Generally speaking, lacerations are treatable and usually recover. However, if a laceration that occurs during an auto accident isn’t taken care of well and is not disinfected or treated with antibiotics, then you could end up with a serious infection.
There is a risk of infections after auto accidents because the lacerations are more likely to be severe and to go deep into the skin, muscles and tissues. Foreign objects are more likely to remain in the wound, too, which must be debrided to help with cleaning the wound.
Coming into organic materials could lead to infection
It’s possible to develop an infection by coming into contact with organic material. For example, if you are thrown from a vehicle, you could get rocks, dirt or other organic debris in a cut, abrasion or laceration.
In your own vehicle, it’s possible to have foreign objects like the glass from a windshield or branches from a tree that has penetrated a window cause cuts and leave debris in a wound.
What do you need to do if you have a laceration from an auto accident?
Even if you think you can manage your wound without medical treatment, it’s still a good idea to let a medical professional take a look at it. Deep cuts and punctures may require surgical debridement, antibiotics or other treatments to make sure they’re clean and at a reduced risk of becoming infected.
Most people will take antibiotics if their lacerations are deep or contaminated. These are taken to prevent an infection from forming.
If you wait and a laceration gets infected, there is a risk that the infection could spread to the blood and cause sepsis. Depending on the kind of bacteria in the wound, you could also see issues such as tetanus arise.
Get the right medical care after a serious collision
It’s smart to get medical care after a crash even if you think your wounds aren’t very serious. Early treatment may help you prevent an infection from occurring and could help your wounds heal sooner, so you can get back to living your normal life.