Fast Care for Car Accident Injuries in the Greater Sacramento Area
Even as vehicle safety continues to improve, car accidents are still a major cause of physical injury and death for Americans. Nearly 10 percent of all injury-related visits to the emergency room are due to motor vehicle accidents. About half of motor vehicle injuries involve spinal injuries, neck and back sprains and strains, and bruises. High-energy trauma from impact is the cause of car accident injuries.
Have you or someone near you been involved in a car accident in Sacramento, CA or a surrounding area? Our experts at Dignity Health can provide the advanced emergency services you need. Call 911 or come to one of our six Dignity Health emergency rooms for quality care.
Symptoms of Car Accident Injuries
Signs and symptoms of car accident injuries depend on the specific injury. Common symptoms can include:
- Swelling, pain, or bruising
- Neck pain or stiff neck
- Spine symptoms, including headache or pain, numbness, or tingling in an arm, buttock, leg, or shoulder
- Back pain, which may be felt in the shoulder blades, rib cage, or lower back
Common car accident injuries, in order of frequency, include:
- Sprains and strains of the neck and back
- Contusions (bruises), with the skin intact
- Spinal injuries
- Sprains and strains of body parts other than the neck and back
- Fractures to the legs, pelvis, ribs, and arms
- Open wounds
Car Accident Injuries Prevention & Treatment at Dignity Health
Over 70 percent of car accident injuries require an imaging exam (CT scan or X-ray) to help your doctor diagnose the injury and decide on the best way to treat it. Dignity Health uses the latest technologies, so you receive the most up-to-date care.
You can prevent car accidents from happening by:
- Keeping your vehicle well maintained
- Designating a sober driver if alcohol or other drug use is involved
- Eliminating distracted driving by not texting or engaging in other activities that take your eyes or mind off the road
To prevent or reduce your risk of car accident injuries, use a seat belt for every car trip, no matter how quick it may be. Seat belts are the most effective way to prevent car accident injuries. In fact, seat belt use reduces car accident injuries and deaths by nearly half. Also use a child car seat or booster seat for children age eight and under and who are shorter than 57 inches.
Dignity Health provides emergency care for injuries caused by car accidents in the Sacramento region.