A car accident can happen at any time. It only takes a driver to take their eyes off the road for a split second for a devastating accident to occur. Sometimes, a car accident might happen through no fault of the drivers involved but because of a defect or malfunction.
But what about the aftermath of car accident injuries? While you might be lucky to walk away from a car accident with a few scrapes or minor vehicle damage, it’s not uncommon for car accidents to result in severe injuries that require extensive medical treatment or impact victims for the rest of their life.
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Common Car Accident Injuries
Here, we look at the most common car accident injuries and what to do if you or someone you love is injured in an accident.
Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries, as the sudden impact can cause the head to jerk back and forward suddenly. This can damage the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Whiplash symptoms often appear within 24 hours of a car accident, but you might also go several days before starting to see the signs, which include neck pain and stiffness, and headaches. People with whiplash may also experience trouble concentrating, pain in their arms, and lightheadedness.
The treatment for whiplash depends on its severity. Often, physical therapy is recommended to strengthen the neck muscles and recover motion, while prescription medication can help with managing pain and reducing inflammation.
For more severe cases of whiplash that leave an individual with persistent shoulder or neck pain, surgery might be an option. However, this is only recommended if they’ve exhausted all non-surgical options and their injury affects their quality of life.
Brain Injuries
The brain is incredibly sensitive, so it’s no surprise that traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are common in car accident injuries. The slightest knock or jolt can cause the brain to shake inside the skull, so even a minor fender bender can result in a TBI.
Traumatic brain injuries can range in severity and are categorized as either mild, moderate, or severe.
A mild TBI — or concussion — is the most common type. We likely all know someone who’s experienced a concussion after an accident or fall, but you might not realize it’s actually a traumatic brain injury. The common symptoms of a mild TBI are headaches and confusion. These usually clear up after a few days or weeks with rest and over-the-counter pain relief.
Moderate TBIs are more serious than mild injuries — although any brain injury should be considered severe. This type of TBI shares a lot of symptoms in common with a concussion, though individuals often also experience short periods of unconsciousness (ranging from minutes to hours).
The most severe type of TBI — aptly named “severe” — is the most likely to have a long-term, if not permanent, impact. Individuals with severe traumatic brain injuries may have convulsions, repeated sickness, and numbness in the extremities. This type of TBI can also cause cognitive symptoms, including agitation, an inability to regulate emotion, and slurred speech.
Treatment for moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries can be extensive. Individuals may need surgery to repair a skull fracture, remove blood clots, stop bleeding, or relieve pressure in the skull caused by a significant impact.
The second phase of treatment is rehabilitation. For example, if a brain injury causes dysarthria (slurred speech), speech and language therapy will be required to build strength in the facial muscles and teach individuals alternative ways of communicating.
Spinal Injuries
Like brain injuries, back, and spinal injuries also range in severity. A minor sprain will cause some discomfort, but after some rest and ice, you’ll likely recover without any lasting damage. However, more severe injuries can be life-changing. If a person’s spinal cord is severed — called a complete spinal cord injury — they will lose all function and sensation below the injury site.
Depending on where the spinal cord is severed, a person may be paraplegic and need to use a wheelchair, or they may lose sensation in their shoulders, arms, chest, pelvis, and legs (quadriplegia).
While physical therapy and counseling can help rebuild strength and deal with the emotional impact of a spinal cord injury, the likelihood of recovery is slim when the spinal cord has been completely severed.
Broken Bones
A broken bone can happen in many ways, from an accidental fall to a sports injury, but car accidents are one of the most common causes.
A broken bone can range from a simple break to a compound fracture that penetrates the skin. In some cases, the bone may break only on one side or break apart into multiple pieces. Along with pain, people who sustain broken bones usually experience swelling and difficulty moving or putting pressure on the affected area.
Depending on the location of the break, the area may be immobilized in a cast or brace to limit movement and provide support while it naturally heals.
Simple fractures often heal without complication, but more severe breaks may need surgery. This is often the case when the broken bone heals out of alignment or is a compound fracture. Even then, an individual may suffer permanent weakness or chronic pain.
Car Accident Injuries: What To Do After A Car Accident
While a car accident isn’t always avoidable, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself and ensure the best possible recovery.
The first is to call the police. Reporting requirements vary by state, but if you or anyone else is injured in an accident, you must tell the police. Then, you should seek medical attention — even if you don’t think you’re hurt. As we’ve seen, not all injuries — including traumatic brain injuries and whiplash — are immediately apparent.
Finally, if the accident wasn’t your fault, you should consult a personal injury lawyer. Most people don’t realize they have a claim and are surprised when they receive significant compensation for their injuries, lost wages, medical treatment, and pain and suffering. A personal injury lawyer can look at the facts surrounding your accident, determine who is at fault, and let you know whether you have a claim. Depending on where you are, you may even be able to claim compensation if you are partly responsible for your car accident. Many attorneys also work on a contingency fee basis, which means you have nothing to lose — if you don’t win your case, you won’t pay any fees.
