A writer in the Atlanta Magazine details her experience after a “minor” car accident. She says she did not see the accident coming until the interior of her car “exploded” and she was plunged into darkness for seconds as the airbags inflated. Luckily for her, the accident was both minor and there were paramedics nearby, who had been eating dinner.
They rushed to the accident site to help. She suffered only minor injuries, like bruising and soreness. She complained of chest pain, which could have been from a slight fracture of her ribs.
These low-speed car accidents can also lead to broken bones in the legs and hip. These hip injuries can be painful and slow to heal. Other risks include the potential for a concussion. While airbags can do a good job preventing severe neck injuries and whiplash, the brain can still suffer significant damage by being jarred within the skull.
Step fractures are also possible, caused by the bones being broken and offset in a slight step. On a humorous note, some people receive what doctors refer to as “DROF” injury. This dates to the days before airbags when the steering wheel would leave an impression of the car name on the chest of the accident victim. (DROF is FORD)
While many of the problems, such as bruises and soreness, caused by this type of accident may heal on their own, you should always have a complete medical checkup by a doctor after any car accident, as injuries like a concussion are never minor.
Source: Atlanta magazine, “Walking away from a car crash,” Christine Van Dusen, October 9, 2013
