A sudden car accident can result in a variety of injuries, but what happens when a wreck causes bodily damage to your spine? The National Center for Biotechnology Information notes that spinal injuries are common during motor vehicle accidents for a variety of reasons, including poor safety practices and driving habits.
Spinal injuries can have far-reaching effects on your health and quality of life, and remaining aware of their possible impact may help increase your driving awareness.
Loss of mobility
One major risk of receiving a spinal injury during a car accident is a loss of mobility. The accident may cause partial or complete paralysis, depending on the area of the spine affected. Most injuries involve the lower portion of the spine, especially if you were in the driver’s seat at the time of the accident. The risk of spinal injury generally increases in serious crashes, such as when a vehicle rolls over.
Range of motion issues
A rear-end car accident can cause neck and spinal injuries due to the sudden forward movement of a car that is not in motion at the time of the crash. One injury, known as whiplash, is especially common and can cause a limited range of motion in the neck and head. Whiplash injuries and symptoms may linger for months, especially if they go undiagnosed in cases where the rear-end crash did not seem severe.
Both drivers and passengers are at risk for long-term spinal injuries when car accidents occur. While these issues tend to occur more commonly in serious accidents, any type of motor vehicle wreck may cause them.
