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:

1. Seek medical treatment, even if your injuries don’t seem to be life-threatening.
2. Document and take pictures of your injuries, treatment processes, and symptoms.
3. Gather important information like witness accounts of the accident, including names, pictures, and damage to your vehicle. Make sure to also document any worked you missed due to the car accident.
4. Find a car accident and personal injury lawyer who can help you establish a case.

Three 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 are famous for causing neck and chest injuries, like whiplash. Sudden movement from this type of accident can cause serious neck muscle and ligament damage. Swelling and neck pain is also fairly common.

Injuries sustained in the chest region are known for causing more serious problems. If an organ is ruptured from impact, there’s a 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.

Head and Back Injuries

Head and back injuries are perhaps the most dangerous 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.

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 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.

Didn’t see a specific injury above? For a more extensive list of car accident injuries, click here.

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.