You may know someone who has been involved in a car accident or happens to be a victim yourself. While car accident injuries may seem minor on the surface, they can often have long-term consequences. This piece will discuss some of the most common injuries sustained from car accidents. This information will leave you prepared, and aware of what you need to do in the event of an accident.
Sustained Head Injuries
Car accident head injuries are the most likely to have a lasting impact on your life. If you hit your head hard enough, you may suffer from chronic headaches or memory loss, as well as experience long-term changes in behavior and personality. In some cases, brain damage can even result in a coma or death. Pigeon Forge car accident lawyers noted that if you are ever in a car accident and dealing with heavy medical bills, you should contact a personal injury attorney and pronto. To avoid getting injured in a car accident, it is advisable to wear a seatbelt and have your head supported by the headrest of your seat.
Spinal Cord Injury
This injury occurs when the vertebrae of your spine are shattered and compressed. As a result, the bones and nerves in that immediate area may also end up damaged, resulting in a severe amount of pain, possible paralysis, or loss of feeling below the site of impact. There may also be a swelling pressing on spinal cord tissue, affecting nerve function. In some cases, surgery is highly recommended to re-align the vertebrae and stabilize them with a metal rod or bone grafts.
Broken Bones And Fractures
Broken bones and fractures are other common injuries resulting from a car accident. The force of the impact can cause your bone to crack, break, or even shatter completely. Fractures can also occur if you hit an object inside the vehicle, such as the steering wheel. It is important for victims who suffer broken bones or fractures to seek medical attention immediately.
Serious Burns
Serious burns are a common injury resulting from a car accident. This type of injury occurs when you come into contact with hot surfaces or fluids inside the vehicle after impact, such as burning gasoline. Burns can be very serious and require extensive medical attention to ensure that they do not get infected and heal properly. In some cases, victims must undergo skin grafts in order to fully recover.
Concussion Or Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury(TBI), is a common injury after an automobile accident. TBI can be difficult to detect and may not appear for days or weeks following the incident, but it’s important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible if you suspect this condition has occurred. The symptoms of concussion include headache, nausea, vomiting, loss of memory, loss of balance, drowsiness, and fatigue. If you do not receive prompt attention after an accident or injury, your brain can suffer further damage that may result in other neurological problems like epilepsy (seizures) later on. Getting the proper diagnosis as soon as you can is the best way to ensure that your brain injury will heal properly.
According to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), about one in every four people who suffer from a brain injury have it as a result of being involved in an auto collision. The human skull can only withstand so much force before it cracks or breaks and causes the brain to swell with blood, which can lead to brain damage. There are many symptoms of a head injury, but some common indicators include headaches, nausea, and vomiting, slurred speech or confusion, or memory loss.
Loss Of Limb Function
If you’ve ever seen someone who’s had a leg or arm amputated, then you know that they need to go through months and years of rehab in order to learn how to walk and use their new limb. This is the most devastating of these injuries. The other types, while they can be equally debilitating, do not usually result in loss of limb function.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
If you have been in a car accident, any injuries are bound to take their toll. But it’s not just your body that can suffer after an accident; the mind is affected as well. Car accidents often lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but this condition doesn’t even need to be caused by a crash.
Car accidents are a common occurrence, and the injuries that result from them can be severe. If you’ve been injured in an accident or have sustained any of these injuries as a result, it is important to get immediate medical attention. The sooner your injuries are treated, the more likely they will heal properly. That being said, there are some serious head injuries that may not appear until days or weeks after the initial car crash event. In those cases, it is critical to seek professional help immediately so permanent damage isn’t done.