Being involved in a car accident is a deeply unsettling experience. It often leaves you mentally replaying the event. You will try to process what happened and grapple with lingering questions. During such moments, consulting a qualified car crash lawyer promptly is essential to understand your rights and explore your options. Below, we highlight some typical injuries that victims may experience in auto accidents.
Fractures
Fractures often happen during severe, high-speed impacts. The force from such a collision can deform the car as it absorbs the shock, causing it to bend or crumple under pressure. This distortion may harm areas like your legs, arms, or other parts of your body. Your ribcage might also endure significant force from restraints, potentially leading to cracked ribs. If you experience any injury like this, seek medical attention right away.
Fractures need care from orthopedic specialists to ensure proper healing. If left misaligned, a fracture could result in lasting pain or functional issues. Additionally, moving someone with a fracture can cause serious complications, such as partial or complete paralysis, depending on the injury’s location and severity. Wait for emergency services to stabilize the individual before any movement.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a common injury following an accident, but you may wonder can whiplash cause permanent damage? This injury can occur in both minor and severe collisions, particularly in rear-end impacts where the crash is unexpected. The force of another vehicle hitting you causes your head to snap backward suddenly, followed by a forward motion. This abrupt movement places significant strain on the muscles and tendons in the neck and upper back. After an accident, you may notice symptoms like
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Tingling sensations
- General discomfort in the neck or back areas.
Lacerations
Windows can break, seatbelts hold you in place, airbags activate, and you might come into contact with hard or sharp surfaces either within the vehicle or outside it. Cuts and wounds can range from small scratches to severe injuries, including “degloving” injuries where the skin is peeled away, exposing the tissue underneath. These injuries often need surgery and typically involve a long recovery period. They can leave lasting effects, such as scars or reduced mobility, as a permanent reminder of the incident.
Scrapes, Cuts, and Bruises
It’s rare to walk away from a car accident without at least a minor injury. A deploying airbag, for instance, might leave you with small bruises or cuts on your head. Without it, the impact could result in more severe injuries, like hitting the steering wheel.
Similarly, making contact with windows during a collision often leads to common injuries such as bruises or cuts. Loose objects in the car can also become dangerous projectiles, causing scrapes, cuts, or bruises upon impact.
Brain Injuries
Head injuries are among the most severe injuries accident victims can experience, with some developing gradually and posing life-threatening risks if left untreated. For instance, brain bleeds, which may progress over days, can be fatal without prompt medical care.
Anyone suffering a head injury in a motor vehicle accident should prioritize seeking immediate medical attention. Skull fractures are also common, involving breaks or cracks in the skull’s bones, which in severe instances can lead to fragments piercing the brain and causing further harm. Hematomas, bleeding beneath the skull, can expand over time and become life-threatening if not addressed quickly.
Endnote
Car accidents can cause injuries that might need medical care. Get checked by a doctor as soon as possible, even if you feel fine at first. Some injuries may take days or even weeks to show symptoms, and delaying treatment could lead to more serious issues.
