Every day, there’s a chance that you might get injured. Injuries can be minor, like scrapes or slight burns, or severe, like broken bones.
But just what is the most common injury in the United States, and what kinds of injuries are you more likely to encounter? Read on for the answers to these questions and more. Additionally, if you or a loved one have already been injured and are looking for legal assistance, contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers today at 1-516-342-2200 for a free consultation.
Ankle Sprains: The Most Common Injuries Overall
If you’ve ever wondered how you are most likely to be injured, we’ve got the answer: ankle sprains.
Indeed, ankle sprains are the most common injuries in the United States overall. This is true regardless of your age, your activity level, or what kind of job you work. That’s because ankle sprains are not only very typical occupational injuries (especially among blue-collar workers like construction workers) but also are common sports injuries.
An ankle sprain is a minor to severe injury that includes either the partial or total rupture of ligaments that support your ankle. Ankle sprains can be caused by falling and twisting your ankle or by stepping the wrong way. For example, you might not see a small hole or dip in the ground ahead of you, causing you to step improperly and stretch your ankle as a result.
Ankle ligaments are strong tissue bands that help connect joints and bones to each other. If they get damaged, they can cause severe pain, and they might need medical treatment. Ankle sprains might heal naturally if they are minor enough. More severe ankle sprains may require medical intervention in the way of hard or soft casts, pain management (e.g., prescription medications), surgeries, and beyond.
In addition to spraining your ankle during everyday activities like getting the mail or picking up groceries, you may also sprain your ankle due to auto accidents, sports games, work activities, etc.
What are Examples of Common Injuries in the U.S.?
Aside from ankle sprains, U.S. citizens may encounter a wide variety of other types of injuries over the course of their lives. Here are just a handful of the most common types of injuries you or a loved one could encounter.
Head Injuries
Head injuries are unfortunately quite common and can vary greatly in terms of severity. Types of injuries affecting the head can include but are not limited to:
- Concussions, in which your brain bounces against the inside of your skull and gets bruised. Concussions are dangerous and can prove life-threatening if left unchecked. If you or a loved one think you’ve suffered a concussion, seek medical attention immediately.
- Cracked skulls, in which your skull is cracked but not completely pierced. These, too, are extremely serious and require immediate medical attention.
- Head bruising, which can result in further trauma if not properly treated in time.
Should you or a loved one suffer a head injury from a motor vehicle accident or other collision-related incident (e.g., a fall from any height), seek out medical treatment immediately. Remember: When dealing with your health, it’s always better to play it safe.
Bruises and Contusions
Bruises and contusions can appear anywhere on your body, such as the arms, chest, legs, stomach, etc. Bruises and contusions usually occur when your body comes into contact with another hard surface or object.
For example, if you are in an auto accident and your airbag expands to protect you from shattered glass, you may suffer bruising from the sudden impacts. Areas of impact here may include but are not limited to: the face, eyes, nose, neck, eardrums, sternum, and arms.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are also very common injuries, particularly in the context of workplace accidents and sports. When a bone breaks, it either cracks in the form of a fracture or breaks completely due to high external forces. For example, if you slip and fall and try to catch yourself with your hand, you may break your wrist bone(s) as a result.
Broken bones can be painful, debilitating, and uncomfortable long-term. They are serious and can prove life-threatening if they result in bone shrapnel/shards piercing internal organs. Broken bone causes include but are not limited to: falling, auto accidents, assaults, workplace accidents, and much more.
Knee Injuries
Knee injuries are common injuries, especially among older adults (usually those aged 50+). We use our knees every day to move around, climb stairs, and while in the performance of numerous other tasks. But over time, the joints around our knees can become worn down and susceptible to extra wear and tear.
By the time we enter our fifties, our knees are not nearly as stable or protective as they once were. This can cause discomfort, difficulty walking around, and lead to a greater susceptibility to knee injuries. Knee injuries may consist of knee strains, sprains and ligament tears, and/or other forms of knee trauma such as one’s knees popping out of their sockets (e.g., knee dislocation).
What are Common Sports-Related Injuries?
If you play sports that involve body contact or heavy physical activity, you may be at risk for a wide range of common injuries. Sports that lead to physical injuries include but extend well beyond: football, baseball, soccer (European football), tennis, and boxing.
As noted earlier, ankle sprains are highly common sports-related injuries, especially in sports requiring participants to run on a field. For example, soccer players are at a high risk of ankle injuries because their feet twist and turn constantly.
Other common sports-related injuries include but are not limited to:
- Knee injuries, such as knee sprains and patellofemoral syndrome, which may be caused when the kneecap moves repeatedly against a leg bone, causing tissue damage.
- Shoulder injuries, such as dislocated shoulders and shoulder sprains.
- Tennis or golf elbow, which occurs when the elbow joint experiences intense trauma or strain from swinging a tennis racket, golf club, or similar instrument.
- Hamstring sprains, which stress the ligaments at the back of the legs.
- Sciatica, which is a nerve condition that may cause discomfort and considerable pain to the back of the left leg and up the back.
To learn more about personal injuries and their recovery times, as well as how you can best rehabilitate physically, emotionally, and financially in the aftermath of such injuries, call Schwartzapfel Lawyers now at no charge by dialing 1-516-342-2200. Alternatively, you may contact us online to set up your free case evaluation.
What are Common Work-Related Injuries?
Work-related injuries are a particularly important concern for many Americans. One bad work-related injury can cause a person to lose their paycheck, throwing their finances into jeopardy. Work-related injuries may be covered by workers’ compensation, provided that you were injured while on the job and while responsibly fulfilling your work responsibilities.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, strains, sprains, and ligament and muscle tissue tears are among the most common work-related nonfatal injuries in the United States. These are followed by fractures, cuts, lacerations, punctures, bruises, contusions, soreness, and general pain (Note: Oftentimes, soreness and general pain are taken as signs of other underlying health problems).
Most of these injuries are suffered by blue-collar workers in professions and industries like construction, transportation, manufacturing, and the like. This can be devastating to hard-working Americans.
To avoid these kinds of injuries, workers should always strive to be careful whenever handling heavy equipment and machinery.
Common Injuries as People Age
Among elderly people (aged 65+), falling is considered the most common cause of nonfatal injuries. In terms of statistics, one in five falls results in serious injury such as a broken bone. Other injuries that become increasingly common as we age include sprains, knee injuries, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) such as concussions.
Common Injuries Among Young People
Compared to the national average, young people run a greater risk of suffering minor injuries like cuts or scrapes. This is especially true of those between the ages of 6 and 15, who are also at a higher risk of sustaining injuries involving broken bones due to an increased likelihood of engagement in physical sports and outdoor activities.
Common Causes of Injuries
The National Center for Injury Prevention maintains a detailed record of the leading causes of nonfatal emergency department (ED) visits in the U.S. In 2020, for instance, the number one cause of ED visits was unintentional falling — for all age groups.
Aside from falling, other causes of commonplace injuries include being struck by or against an object, unintentional inhalation of dangerous substances, unintentional poisoning, and accidental cuts or piercings (such as slicing your finger with a kitchen knife while preparing a meal).
According to the National Safety Council, falls account for approximately 33% of all nonfatal injuries in the U.S., followed by being struck by foreign objects and poisoning. Meanwhile, poisoning is the most common cause of unintentional deaths, representing 43% of all U.S. cases.
For more on this and related subjects, contact Schwartzapfel Lawyersonline or over the phone by dialing 1-516-342-2200 and allowing one of our experienced personal injury attorneys the honor and privilege of helping you recover all that you are entitled to – money, benefits, good health.
Some Injuries are Expensive To Treat
If you require an ankle sprain treatment, you may not need to pay thousands of dollars for surgery.However, some people may experience debilitating and/or disabling injuries that cost a lot of money due to associated surgical costs, medical and/or hospital care, ongoing physical therapy costs, and much more.
The expenses of these injuries can drain one’s finances and cause massive stress as a result. Things can spiral further if your injuries require you to miss work, preventing you from earning income as you recover.
As such, you should know that if you or a loved one is injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you may have grounds for a lawsuit that can enable you to recover compensation and other damagesto help alleviate financial suffering.
When Can You Sue for Injuries?
New York State allows you to sue for injuries in the cases of assault, medical malpractice, and workplace injuries where another party is responsible for those injuries. However, you may not be able to sue another person or party for auto accident injuries unless the injuries are excessively debilitating or in other specific cases.
To successfully sue for injuries, you will likely need to prove negligence. This process typically involves proving that the other party had a responsibility or duty of care toward you which they breached.
If your lawsuit is successful, you may be able to recover compensation in excess of:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering damages
However, no personal injury or other lawsuit is ever open-and-shut. Knowledgeable personal injury attorneys can assist with your case and ensure that your lawsuit has the best chance of succeeding.
At Schwartzapfel Lawyers, we operate on a contingency fee basis. This means that you won’t have to pay us a penny unless we first recover damages, whether at trial, in an arbitration meeting, or in some other legal venue. To learn more now at no charge, contact us at 1-516-342-2200 or visit us online today.
Contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers Today
Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries in the U.S. Whether you’re a sports player, a blue-collar professional, or anyone in between, this holds true. Other common injuries include bruises, broken bones, and concussions.
Some injuries may leave you with no choice but to file a lawsuit against the at-fault or negligent party. In these cases, Schwartzapfel Lawyers can help.
As knowledgeable personal injury attorneys who are well-versed in New York legal precedent, we can offer sound legal counsel and ensure that you make the best decision for your family and your finances. For a free case evaluation, reach out to us today online or at 1-516-342-2200.
But you shouldn’t wait, as your window to file a claim may soon close forever. To keep this from happening, contact Schwartzapfel Lawyers now and have our skilled team fight – and win – for you!
DISCLAIMER: Nothing on this page should be considered legal advice. You should seek the appropriate counsel your situation requires. For more information, call 1-516-342-2200 now!
Sources:
Schwartzapfel Lawyers, P.C. | Fighting For You™™
Acute Ankle Sprain – StatPearls | NCBI Bookshelf
Type of injury or illness and body parts affected by nonfatal injuries and illnesses in 2014 : The Economics Daily | BLS.gov
