological injuries, meaning that a person can suffer emotional distress from an injury, accident, or both. PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is the most common psychological issue that follows an accident or other traumatic event. Not all accidents can be prevented, but the majority of them can be when people are more cautious in their daily activities.
