Over half of all traumatic brain injuries are the result of automobile accidents, according to traumaticbraininjury.com. I see this in my personal experience, as I know most of the clients I work with were injured in automobile accidents. Two kinds of brain injuries can result from an automobile accident. The first is a closed head injury, which involves no open wound to the head. Trauma is a result of direct or indirect force, and the brain may collide with the inner skull. Contusions (bruises on the brain) and bleeding. The second type is an open head injury, which involves penetration of skull with direct injury to the head.
Car accidents are very scary things, and something I am currently keeping in mind as I search for a new car. Crashworthiness is applied to describe the ability of a structure to protect occupants in an impact. Crashworthiness is something that automobile manufacturers must consider in their cars, as it is the first line of defense in an automobile accident. Cars go through a lot testing for safety, and the results of this testing should be considered when looking for a car. I have been comparing about three cars to each other in my decision to purchase one, and of course the main factor that goes into deciding which one is cost. The most economical car that I've been looking at does not have the highest safety ratings of the bunch, which may deter me from getting it. I'm looking at very small cars, so safety is going to matter when I'm on the road. Of course, I will always be wearing my seat-belt when in the car!
I think many individuals forget the role of automobile accidents in head injury. Too often, we associate such injuries with more obvious sources, (e.g., contact sports such as football, or recreational biking). But, the majority of all head injuries are suffered during car accidents as you suggest. It’s interesting that you’re considering ‘crashworthiness’ as a factor in your car purchase. Despite dramatic television commercials showing the safety of a car under various circumstances, I often wonder whether safety actually ranks that high on the list when it comes time to purchase a vehicle. Too often other factors such as cost take precedence (necessarily so, often), and I suspect when the final decision is made safety falls somewhat down the list of desired car features. Bizarre, when you think about it given the time we spend in the car in this country and the speeds at which we travel. Thankfully, while features such as ‘crashworthiness’ are important to consider, probably the single best deterrent to head injury during a motor vehicle accident is wearing a seatbelt. Even slower speed, lower impact crashes can cause significant head injuries for someone not wearing a seatbelt.
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