Common Injuries Resulting From Car Accidents
As if being in a car accident was not upsetting enough, being injured can be even more worrisome. Yet, there are thousands of car accidents everywhere every day, and it may happen to you when you least expect it. Then, besides dealing with the possible damage to your car and other personal property, you will also find your life has turned upside down with all the medical appointments and treatments you must receive. To understand your legal rights when you find yourself in this situation, you may want to consult with a personal injury lawyer in St. Louis. For now, you may want to read out the whole article.
Table of Contents
Car Accident Injuries
Traumatic Brain Injuries
When you are in a car accident, it is not uncommon for the body to be thrown about and hit the steering wheel, the dashboard, the door, or fly through the windshield. When a blow or a piercing injury happens to the head, a traumatic brain injury may be the result. Any injury to the brain has the ability to cause long-term disability, requiring the victim to depend on others for tasks of everyday life.
Spinal Cord Injuries And Paralysis
As with injuries to the brain, when the crash’s impact affects the spinal cord, the resulting injuries can be catastrophic, causing partial or total paralysis to the driver or their passengers. These spinal cord injuries are also associated with long-term disability and upheaval in the victim’s life.
Back Injuries
Injuring your back in a car accident can also impact your life. You may require surgery, therapies, and rehabilitation and still deal with a lifetime of pain and a decreased quality of life.
Internal Injuries
One of the main reasons why you should get medical attention immediately after being in a car accident is the possibility of having suffered internal injuries. Believing that you are fine simply because there is no blood and there are no broken bones may have you discover an internal injury later when there might not be anything to be done. You don’t want to deal with injuries to your spleen, liver, intestines, or any other organ.
Broken Bones
Car accidents cause untold numbers of broken bones and fractures. These can be ribs, legs, arms, wrists, hips, pelvis, and others. Victims may require a cast or surgery, depending on the location and severity of the fracture.
Burns
Burns are some of the most serious injuries that result from car crashes. Second and third-degree burns can occur when vehicles catch on fire or if skin touches any hot fluid, chemical, or steam. These may require prolonged medical treatments, skin grafts, and surgery.
Facial Injuries
Injuries to the face may result in disfigurement and scarring. These can be caused by flying shards of glass, the steering wheel, airbag, or any piece of debris that gets lodged in the face. They may require painful treatments, surgery, skin grafts, and more.
Neck Injuries
Whiplash happens as a result of muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck being injured after being forced to move in sudden and unexpected directions when the accident happens. This may happen even in low-speed accidents.
PTSD
Psychological trauma and PTSD can also be consequences of a car accident. Victims may suffer from stress, anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks, and more. They may be unable to drive past the accident scene without reliving it again and may develop a fear of cars, loud noises, and other stimuli. This may require long-term psychological treatment.
