Common Injuries in Car Accidents

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of personal injuries and death. The injuries sustained in car accidents injuries can show up at the scene, or they may not appear for days or weeks after the accident. These injuries often leave the injured person with long-term disabilities. 

What’s worse, sometimes insurance companies refuse to pay unless they’re forced to do so.

The attorneys of Gibbs & Crivelli, Slingshot Law work with victims who have been seriously hurt, disfigured, or permanently disabled. Read on to learn about common injuries in car accidents and how to look out for your health and finances.

Brain Injuries

In the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident, a brain injury is one of the more common personal injuries. It’s also one of the most devastating and unpredictable.

Brain injuries can range from mild concussions to traumatic brain injuries (TBI), which can be life-altering or even fatal. The severity of a head injury depends on what part of your head was impacted, the speed at which your head struck another object, and how much force was behind that impact.

TBIs may not show up immediately and may manifest with unclear symptoms like slurred speech or personality changes. Any delay in diagnosis may cause insurance companies to deny your claim, so call our law office immediately if you suspect a TBI.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal injury can occur in any motor vehicle accident, especially when the crash is severe. The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that runs from your brain to your toes and controls many of the muscles in your body. If it’s damaged or severed, it can cause paralysis or loss of sensation below the point of injury. 

There are several types of spinal injuries that can occur in a car accident:

• Herniated Disc – These are bulges or ruptures in the soft outer covering around the large bones that make up the spine. They usually occur when there’s pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots which may have been caused by a sudden twisting motion or violent impact with another object. The disc presses against the nerves in each vertebra, causing pain and numbness.
• Spinal Cord Contusion – This occurs when there is a bruise or injury to the spinal cord. Mild contusions can cause temporary paralysis and weakness in one side of the body so if you notice even mild weakness, get to a doctor.
• Laceration – A type of spinal injury is a tear in the outer covering, or meninges, of your spinal cord. A laceration can cause numbness in your back and neck area.

Broken Bones

The femur, which is in the upper leg, is a common broken bone in collisions. The femur is one of the longest bones in the body, so injuries to it can be very serious. Injuries to the thighbone may be accompanied by another broken bone as well as soft tissue injuries around the knee joint, such as ligaments and tendons.

Fractures of the hip bone also occur frequently in accidents and are caused by sudden acceleration or deceleration that produces conditions ripe for internal bleeding and other complications. 

Hip surgery is especially painful and expensive, too. Our law firm will work with you throughout the entire ordeal to ensure you get adequate medical care, and that it’s all paid for by the driver who is at fault for your accident.

Whiplash

When you’re hurt in a car accident, whiplash may seem like the least of your worries. But whiplash isn’t something to ignore. 

After an accident, you may notice severe pain and a loss of mobility in your neck. This can make working or enjoying life pain-free difficult. Worse, these injuries can take time to heal and may require physical therapy to recover from. 

If you’re struggling to overcome whiplash, reach out for a lawyer’s help. You may be due compensation to recover from your car accident. 

Seek Out a Car Accident Lawyer

Personal injuries in car accidents can be debilitating. If you’ve suffered devastating personal injuries, you may be worried about your health and finances. Worse, symptoms sometimes don’t manifest immediately or other issues may arise that insurance companies may use to avoid paying you. 

If you’re struggling to recover from any of these common injuries in car accidents, you may have grounds for a car accident lawsuit. Our attorneys will even start with a free consultation, where you can discuss your injuries first. Contact Gibbs & Crivelli, Slingshot Law if you find yourself in this position. Call our office at 800-488-7840 or fill out the following online contact form.