While we do our best to avoid them, car accidents inevitably occur. No matter what precautions you take, you can’t always avoid involvement in a car accident.
People are involved in car accidents every day throughout the county. In fact, according to the CDC, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury in the United States.
Car accidents can range from minor to severe. Some result in no injuries or only property damage.
Other accidents, however, can result in severe injuries, hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, and, in some cases, even death.
Regardless of the severity, if you sustain an injury in a car accident, you may have a claim for relief.
So what do you do if you’ve sustained car crash injuries in a motor vehicle accident?
Knowing what steps to take next is crucial to your physical, emotional, and financial recovery moving forward.
And the first step toward your recovery is being able to recognize what types of car crash injuries may entitle you to seek compensation.
Below are 7 common car wreck injuries that you should be aware of. If you have sustained any of these car accident injuries, be sure to seek medical attention immediately.
Then contact a car accident injury attorney to see what your options are for recovery.
1. Cuts and Scrapes
Even in a minor car accident, occupants of the vehicle can sustain minor injuries such as cuts and scrapes.
These types of injuries might result from debris, broken glass, or even airbag deployment.
Depending on the severity of the cut, you may need stitches to stop the bleeding.
Even if you do not require stitches, be sure to properly care for your injuries.
This can help to prevent infection and other complications that may lead to more serious car accident injuries later on.
2. Broken or Fractured Bones
Broken arms, legs, and hips are some of the most common types of car crash injuries.
A simple bone fracture means that a bone breaks without an open wound.
A compound fracture, on the other hand, occurs when a broken bone penetrates through the skin.
Broken or fractured bones can occur when a vehicle occupant braces themselves for the impact of the accident.
Rib bones are extremely fragile and can be broken by the impact of a seatbelt.
Facial bones can also break if your face strikes part of the vehicle during the crash.
If you believe you suffered a broken or fractured bone during a car accident, seek medical treatment right away.
3. Internal Bleeding
Internal bleeding may not be visible to the naked eye. However, it remains one of the most serious car accident injuries someone can sustain.
In fact, the seriousness of internal bleeding is due in large part to the fact that such injuries cannot be seen.
Failure to promptly address internal injuries can lead to even more severe injuries.
Thus, it is imperative that you seek immediate medical attention even if you do not notice any visible car accident injuries.
4. Spinal Cord Injuries
With car accidents involving blunt force trauma, spinal cord injuries are a frequent result.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, car accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries.
Unfortunately, individuals who sustain a spinal cord injury during a car accident frequently end up partially or completely paralyzed.
The average yearly expenses for an individual with a spinal cord injury can vary depending on the severity of the injury.
Commonly, annual expenses can range from approximately $350,000 to $1 million.
However, this accounts for only the first year after the injury occurred, and expenses can increase in later years.
While a spinal cord injury can be devastating, there are ways to seek monetary compensation to help you move forward.
An experienced Texas car wreck lawyer can help you assess your losses and expenses and determine what you may be entitled to recover.
5. Head Injuries
The severity of head injuries sustained in a car crash can range from minor bumps and bruises to traumatic brain injuries.
Brain injuries can be caused when your brain forcefully makes contact with your skull.
The brain is a delicate organ and can easily be injured during a high-impact car accident.
However, head injuries can be difficult to detect and diagnose.
Thus, it is crucial that you receive medical attention as soon as possible if you hit your head during a car accident.
6. Whiplash
The Mayo Clinic defines whiplash as a neck injury that results from forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, much like the cracking of a whip.
Whiplash is incredibly common in car accidents, especially rear-end collisions.
If you are experiencing neck pain after a car accident, you should consult with a medical professional to receive treatment and ensure that you don’t have any more serious injuries.
7. PTSD and Other Emotional Injuries
Not all injuries sustained during a car accident are physical.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t receive compensation for your non-physical injuries.
Even if you do not suffer serious car accident injuries that are physical in nature, you may still sustain emotional trauma in the aftermath of the accident.
Car accident victims can experience emotional distress and severe anxiety about driving or even being inside a vehicle after being in an accident.
If you are feeling heightened anxiety or depression following your accident, be sure to seek the assistance of a mental health professional that can provide you with treatment options.
Questions About How to Move Forward? Contact a Texas Car Accident Lawyer Today
No matter what type of car accident injuries you suffered, the aftermath of a motor vehicle collision can be a stressful, time-consuming, and emotionally draining experience.
Of course, nothing can turn back time and prevent the accident from occurring. However, there are ways for you to recover.
If you have questions about your car accident injuries and whether and to what extent you might be able to recover compensation, we want to help.
The Zimmerman Law Firm fights each and every day to achieve justice for injury victims in need.
Together, our attorneys have over 85 years of combined legal experience advocating for our clients, and we hope we can help you too.
Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and see what The Zimmerman Law Firm can do for you.
Michael Zimmerman
Michael was born in Houston, Texas. His education at Baylor and Texas State Universities earned him a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987. His major was in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry. He finished his legal education at Texas Southern University in 1990, earning a Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1990.
Rate this Post
Loading...