When we address cases, most of our clients are suffering from injuries. We have learned through the years that their injuries vary depending on the type of accident, the variety of vehicles, and the speed they drive.
It does not matter how severe your injury is; if you were not the causing factor of the incident, you shouldn't pay for the consequences. We are personal injury lawyers, and as experts in legal matters, we can help you whenever you suffer from car accident injuries.
You may be entitled to compensation for your damages; you can rely on our experience and commitment to bring justice to you.
In this post, we will talk about the most common car accident injuries. It is essential to understand what kind of injuries there are and how we use that information to win fair compensation for our clients.
Differentiating Between Minor, Moderate, and Severe Injuries.
Once we know how to differentiate types of injuries, we will be ready to build our argument for seeking appropriate compensation; Our clients can have enough to pay for their medical treatment and any other burden that the car accident injuries may have caused.
Minor Injuries:
Minor injuries often result from low-impact collisions and may not immediately manifest noticeable symptoms. These injuries may include:
- Bruises
- Small cuts and
- Minor Whiplash.
While seemingly insignificant, even minor injuries should not be ignored, as they can develop into more severe issues if left untreated. It's essential to consult a medical professional for a thorough examination to rule out any underlying damage.
Moderate Injuries:
Moderate injuries are more pronounced and can impact your daily life to a greater extent. These injuries often involve more profound tissue damage, including fractures, sprains, and more severe whiplash.
Symptoms may take a few days to surface fully, making prompt medical attention essential. Ignoring moderate injuries can lead to long-term complications and extended recovery times.
Seeking medical care promptly will aid your recovery and provide crucial documentation for any legal claims.
Severe Injuries:
Severe injuries are the most critical and can have life-altering consequences. These injuries often result from high-impact collisions and may involve:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Severe fractures and
- Internal organ injuries
Symptoms of severe injuries are typically immediate and apparent, requiring direct medical intervention. These injuries often demand extensive medical treatment, surgeries, and ongoing rehabilitation.
Given the gravity of severe injuries, it's vital to consult medical professionals and legal experts to protect your rights, and ensure you receive the necessary compensation for medical expenses and potential long-term impacts.
Differentiating Injuries:
Differentiating between these levels of injury severity requires careful attention to symptoms and seeking proper medical evaluation. After an accident, it's advisable to undergo a thorough medical examination, even if you believe your injuries are minor.
Document all symptoms, no matter how slight they seem, as they can provide valuable evidence for legal claims. Record all medical treatments, prescriptions, and therapy sessions to establish a clear trajectory for your recovery.
Whiplash and Neck Injuries
Now, let's dive deeper into each type of injury to understand their harm fully. Whiplash and neck injuries are more common in rear-end collisions and T-bone car accidents. However, it can be present in all types of accidents.
It is recognized as one of the most common car accident injuries. When people are using their seat belts in a car, and they experience a high deceleration due to an impact, then their bodies are stopped by the seat belt, and even though they avoid being thrown out from the vehicle, there is nothing that prevents the head from receiving that energy transfer.
The neck is hit by that quick movement that resembles a whiplash. The symptoms of this injury may not appear right at the moment. Let's remember that our bodies get filled with adrenaline, but after that has vanished, our necks will feel the pain.
Symptoms of whiplash injury are:
- Pain and stiffness
- Reduced range of motion
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Strong headaches
Some people may experience different symptoms. It is not a rule that they will all have the previous signs.
Whiplash injuries may lead to long-term implications. This is something that we also strive to point out in our arguments. It is difficult to prove that because no test could show the injury.
Chronic Neck Pain:
Chronic neck pain is one of the most common long-term consequences of whiplash injuries. The soft tissues and ligaments in the neck may become damaged, leading to ongoing discomfort, stiffness, and reduced range of motion.
This pain can extend to the shoulders and upper back, affecting daily activities and overall well-being.
Headaches and Migraines:
Whiplash injuries can trigger persistent headaches or migraines. The neck and head trauma can cause muscle and nerve tension, leading to recurring pain. These headaches can be debilitating and affect an individual's ability to concentrate, work, and enjoy life.
Cognitive and Psychological Effects:
In some cases, whiplash injuries can result in cognitive and psychological effects. This might include memory issues, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and depression. The physical pain and limitations caused by the injury can contribute to these psychological challenges.
Fatigue and Sleep Disturbances:
Chronic pain and discomfort from whiplash injuries can lead to sleep disturbances and persistent fatigue. Lack of quality sleep can exacerbate other symptoms and hinder the body's ability to heal effectively.
Reduced Quality of Life:
Long-term consequences of whiplash injuries can collectively lead to a reduced quality of life. Individuals may find it challenging to engage in activities they once enjoyed, participate in physical activities, or maintain their pre-injury work productivity. This can lead to frustration, social isolation, and a diminished overall sense of well-being.
Head and Brain Injuries
These injuries can vary from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and understanding their differences is essential for medical treatment and legal considerations.
Concussions are among the most common head injuries sustained in car accidents. They occur when a sudden jolt or impact causes the brain to shift within the skull. Symptoms of a concussion can include:
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Memory problems and
- Temporary loss of consciousness
For instance, if a vehicle is rear-ended in the Bronx and the driver's head hits the steering wheel, a concussion might result due to the force of the impact.
Contusions and Intracranial Hematomas:
Contusions are bruises on the brain's surface and can occur when the head strikes an object during a collision. A contusion might develop if a car collides with another vehicle and the passenger's head hits the window.
Intracranial hematomas, on the other hand, are blood clots that form within the brain. These injuries can lead to severe complications if not promptly diagnosed and treated.
Diffuse Axonal Injuries:
Diffuse axonal injuries are caused by the brain rushing within the skull, often resulting from high-speed collisions. These injuries involve damage to nerve cells and fibers, and their effects can be severe and long-lasting.
An example could be a rollover accident where the occupants experience rapid back-and-forth head movement, leading to diffuse axonal injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs):
TBIs are the most severe head injuries and can have life-altering consequences. They occur when a blow to the head disrupts normal brain function. TBIs can result in cognitive impairments, memory loss, personality changes, and even coma or death.
For instance, if a pedestrian is struck by a speeding vehicle, the impact could lead to a severe TBI.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Back Pain
Spinal cord injuries occur when the spinal cord is damaged due to trauma. These injuries can lead to partial or complete paralysis, depending on the location and severity of the damage.
For example, a high-impact collision in the Bronx can result in a spinal cord injury if the force of the impact causes damage to the vertebrae protecting the spinal cord.
Herniated discs, also known as slipped or ruptured discs, occur when the soft cushioning discs between the vertebrae rupture or bulge, pressing against nerves in the spinal column.
This can result in sharp pain, numbness, or tingling sensations. In a car accident scenario, a sudden jolt or impact can cause the discs to shift, leading to a herniated disc.
Car accidents can cause other back injuries, such as fractures, sprains, and strains. Fractured vertebrae may occur if the spine is subjected to a significant impact.
Sprains and strains can result from the sudden movement of the body during a collision. Even seemingly minor accidents in the Bronx can lead to these types of injuries due to the forces involved.
One of the most significant concerns after experiencing spinal cord injuries or back trauma in a car accident is the potential for chronic back pain and disability. The impact of these injuries can lead to ongoing discomfort, limited mobility, and reduced quality of life. Even seemingly minor injuries can result in chronic pain that persists long after the accident.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Simple Fractures:
A simple fracture, or closed fracture, occurs when the bone breaks but remains within the body without piercing the skin.
This type of fracture might result from the impact of a collision, causing a single break in the bone. For instance, a driver's hand hitting the steering wheel during a crash could lead to a simple fracture of the hand's metacarpal bone.
Compound Fractures:
Compound fractures, also referred to as open fractures, are more severe. In these cases, the broken bone pierces through the skin, potentially exposing it to infection and complicating the healing process.
Compound fractures are often a result of high-impact accidents. For example, a pedestrian hit by a vehicle might sustain a compound fracture if their leg is struck with enough force to break the bone and break through the skin.
Comminuted Fractures:
Comminuted fractures involve the bone breaking into multiple pieces, often due to a significant impact. This fracture type can be more complex and require surgical intervention to realign the bone fragments.
A comminuted fracture might occur if a passenger's arm hits the dashboard in a car crash, causing the bone to shatter.
Internal Injuries and Organ Damage
Internal injuries may not always present immediate symptoms and can worsen over time. Symptoms might include
- Abdominal pain
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath or even
- Fainting
Internal injuries may sometimes not show noticeable symptoms until they become severe. This delayed presentation underscores the importance of seeking medical attention after any car accident, even if you feel fine initially.
Internal injuries can range from bruises to more severe organ damage. Blunt force trauma can lead to internal bleeding, which, if left untreated, can result in shock or life-threatening complications.
Organ damage, such as to the liver, spleen, kidneys, or intestines, can also occur due to the force of impact or from being struck by objects within the vehicle.
Prompt medical evaluation is essential to rule out internal injuries after a car accident. Medical professionals can perform diagnostic tests like X-rays, CT scans, or ultrasounds to identify hidden damages. If internal injuries are detected, timely intervention is critical.
Treatment may involve surgery, blood transfusions, or other medical procedures to stop bleeding, repair damage, and prevent complications.
Personal Injury Lawyers For Car Accident Injuries
The Ward Law Group P.L. specializes in personal injuries due to car accidents in the Bronx. Our legal team has over 12 years of providing high-level assistance to many people that have been injured on New York streets and highways.
We understand that situations in which a family member suffers from severe injuries can be overwhelming and increases even more when there is a language barrier between them and the legal case.
We are there for you, so nobody takes advantage of you or your family. You have rights regardless of your legal status, age, or race. You deserve justice.
Contact us at 855-DOLOR-55, and one of our lawyers can help you answer all your questions.