Thousands of car accidents happen each day in America; many of them are relatively minor fender benders where both parties walk away unscathed, at least physically. But there are more serious accidents where injuries to the drivers and/or their passengers can happen. These days even the most basic cars have advanced safety features that mitigate the injury risk to the occupants of the vehicle and reduces the severity of any injuries that do occur. But no matter how advanced a vehicle’s safety measures may be, injuries can still happen, especially in the more serious accidents.
Fortunately, recovery is nearly always possible, but the rate of recovery can differ based on the type of injury suffered by the victim. It can be particularly long if the victim suffered multiple types of injury, which is always a possibility in a car accident. That is why victims of car accidents need all the legal and financial help they can get after their accident, which is why they should contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Always trust the professionals in this field to get the best results – schedule an appointment with Harrell and Harrell.
A personal injury lawyer can fight to get the accident victim compensation for their medical bills, repair bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses caused by the accident. If you have been in a car accident in the Jacksonville area and need a personal injury attorney, then you can find more information here.
The Different Types of Car Accident Injuries
As stated earlier, car accident injuries can range from the relatively mild to the very serious. The following is a list of the more common kinds of car accident injuries.
Whiplash
This is what happens when the vehicle comes to a sudden stop and the head of the vehicle’s occupant gets violently whipped forward. It can cause damage to the tendons and muscles in the neck, which can lead to severe pain, stiffness, and a decreased range of motion. A whiplash injury is a soft tissue injury, meaning that muscles, tendons, and ligaments are affected. Soft tissue injuries are common in car accidents and whiplash is one of the more common types of soft tissue injury.
Concussion
A concussion is a type of injury that is closely related to whiplash injuries because it is also caused by the sudden, violent back and forth jerking of the head when the vehicle comes to a sudden stop. That can cause the brain to collide against the inside of the skull. This is a traumatic brain injury that can lead to cognitive problems like memory loss, seeing stars, loss of consciousness, dizziness, and ringing in the ears. A concussion can also cause problems like nausea, sleepiness, and fatigue. It is a very serious condition that should be treated quickly.
Breaks and Fractures
These are common in car accidents since it is possible for various body parts to come into contact with the different hard surfaces of the car’s interior during a crash. The extremities, meaning the arms, legs, and hands, are most commonly affected, but the ribs can be hurt as well if the driver’s chest slams into the steering wheel. A break or fracture can range from mild to severe but no matter the case, it should always be looked at by a medical professional.
Lacerations
Shards of glass or loose debris lying around the car can cause scrapes and cuts in a car accident. As with the other types of injuries in a car accident, they can range from the serious to the mild. On the milder end you have cuts and scrapes that require little more than a band-aid to take care of. On the more serious end, you can have deep lacerations that put the victim at serious risk of blood loss if they go too long without treatment. The deeper, more serious cuts may require stitches or staples to close them up before the bleeding gets too serious or infection sets in.
Emotional Damage
The effects of a car accident are not just physical, they can be emotional and psychological as well. Many car accident victims experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can cause stress, anxiety, or depression when something triggers a memory of the traumatic incident. This condition can last for weeks or years and is not easy to overcome. Depression is also a common emotional reaction after a car accident, especially if it leaves the victim temporarily or permanently disabled.
The inability to perform or enjoy activities that they could before the accident could leave a person in a depressive funk and in many cases depression could lead to other problems like alcohol abuse or drug abuse. The best way of treating the emotional scars caused by a car accident is by regular appointments with a licensed psychiatrist or therapist.
Get The Help That You Need After You Have Been in a Car Accident
You can see that the possible injuries suffered after a car accident will require treatment by specialists from a variety of different fields; from general practitioners to neurologists to EMTs to surgeons to therapists, and possibly more. They can all help you after a car accident but you should not discount the help that a personal injury attorney can give you.
They may not be able to heal your physical or emotional wounds, but they can help you with your legal and financial needs. They can get you the compensation that you need to take care of the various medical bills caused by the car accident. So contact a personal injury attorney as soon as you can after being in a car accident because they can help you to take care of yourself.
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