Car accidents are problematic for everyone involved. For many victims of car accidents, it can lead to a wide range of medical and emotional conditions. There are financial repercussions as well.
Depending on the force of the collision and the severity of impact, the common injuries after a car accident may vary from whiplash, sprains, concussions, fractures, and, in extreme cases, death. Each of these injuries has its own legal aspects, depending on several factors that may have led to the accident. It’s the job of a skilled attorney to help you get a fair settlement so you don’t lose out entirely.
There are two main categories that accident injuries fall under. They are:
- Penetrating injuries
- Impact injuries
Penetrating injuries, as the name implies, result from objects penetrating the victim’s body during a collision. For example, shards of glass cutting the victim or being thrust through by a loose metal.
Impact injuries are the result of blows to the head or other parts of the body due to collision. For example, getting a concussion from smashing one’s head into the window or twisting an ankle from the force of the accident. These two categories explain the variety of injuries car accident victims may experience.
Some of the common car accident injuries include:
Skeletal Injuries
These injuries are those related to the bones or skeletal system. Skeletal injuries include:
- Fractures
- Neck and chest injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
Fractures: Injuries resulting from broken bones. Depending on the force of impact, bones tend to break in car accidents. X-rays are used to determine the level of damage to the bones. Common symptoms of a fracture include severe pain in the affected area, swelling, and general discomfort that hinders movement.
Neck and chest injuries: These include rib fractures that might impair breathing and dislocation of the neck joints, leading to severe pain and an inability to move the head. These are usually caused by head-on collisions and might lead to death if not treated promptly.
Spinal cord injuries: Injuries to the spinal cord affect movement, leading to partial or full paralysis of the victim’s body. They take longer to heal and may permanently affect the victim’s ability to move in severe cases.
Burns
This occurs when a car accident results in an explosion, setting the car on fire. The effects of a car on fire might range from asphyxiation due to smoke inhalation and loss of oxygen to facial and bodily injuries due to the searing heat.
Head injuries
Often referred to as traumatic brain injuries, head injuries result from impacts to the head, often resulting in damage to the brain cells, skull fractures, or lesions to some parts of the brain.
Most forms of head injuries range from mild (which can be treated at home) to severe (which could lead to loss of consciousness and even death). But no matter the level of the injuries, it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention to accurately evaluate their severity. Common head injuries include:
- Concussions: Concussions occur when the head whips around too much during an accident. Sudden jolting of the head, and thus the brain, leads to concussions. This might lead to dizziness, unconsciousness, and even a coma.
- Internal brain injuries: They might occur when an object such as glass or a piece of metal fractures the skull and reaches the brain, or when a serious head impact triggers a brain hemorrhage.
- Lesions: Lesions occur when the brain structure is displaced due to the impact of the head injury. It might be primary—developing within the timeframe of the accident—or secondary—developing over time as a result of the accident.
Psychological Conditions for Victims of Car Accidents
Victims of car accidents experience psychological conditions such as fear of driving or moving vehicles, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and random panic attacks. Car accident victims need to consult a therapist and talk about their negative experiences and how to deal with these issues to heal from them.