Being in a car crash is more than just an annoyance or inconvenience of life. In many cases, it leads to personal injuries, some of which can be serious and cause the victim to suffer significant damages.
What Are The Most Common Car Accident Injuries?
- Head injuries, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries. Whether due to an impact or blunt force trauma to the head, the head and brain can move rapidly back and forth. A car accident can cause a concussion, which is a mild brain injury with effects that can linger and last. In severe cases, traumatic brain injuries can cause brain damage, memory loss, and even potentially life-altering changes. Receiving proper and prompt medical treatment is essential in the case of any head or brain injury, to increase the chances of recovering as fully as possible.
- Back, neck, and spinal injuries. Another serious concern: injuries to the back and neck are very common during car accidents, and some of them can be quite severe—including paralysis. Some others may require surgical intervention, such as a herniated disc or spinal injuries; if they are left untreated, back and spinal injuries may lead to lifelong pain, degeneration, and life-altering changes.
- Broken bones. There are many ways a fracture can occur during an accident. Colliding with the steering wheel, or even the seatbelt, can result in broken ribs. Arms, legs, or extremities can break when a person is thrown against a door, window, dashboard, or the seat in front of you as a result of the crash. Some broken bones will heal on their own with proper care, rest, and recovery, but others may be more complex and require surgical intervention.
- Abrasions, bruising, and contusions. Objects in a car can go airborne and become projectiles during an accident, causing various cuts, scrapes, and contusions. While saving lives, your airbag and seatbelt can also cause abrasions or cuts. Although many cuts and bruises are mild and not serious, some of them require medical treatment, such as stitches.
- Internal bleeding and other complications. Particularly with high-speed collisions, your organs can be seriously impacted, causing them to bleed internally or stop functioning properly. You may need surgery to stop the bleeding and repair blood vessels.
- Whiplash. Your tendons and muscles in the neck and upper back area can be injured as a result of the jerking movements they undergo during a car accident. Other soft tissue injuries can also result, sometimes causing significant pain, strains, and sprains.
- Emotional and mental injuries. Being in an accident can wreak havoc on your emotional and mental state. An accident brings trauma, and it may result in anxiety, mental anguish, sleeping issues, aversions, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. It is important to receive therapy and treatment for emotional and mental injuries, in an effort to return to your normal life.
How Do People Recover From Injuries?
Not surprisingly, many of the injuries above can mean significant damages, including medical bills, doctor’s visits, hospital stays, medical tests and imaging, and prescription medication costs, all of which constitute special damages, also called out-of-pocket or economic damages. You might also experience significant general damages, including pain and suffering, mental anguish, and the loss of enjoyment in everyday activities that you are no longer able to undertake. Additionally, if you are unable to work as a result of your injuries, you might experience lost wages or income.
To recover from your injuries, you will need to negotiate carefully with the other party and their insurance company. This can be a complicated process—after all, the goal of the insurance company is to minimize the payout of any damages. You may also need to file a personal injury claim against the other party or the insurance company, should negotiations fail. Personal injury lawsuits can make for a long and difficult process, from preparing a compelling case to arguing your claims in court.
How Can FVF Help?
Whether you are negotiating with an insurance company or filing a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver, it is important to seek sound legal advice after your car accident. Having a knowledgeable and experienced car accident attorney by your side is essential: they can help confirm that you are receiving necessary medical treatment, investigate the circumstances of your accident, and preserve and obtain the evidence that is relevant to your case. Offering legal advice and advocating on your behalf, having an experienced lawyer allows you to focus on your recovery by offering personal support during a stressful time. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, contact us today to schedule a free, remote consultation with an accident claim lawyer near you.
