It is not uncommon to hit your head on various parts of your vehicle during an auto collision. If the impact is severe enough, it can cause concussions. Even worse head injuries can occur as well. We will determine from your history of the events, the severity of your injuries and what the next best steps are regarding imaging and referrals. It is also very important to document the head injury/ symptoms.

Often called ‘Whiplash’ are a very common injury with motor vehicle crashes. Research has shown injuries are possible with collisions under 10mph. We will look for signs of whiplash and determine if you need treatment. Untreated whiplash can lead to chronic pain and earlier than expected aging changes in your neck due to altered biomechanics. If your neck hurts at all after a collision, you likely have whiplash.

Shoulder injuries are common because the shoulder is the most commonly dislocated joint in the body. It sacrifices stability for mobility. Therefore when you are holding onto the steering wheel or anything else in a vehicle during a collision, your shoulder is a weak link in the biomechanical chain. We can determine the extent of your shoulder injuries with a combination of physical examination and medical diagnostic imaging.

When your car collides with anything it either stops or moves suddenly in reaction to the force. Your low back can be injured by the sudden change of direction and there is often a compressive component to these injuries which can injure your discs between the vertebrae. We can easily determine if your low back is injured by how it moves during a physical examination. Injuries to your discs, can cause long term problems with your back.

Hand and wrist injuries can happen from holding onto the steering wheel or other handles during an impact. Fingers can be sprained or broken as well as sensitive structures in the wrist. Most of hand/wrist injuries heal without the need for ongoing treatment. Although if your injury is more severe, it is important you are referred to the appropriate specialist so your injury heals properly.

Knee injuries are relatively common with car collisions. It is very easy for the knees to impact the dashboard of the vehicle during the collision. Another common mechanism of injury for a driver is standing on the brake so hard that the knee is injured. Meniscus injury is just one of the injuries we see with motor vehicle crashes. If you are having knee pain after a motor vehicle crash, you should be evaluated to determine if the injury is self limiting or requires specific treatment.