ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | July 24, 2020 | Car Accident Lawyer

What injuries can happen in a car accident?

What injuries can happen in a car accident? Many people in Pennsylvania are injured each year in car accidents. Nearly any type of injury can be caused by a car accident.

Motor vehicle accident injuries can range from minor injuries to severe or fatal injuries. Generally, motor vehicle injuries can be divided into penetrating or impact injuries.

Penetrating injuries occur when a victim’s body is penetrated by an object during the collision. Impact injuries happen when the victim strikes part of the vehicle.

Some injuries are more minor and can be resolved naturally or through a course of treatment while others may require the victims to undergo extensive medical procedures.

Unfortunately, some car accident injuries may cause the victims to suffer lifelong disabilities. All of these factors influence the compensation that a car accident victim might recover in a car accident claim.

The types of injuries that are suffered by a victim may be affected by the mechanics of the accident and its type. For example, the direction that the victim was facing relative to the direction of the impact can make a large difference.

The speed of the collision and whether the victim was using a seatbelt and had functioning airbags are also important. When a victim fails to use proper safety precautions, it can cause a reduction of the recoverable damages because of the principle of modified comparative negligence.

At DiCindio Law, we can help you to understand the potential value of your claim based on your injuries and the other relevant factors. Here are some of the most common types of injuries that happen in car accidents.

Traumatic brain injuries

Many people suffer from traumatic brain injuries when they strike their heads during a collision. These types of injuries can range from mild to severe injuries.

The severity of a TBI might depend on the person and where his or her head was positioned as related to the point of impact. While minor traumatic brain injuries might resolve over a few weeks, serious TBIs can cause lifelong disabilities or be life-threatening.

For example, in a low-speed crash, a victim’s head might hit the window or steering wheel, causing a minor concussion that can resolve naturally with bedrest over a period of weeks.

By contrast, a high-speed collision or a wreck that cause a vehicle to overturn can result in severe TBIs and permanent brain damage. It can be difficult to diagnose traumatic brain injuries.

If you suspect that you might have suffered a TBI in a car accident, you should seek prompt medical attention to ensure that you can receive any treatment that you might need.

Fractures

Fractures are common car accident injuries. Bones break when the force that is applied to a bone is stronger than the bone itself. Bone fractures can be simple or compound.

In a simple fracture, the bone is broken without leaving an open wound. A compound fracture occurs when the bone penetrates the skin, leaving an open wound. People are normally immediately aware that they have suffered fractures.

If you break a bone in a car crash, you may be unable to move the part of the body that is fractured without extreme pain. When you see a doctor, he or she will be able to quickly diagnose a fracture and provide the necessary treatment.

Back and spinal cord injuries

Injuries to the spinal column are common in serious car accidents. If the spinal cord injury is severe, paralysis can result. Back injuries such as herniated or ruptured discs can also occur.

Back injuries may not be immediately obvious. Instead, people might experience pain from herniated discs that show up after several days. Any time a spinal cord injury is suspected, the victim should be taken to the hospital immediately.

In some cases, it is possible to treat the spinal cord injury in time to prevent permanent paralysis.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a very common type of injury in a car accident. This type of injury is especially common in rear-end collisions. People in the front vehicle may suffer whiplash injuries when their necks and heads are violently thrown forward and then overextend backward before returning to the normal position.

The violent back-and-forth movement can cause injuries to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck and shoulders. Some of the symptoms of whiplash include headaches, stiffness, a reduced range of motion, pain, and nausea.

People might not experience pain from whiplash injuries until a few days after their accidents. Most cases of whiplash resolve after a few weeks. However, in serious whiplash cases, people may experience ongoing pain for months or years.

Psychological and emotional injuries

While people might not immediately think about psychological or emotional injuries in car accidents, they can occur after experiencing traumatic incidents.

Some people might develop post-traumatic stress disorder when they are involved in serious accidents in which others are severely injured. Others may develop a phobia of driving or develop major depression if the accident caused fatalities or severe injuries to other passengers.

What to do after you have been injured in a car accident

Knowing the most common types of injuries that can result in car crashes can help you to understand what steps you should take after an accident. An important takeaway is that you should always seek immediate medical attention after an accident even if you are unsure that you are injured.

Some injuries might not evince symptoms for hours or days, and seeking early treatment can help to improve your prognosis. Getting prompt treatment after an accident can also help you to show a clear link between your injuries and the accident.

This is important for helping you to recover compensation in a personal injury claim.

Get help from DiCindio Law

Being involved in a car accident can be a terrifying experience. If you have been injured because of the negligent actions of a driver, you may be entitled to recover damages.

An attorney at DiCindio Law can help you to evaluate your potential claim. Contact us today at (610) 430-3535.

***This blog article is made available by the law firm publisher for educational purposes and to provide general information, not to provide specific legal advice. By reading, you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and the publisher. The above listed information does not include the entire crimes code, annotations, amendments or any recent changes that may be relevant. The information provided is for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current legal developments. These materials are not intended, and should not be taken, as legal advice on any particular set of facts or circumstances. Please contact DiCindio Law, LLC for a consultation and to discuss what law is relevant to your case. ***