One of the most devastating impacts of MVAs are the injuries they cause. Each year, there are close to 40,000 fatalities caused by motor vehicle accidents across the country. In addition to fatalities, many drivers and passengers walk away with serious injuries, such as:
Amputation. In a car or vehicle accident, amputation may occur if a limb or part of a limb is severed by the impact of the collision. Amputations can also occur if a passenger is trapped in the car and emergency responders need to get the passenger out of the vehicle quickly. In some cases, amputation does not occur right away, but rather a limb is so injured by the crash that surgeons later must remove all or part of the affected area to save a patient’s life. In all these situations, amputations are life-altering injuries.
Back and spinal cord injuries. Back injuries can include chronic back pain and mobility issues or numbness in parts of the body. Serious spinal cord injuries can result in paraplegia or quadriplegia, which can paralyze a person either from the waist down or can paralyze all four limbs.
Burns. In some vehicle accidents, especially motorcycle accidents, the fuel tank can become ruptured and may explode or catch on fire, putting anyone nearby at risk of burn injuries. Burns may cause severe pain and scarring and in some cases can lead to mobility issues.