Bradshaw Law, LLC
Bradshaw Law, LLC

What Happens to Your Body After a Car Accident

Due to what happens to your body after a car accident, you may suffer serious or fatal injuries. The impact of auto collisions can cause people’s bodies to undergo significant changes and suffer trauma. Despite their safety features, modern cars cannot absorb all the force from an impact in most situations. Consequently, the impact is transferred to drivers and passengers.

What Happens to Your Body After a Car Accident?

When car accidents occur, the kinetic energy created by the car’s motion is released in a sudden burst. Before a collision, the occupants’ bodies are moving at the same speeds as their automobiles. The impact of a crash causes vehicles to stop suddenly, but drivers’ and passengers’ bodies may continue moving at the same speed as before the wreck. Due to this momentum, people may suffer a range of serious physical and internal injuries upon impact.

Chemical Response

The body releases hormones and chemicals to prepare itself for the trauma of a motor vehicle collision. Adrenaline may give people more energy, increase their oxygen, increase their muscle strength, reduce or eliminate pain, and cause tunnel vision and forward-directed hearing. Also released at the time of a crash, endorphins block pain and help adjust people’s moods.

Physical Injuries

What happens to your body after a car accident may cause people to suffer a range of physical injuries . Even if they are buckled up, people’s bodies and limbs may be thrown or jostled about vehicles’ cabins at the time of an accident. This may cause their bodies to recoil sharply or strike other objects, potentially resulting in whiplash, disc herniation, bruises, fractures, abrasions, or lacerations.

Seat belts and airbags provide essential protection for vehicle occupants in an accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 14,955 people’s lives were saved in 2017 by seat belts. However, the impact of collisions causes seat belts to exert significant force on people’s upper torsos, which may cause rib or collarbone fractures.

Internal Trauma

The force exerted on people’s bodies by seat belts or airbags as a result of the impact of a car accident may cause victims to suffer serious internal trauma. Head injuries resulting from what happens to your body after a car accident can cause blood clots, while impact to the chest could result in broken or collapsed ribs. In some cases, the force of a crash’s impact may cause bruising to the heart, or the tension of a seat belt on the abdomen could cause organs such as the intestines or stomach to rupture or be bruised. In such cases, seeking the expertise of a car accident lawyer is crucial to ensure victims of serious internal trauma caused by the force of a car accident receive the necessary legal assistance.

Learn More About Car Accident Injuries

What Is Pseudobulbar Affect?

Getting Help for Vehophobia After Car Accidents

What Happens if You Lose a Car Accident Lawsuit?

How Much Will I Get for Pain and Suffering from a Car Accident?

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Denise Bradshaw

Personal injury lawyer Denise Bradshaw is the founder of Bradshaw Law, LLC., which has offices in Elko, NV and Houston, TX. Denise represents victims of catastrophic birth injuries, automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, dangerous products, and medical malpractice. Denise has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and is also a member of the Multi-Million Dollar and Million Dollar Advocates Forums.

Years of Experience: More than 15 years
Nevada Registration Status: Active

Bar & Court Admissions: Nevada State Bar, U.S District Court, All Nevada and Texas Courts

author-bio-image author-bio-image
Denise Bradshaw

Personal injury lawyer Denise Bradshaw is the founder of Bradshaw Law, LLC., which has offices in Elko, NV and Houston, TX. Denise represents victims of catastrophic birth injuries, automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, dangerous products, and medical malpractice. Denise has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and is also a member of the Multi-Million Dollar and Million Dollar Advocates Forums.

Years of Experience: More than 15 years
Nevada Registration Status: Active

Bar & Court Admissions: Nevada State Bar, U.S District Court, All Nevada and Texas Courts