When we address cases, most of our clients suffer from injuries. Over time, we've discovered that injuries differ based on the type of car accident, vehicle variety, and driving speed.
No matter how bad your injury is, if you didn't cause the incident, you shouldn't have to suffer 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 might get money for your losses; trust us to help you get what you deserve.
In this post, we will talk about the most common car accident injuries. We must know about injuries and use that knowledge to help our clients get fair compensation.
Differentiating Between Minor, Moderate, and Severe Injuries.
When we understand different injuries, we can make our case for getting the right compensation. Our clients can afford medical treatment and other expenses caused by car accident injuries.
Minor Injuries:
Minor injuries often result from low-impact collisions and may not immediately manifest noticeable symptoms. These are considered to be common injuries from a car accident. These injuries may include:
- Bruises
- Small cuts and
- Minor Whiplash.
Even small injuries should not be ignored, as they can worsen if not treated. 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 daily life more significantly. They 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
- Burn injuries
- 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.
For serious injuries, talk to doctors and lawyers to protect your rights and get money for medical bills and future problems.
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 the most common injuries from a car accident 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 away. Let's remember that our bodies are 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. Damage to the neck's soft tissues and ligaments can cause discomfort, stiffness, and limited movement. That's called soft tissue injuries.
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. People may struggle to do things they used to enjoy, be active, or work as well after an injury. This can lead to frustration, social isolation, and a diminished overall sense of well-being.
Head and Brain Injuries
Injuries can range from mild concussions to severe brain injuries. Knowing the differences is important for medical treatment and legal matters.
Concussions are considered common injuries 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 that can occur when the head strikes an object during a collision. For example, if a car collides with another vehicle and the passenger's head hits the window, a contusion might develop.
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.
A severe crash in the Bronx can cause spinal cord injuries if it damages the protective bones of the spine. This can result in harm to the spine and lead to a spinal cord injury.
Herniated discs happen when the soft discs between the bones in the spine bulge or rupture, pressing on nerves.
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.
Chronic back pain and disability are common worries after spinal cord injuries or back trauma from car accidents. 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.
A sudden hit can cause chest injuries like a fracture in the sternum collarbone or broken ribs.
Compound Fractures:
Compound fractures, also referred to as open fractures, are more severe. In these situations, the broken bone goes through the skin, leading to infection and making healing more difficult.
Compound fractures are often a result of high-impact accidents. If a person is hit by a vehicle, their leg may break, and the bone may come out of the skin.
Comminuted Fractures:
Comminuted fractures involve the bone breaking into multiple pieces, often due to a significant impact. This type of fracture can be more complex and requires 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. It's important to see a doctor after a car accident, even if you initially feel okay.
Internal injuries can range from bruises to more severe organ damage. Strong impact can cause bleeding inside the body, which, if not treated, can cause shock or life-threatening problems.
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.
Contact a Bronx Car Accident Injury Lawyer
The Ward Law Group specializes in personal injuries caused by car accidents in the Bronx. Our legal team has helped injured people on New York's streets and highways for over 12 years.
It can be challenging when a family member is seriously injured. It becomes even more difficult if they don't speak the same language as the legal process.
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.