Bones break (fracture) in Los Angeles car accidents due to the high-energy impact and forces exerted on the body during the collision. The human body is not built to withstand the sudden, intense forces produced in such events, leading to various types of injuries, including fractures. Here’s how bones typically break in car accidents:
Types of Forces Leading to Fractures:
- Direct Impact: Direct force to a part of the body can cause fractures. For example, if a car occupant’s leg hits the dashboard or door during a collision, the direct impact can break leg bones (femur, tibia, or fibula).
- Compression: Bones can break under compression forces when parts of the body are squeezed under heavy pressure. In car accidents, this might occur when the vehicle crumples, and the occupant is trapped between parts of the car.
- Bending: Bones can fracture when bent beyond their normal range of flexibility. This can happen in various accident scenarios, such as when an arm or leg is trapped and the rest of the body is thrown in a different direction.
- Twisting: Twisting forces can cause spiral fractures, especially in long bones like those in the legs. This might occur if one part of the body is anchored (like a foot trapped by pedals or floor mats) while the rest is thrown sideways.
- Shearing: Shear forces occur when tissues or bones are pulled in one direction while being compressed or anchored in another. This can lead to fractures where bones are not just broken but may also be displaced.
Common Types of Fractures in Car Accidents:
- Simple fractures: The bone is broken in one place and may not break the skin.
- Compound fractures: The bone breaks through the skin, increasing the risk of infection.
- Comminuted fractures: The bone is shattered or crushed into several pieces.
- Compression fractures: Common in the spine, where vertebrae are crushed under pressure.
- Spiral fractures: Caused by twisting forces, resulting in a spiral-shaped break.
- Greenstick fractures: More common in children, where the bone bends and cracks but doesn’t completely break.
Contributing Factors:
- Speed and Force of Impact: Higher speeds result in more severe impacts and a greater likelihood of fractures.
- Safety Features: The presence and use of safety features like seatbelts and airbags can influence the type and severity of fractures. Proper use can mitigate some forces, while absence or improper use can exacerbate injuries.
- Position in Vehicle: The occupant’s position at the time of the crash (driver, passenger, seated, turned, etc.) can affect which bones are most likely to fracture.
- Vehicle Design and Crash Direction: The design of the vehicle and the direction of the impact (frontal, rear-end, side-impact, rollover) also play significant roles in how forces are distributed and absorbed by the body.
Prevention:
While not all fractures can be prevented in car accidents, wearing seatbelts, using appropriate child safety seats, and driving vehicles equipped with modern safety features like airbags can significantly reduce the risk and severity of bone fractures. Defensive driving to avoid accidents altogether remains the most effective prevention strategy. Call Cohen Injury Law Group now!