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Types of Car Accident Injuries

Posted in Car Accidents on February 16, 2021

Your Medical Treatment and Prognosis

If you have been hurt in a car accident in New York City, you may have the right to seek financial recovery.

Accident victims often face mounting financial obligations after a crash. When you are dealing with medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses, you should speak with a legal professional about the possibility of pursuing compensation.

In the following post, we will examine some of the common injuries that can occur as a result of traffic collisions. We will also discuss the reasons medical care is so important after a crash and the ways a personal injury lawyer can help you to recover the money you deserve.

Typical Car Accident Injuries

Every car crash involves a unique set of circumstances. However, some injuries are more common than others for accident victims. If you have been involved in a collision, you should speak with a medical professional as soon as possible.

Injuries To The Head and/or Brain

Head injuries are incredibly common following car accidents. Head and brain injuries include things like:

  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
  • Skull fractures
  • Concussions
  • Internal bleeding
  • Lacerations
  • Contusions

Head injuries can be very dangerous. The symptoms of head or brain injuries may not be apparent immediately after a crash. Seek medical care immediately if you believe you may have a head injury.

Injuries to the Neck and Back

Because traffic collisions involve massive amounts of physical force, victims’ necks and backs can sustain damage. Common neck and back injuries include:

  • Whiplash
  • Herniated discs
  • Slipped vertebrae
  • Sprains
  • Strains

Much like head injuries, back injuries might only become obvious in the days and weeks following the collision. Some neck and back injuries, such as whiplash, may have serious long-term effects.

Burns

Many accident victims experience burns. Even minor burn injuries require medical attention. However, more severe burns can be life-threatening. Extensive burns sometimes require skin grafts and may result in the development of scars.

Soft Tissue Injuries

This type of injury is particularly common. When the victim’s body suffers from a significant impact, soft tissue injuries are very likely. These include:

  • Overextended ligaments
  • Damaged muscle tissue
  • Torn or stretched tendons
  • Bruising
  • Severe cuts

Soft tissue injuries range from minor to severe. Regardless of the extent of the damage, the pain from this type of injury can be substantial and long-lasting.

Injuries to the Spine

Spinal injuries are especially common in traffic collisions. Because the spine runs down the length of the victim’s back, a spinal injury may happen concurrently with other types of back injuries. 

Any damage to the spinal column can result in long-term symptoms, such as decreased sensation, lost range of motion, or paralysis.

Fractures and Broken Bones

Even if a broken bone is not severe, the pain can be intense. In some cases, fractures require multiple surgeries and extensive recovery time. Fractures in limbs, hips, shoulders, and ribs are all common injuries for car accident victims. 

More severe broken bones can cause additional medical problems, such as internal bleeding or organ damage.

Knee Trauma

Drivers and passengers often suffer damage to their knees when they collide with the dashboard or steering wheel. If you have suffered damage to the surrounding ligaments or kneecap, you may need extensive treatment to recover.

Knee injuries can require crutches, braces, or surgeries. This type of injury typically causes long-term pain and can make walking difficult.

Psychological and Emotional Trauma

Not all car crash injuries are physical. Victims sometimes suffer from psychological damage and emotional trauma. Common psychological difficulties include:

Psychological harm from traffic collisions should be addressed by a mental healthcare professional.

If you have sustained any of these kinds of injuries as the result of a car accident, you are not alone. Contact an experienced legal professional to secure the financial compensation that is rightfully yours.

Reasons To Seek Medical Attention Following an Accident

In the immediate aftermath of a car crash, you may not feel any pain and might not be aware you have any injuries. Even if you only have minor pain and think it will likely improve over time, do not forego medical attention.

Here are some additional reasons to seek medical attention after you’ve been in a car accident:

Delayed Symptoms

Symptoms from certain types of injuries may not appear until days or weeks after a car crash. Even if you feel fine immediately after the accident, you should have a thorough medical examination to ensure you don’t have hidden injuries.

Nerve damage is particularly difficult to notice early on. For example, you may feel a small discomfort in your back that gradually becomes a radiating pain. This pain can increase, making it difficult to go about your daily activities.

Insurance and Legal Considerations

Your own health and safety are not the only reasons to seek medical care following an accident. It is also crucial for any insurance claims you might need to make in the future. 

Insurance companies are notoriously tightfisted. They will use any excuse to diminish or undermine your claim. If you have symptoms that only appear weeks after the accident, you might attempt to file a claim for the costs associated with your treatment. 

If you did not seek medical care in the immediate aftermath of the event, the insurance provider may deny they have the responsibility to cover your medical expenses.

Common Car Accidents and Associated Injuries

Here are some of the most common kinds of car accidents and the injuries that tend to result from them:

Head-On Crashes

These tend to result in head and back injuries, whiplash, soft tissue damage, broken bones, and lacerations.

Rear-End Collisions

This type of crash often causes whiplash, head and brain damage, and soft tissue injuries.

Side-Impact Accidents

Side impact accidents often result in neck, back, chest, abdominal, and limb injuries.

If you have been injured in a car accident due to another person’s negligence, contact a skilled personal injury attorney in New York City to seek the financial compensation that is rightfully yours.

Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in New York, NY

If you need legal assistance, contact the New York City car accident lawyers at Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation.

We have two convenient locations in New York:

Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers – New York City Office
450 7th Ave #409
New York, NY 10123
(212) 564-2800

Law Offices of Jay S. Knispel Personal Injury Lawyers – Brooklyn Office
26 Court St Suite 2511
Brooklyn, NY 11242
(718) 802-1600

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