Common Injuries Suffered from Car Accidents

Motor vehicle collisions can cause severe wounds that could change your life permanently. This blog will discuss some of the common types of injuries suffered from car accidents. If you suffered any of the conditions on this list, you could benefit from discussing your case with an auto accident attorney. 

Herniated Discs

As Cleveland Clinic explains, extreme pressure on the vertebrae can result in a ruptured or herniated disc. Another term for this medical condition is a slipped disc. A disc acts like a shock absorber and cushion between the bones in the back or spinal column.

The discs between the vertebrae are filled with a squishy, jelly-like material. When a car accident imposes severe pressure on the back, a disc could rupture and leak some of the jelly-like substance into the surrounding tissue, causing great irritation. Herniated discs could result in excruciating pain that makes it difficult to work or enjoy daily life.

Whiplash

Many whiplash injuries happen in car crashes. It happens when, upon impact, the motorist’s head gets snapped forward and backward rapidly. Rear-end collisions are notorious for causing whiplash, but other types of accidents can cause these troublesome conditions, too.

Although many people heal entirely from these soft tissue injuries, some people never heal 100 percent, according to Mayo Clinic. The whiplash patient could suffer long-term complications like headaches, chronic pain, stiffness, and a decreased range of motion.

Broken Bones

A person could suffer fractures of the arms, legs, ribs, vertebrae, collarbone, skull, facial bones, or other bones from the impact of a car crash. The wrist is one of the most common broken bones from motor vehicle accidents because there is a natural reflex to try to protect the body immediately before the collision.

Broken bones can happen when the body suddenly and forcefully collides with the steering wheel, dashboard, or other interior locations inside the vehicle. Heavy objects inside the car could break the bones of passengers if the items go airborne during the crash.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Car accidents are a leading cause of head injuries, including concussions and skull fractures. Mayo Clinic advises that, after a severe head injury, the injured person might never regain their previous health or function.

The more severe the person’s head wound, the more likely they will experience long-term impairment like chronic significant head pain, personality changes, ongoing cognitive challenges, and other struggles. Head injuries from motor vehicle crashes also can be fatal.

Paralysis

If the spinal cord gets cut or severed, the individual can develop partial or complete paralysis. When bones in the neck or back get crushed or fractured, rough edges of the vertebrae can slice the spinal cord. Paralysis could be immediate or develop in the hours or days following the spinal cord injury.

It is imperative to exercise extreme caution with a suspected back or neck injury. If possible, do not move the injured person. Instead, call 911, and let trained medical trauma professionals handle the situation. Moving a person improperly could cause a jagged piece of bone to shift and cut the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis or death.

Lacerations and Contusions

Sometimes, these injuries get dismissively referred to as cuts and bruises, but these wounds can cause significant damage. Deep lacerations could cut through veins or arteries, causing massive bleeding. Lacerations could damage nerves, muscles, tendons, or ligaments. Depending on the extent of the damage, the person might not be able to fully recuperate.

Contusions can cause blood clots to develop. When a blood clot travels from the location of the injury to the heart, lungs, or brain, the individual could suffer a stroke, heart attack, or pulmonary embolism. Any of these consequences could be catastrophic or fatal.

Internal Organ Damage

The spleen and other internal organs can get damaged by the intense force of a car crash. The sudden jarring alone could cause organ damage. If the individual gets struck by an object, like another vehicle or something outside the car, their internal organs can suffer trauma.

Damaged organs can hemorrhage, leading to shock or death quickly. If the person survives the internal bleeding medical crisis, the damage to organs might not be reparable.

Recoverable Damages After Getting Injured in a Car Accident

If you suffered injuries in a car accident caused by someone else’s carelessness, you could pursue a personal injury claim or lawsuit to recover your losses. Some compensable losses in your case may comprise:

• Medical expenses, both past and future. These bills can include the ambulance, emergency room, surgery, blood transfusions, doctors’ visits, hospital, imaging studies like x-rays, physical therapy, and prescription drugs.
• Lost wages from when you could not work while recuperating. If you missed paychecks when your condition kept you from working, you could add this financial loss to your injury claim.
• Long-term care after life-changing injuries. Devastating wounds, like traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord damage, could take away your ability to live independently. You might need to move into a facility that offers daily assistance with medical treatments and personal care.
• Pain and suffering. This category addresses the physical discomfort and emotional distress you experienced from the crash and your injuries. These damages are in addition to your lost wages and medical bills.
• Other non-economic damages. Motor vehicle crashes can cause additional intangible damages, like disfigurement from burns or extensive scars, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful death-related expenses. If your close relative did not survive their injuries from a car accident, you could pursue a wrongful death case, which could provide compensation for funeral costs, burial expenses, and end-of-life care bills.

You might have additional losses that you could include in your car accident injury claim. Be sure to tell your personal injury lawyer about all the ways that your wounds have impacted your life.

Begin Your Free Case Review With Our Personal Injury Law Firm

Herschensohn Law fights for injured clients’ rights. If you or a loved one suffered injuries from a car accident, we want to learn your story and advocate for what you deserve. You can reach out to us today for a free consultation with no obligation. Dial (206) 588-4344 to begin.