.1911121703550.jpg)
Did you know: motor vehicle accidents rank within the top three leading causes of preventable injury-related deaths? They rank among poisoning and falls within the top 82% of all preventable deaths. Each state reports on motor vehicle accident statistics each year and national averages are also calculated. On average, 20-50 million people are injured or disabled every year from car accidents internationally. However, New York City presents it’s own unique landscape and driving distractions which result in more accidents and more injuries. We’ll be diving into the top five New York state car accident injuries from 2016-2018 according to OPEN-NY.
The five most common injuries include:
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Head injuries
- Knee, lower leg, or foot injuries
- Elbow, lower arm, or hand injuries
#1: Neck Injuries
Of the reported injuries after a crash, 25% of victims reported experiencing some kind of neck injury. Whiplash is a common neck injury, which can range from mild to quite severe. Other neck injuries include tissue damage, lacerations, muscle spasms, and even potential vocal cord damage and paralysis.
#2: Back Injuries
Coming in as second is back injuries. 18% of victims reported experiencing back pain or serious injury after a car accident. Some of the most common types of back injuries include sprains, muscle spasms, tightness, and soft tissue damage. More serious back injuries include spinal fractures, herniated discs, and spinal cord injuries.
#3: Head Injuries
Tied for second as most reported injuries after a car accident in New York state are head injuries. 18% of victims report a head injury after their accident. Head injuries tend to be more severe, such as traumatic brain injuries, brain lesions, concussions, and overall unconsciousness. However, less severe injuries such as scratches and bruises have also been reported as head injuries.
#4: Knee, Lower Leg, or Foot Injuries
12% of all reported injuries come in as lower leg injuries, including knee and foot injuries. These injuries range from scrapes, sprains, and bruises all the way up to dismemberment. Knee injuries typically include dislocations and ruptured tendons. The same goes for foot injuries, too.
#5: Elbow, Lower Arm, or Hand Injuries
Lastly, rounding out our list, 6% of motor vehicle accident victims reported lower arm injuries, including elbow and hand injuries. After these injuries, the list drops significantly with a few whole body injuries reported and very little upper arm or upper leg injuries. Some of the most severe arm injuries after an accident involve fractures or burns.
If you or someone you know gets injured in a car accident, contact Loscalzo & Loscalzo, P.C. at (646) 846-4776 to discuss your case with one of our personal injury attorneys today.