Personal injuries can occur in many ways, from car accidents and slips and falls to medical malpractice and defective products. While the circumstances may vary, some injuries are more prevalent than others.

Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law, an experienced personal injury law firm in Palm Bay, FL, shares the five most common personal injuries.

1. Car Accidents

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injury in the United States, with 42,514 fatalities every year. The most common car accident injuries include:

• Whiplash – caused by the head jerking back and forth, whiplash sprains the muscles and ligaments in the neck and can cause considerable pain. Doctors see around 869k people with traffic accident cervical spine injuries each year.
• Broken bones – typically in the arm and leg from the impact of the collision. Fractured ribs are also common from hitting the steering wheel.
• Back and spinal injuries – herniated discs and nerve damage often occur from the jarring motions of a crash.
• Head injuries – concussions, cuts, bruises and even traumatic brain injury can result from a forceful impact, especially if the head hits the steering wheel, window or pavement. 280K people suffer a TBI in a car accident every year.

2. Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents are another common source of personal injury – Some of the most common injuries are:

• Broken bones – wrists, elbows, hips and ankles are especially susceptible when slipping on wet floors or tripping on an uneven surface.
• Head injuries – hitting one’s head on the ground or an object when falling can lead to concussions – falls cause 28% of all TBIs in the US.
• Back injuries – twisting the back or landing off-balance can sprain or strain back muscles.
• Knee injuries – sudden impact on the knees can tear ligaments and cartilage.

3. Medical Malpractice

When doctors, nurses and other health professionals provide improper or negligent treatment, it’s considered medical malpractice. Some examples of injuries caused by malpractice are:

• Surgical errors – there are around 4k mistakes every year during surgery such as puncturing organs or leaving medical equipment inside patients.
• Misdiagnosis – failing to diagnose serious conditions like cancer or heart disease.
• Anesthesia errors – administering too much anesthesia leading to brain damage or even death.
• Medication errors – giving the wrong type or dosage of medication.

4. Defective Products

Faulty consumer products cause many injuries each year, reports the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Some common defective product injuries include:

• Lacerations – from malfunctioning tools, exploding products, sharp edges on toys, etc.
• Burns – caused by flammable products igniting or electronics overheating and exploding.
• Eye injuries – from projectiles shot out by defective guns and tools or fragments emitted during explosions.

5. Dog Bites

Dog bites account for tens of thousands of personal injuries annually. Children are the most common victims. Bite injuries can include:

• Lacerations – from the teeth puncturing and tearing the skin. Often deep and prone to infection.
• Nerve damage – severed nerves from deep puncture wounds, sometimes causing loss of feeling or mobility in the affected area.
• Broken bones – fingers, hands, arms and legs can be fractured if bitten with great force.
• Scarring – permanent scarring frequently results after more serious dog bites.

While the circumstances leading to each injury vary greatly, understanding the most prevalent types of harm can help individuals take precautions and legal teams prosecute personal injury claims.

Awareness of these common personal injuries provides a good starting point for keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe.