Shattered glass is a common sight at a motor vehicle crash. With rollovers, collisions along with crashes into buildings, one may observe shards and bits of glass scattered for several feet along the roadway.
Some may overlook the fact that broken glass-related injuries may be among the most serious, especially those in which a vehicle occupant or pedestrian may lose significant amounts of blood.
Severe lacerations and severed limbs
Although engineers designed many windshields not to break, some still do, especially in collisions involving high speeds. And rear and side windows typically cannot withstand the force caused by a crash.
Here are some of the more common injuries sustained from broken glass in a motor vehicle crash:
- Surface cuts: Some penetration to a person’s skin is possible, but these cuts may only require minimal treatment such as stitches.
- Severe lacerations: Large fragments of glass may become imbedded in a person’s body, causing deep and severe lacerations. Muscle and tissue damage are possible. Deep cuts may damage vital organs such as the heart, lungs, spleen, liver and intestines.
- Severed limbs: The force of the crash may lead to large shards of glass penetrating to a person’s bone. Amputation may be necessary to save a person’s life.
Understand the potential injuries that may surface from breaking glass in a crash and seek immediate medical attention.
Remain alert and remain alive
Glass-related injuries may cause permanent scarring, permanent disabilities, disfigurement as well as be life-threatening. Understand their severity, and make sure to always be on the alert when driving your car or motorcycle, riding your bicycling or venturing outside for a stroll.
