A car accident can happen in the blink of an eye and when you least expect it. Injuries from impact can be minor, like whiplash, or more serious, like damage to internal organs, the brain, or the spinal cord. On top of sustaining the injuries in the first place, you must consider the costs accumulated from treating these injuries. Let’s take a look at what to do if you’re injured in a car accident and the three most common injuries that can happen.
What Steps to Take if You’re in a Car Accident
The steps you take following your car accident are imperative, especially if you’ve sustained an injury and need immediate medical attention. In the aftermath of an accident, you should:
- Seek medical treatment, even if your injuries don’t seem to be life-threatening.
- Document and take pictures of your injuries, treatment processes, and symptoms.
- Gather important information like witness accounts of the accident, including names, pictures, and damage to your vehicle. Make sure to also document any work you missed due to the car accident.
- Find a car accident and personal injury lawyer who can help you establish a case.
Three Common Types of Car Accident Injuries
Now that the crucial first steps are covered, let’s look at the most common car accident injuries.
Neck and Chest Injuries
Rear-end collisions often lead to neck and chest trauma, such as whiplash. Unexpected motion from this kind of accident can lead to serious neck muscle and ligament damage, where swelling and neck pain are common.
Injuries sustained in the chest region are known for causing more serious problems. If an organ is ruptured from impact, there’s a real risk of internal bleeding, and the blunt force of the accident can cause ribs to break and lungs to collapse. These are the kinds of injuries that require medical attention immediately due to their severity.
Head and Back Injuries
Head and back injuries are perhaps the most serious injuries you can get in an accident. Drivers and passengers who are involved in a high-speed collision risk the chance of suffering severe head trauma, ranging from concussions to comas, when their heads strike against the steering wheel, windows, or dashboards. Other head injuries can result in skull fractures, loss of hearing, and bruising, swelling, and bleeding of the brain. In some cases, these injuries aren't always immediately clear, and brain swelling, bleeding, and concussions take days or weeks to present fully, which is another reason that anyone injured in a car wreck should be seen by medical personnel.
Back injuries are also common and vary in severity. Some of the most serious and life-threatening back injuries are from spinal cord damage. This can end in nerve damage and reduced sensation or control in arms, legs, and other extremities. The most serious spinal cord injuries can leave victims in various states of paralysis.
Psychological and Emotional Injuries
Sometimes, the injuries we receive in an accident might not cause visible physical harm. The trauma of a car accident can also have a substantial impact on our psyche. A victim may face emotional distress, anxiety, and depression following an accident. Perhaps someone witnessed an accident, and their experience jarred them so much that it caused emotional scarring. For those involved in serious accidents, PTSD may surface. The next step, if any of these symptoms come up, is therapy and/or medication.
For a more extensive list of car accident injuries we cover, view our practice areas.
How Manufacturing Defects Affect Car Crash Victims
When vehicle defects occur leading to harm, it’s often the direct result of flawed components, inadequate safety systems, or substandard manufacturing processes. This is to say that sometimes, even if a car accident causes injuries, the actual manufacturer can bear some of the blame. If brakes fail, airbags don't deploy, or side impact beams don't do their job, injuries can be much worse than if these components had worked. If you or someone you know was injured in a car wreck, you should call our Car Wreck Lawyers to investigate your case, as it allows us to seek damages from the vehicle manufacturer if necessary.
Now It’s Our Turn to Help
Nothing is worse than feeling completely helpless in the midst of a car accident. By working with your best interest in mind, our team of attorneys at Mukerji Law Firm will work tooth-and-nail to stand up to insurance companies, corporations, or individuals who are responsible for your injury, illness, or other setbacks.
