When two or more drivers are involved in a collision, they and the other occupants of their vehicles can suffer many types of serious injuries. These range from seemingly minor whiplash to catastrophic injuries such as paralysis. In some cases, injuries can even be fatal.
The severity of injuries depends on many factors, including the presence of airbags, the point of impact, and the speed and weight of the vehicles involved. Below, our Mount Pleasant car accident lawyer outlines some of the most common injuries from car accidents.
Whiplash
Whiplash occurs when the neck snaps violently back and forth, in a motion similar to a whip. This damages the tendons and ligaments in the neck. Whiplash can occur in any car crash, but it is most often associated with rear-end accidents. While many people think whiplash is a minor car crash injury, this is not always the case. Whiplash can significantly limit a car accident victim’s range of motion and result in severe pain for many months.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
There are many types of injuries from car accidents that can affect a person’s brain and impair their cognitive function. Of all of these, concussions are the most common. Concussions are often the result of the head hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, windshield, or other part of the vehicle during a crash. The brain then shakes, hitting the sides of the skull. Sensory issues, headaches, and confusion are common symptoms of minor concussions. Memory loss, impaired cognitive function, and even permanent brain damage are symptoms of severe or repeated concussions.
Although concussions are the most common type of traumatic brain injuries after an accident, there are others, as well. These include skull fractures, brain hemorrhages, diffuse axonal injuries, coup-contrecoup injuries, penetrating trauma, and more.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Of all the different types of injuries sustained in car accidents, those involving the spinal cord are some of the most severe. Spinal cord injuries are classified as either complete or incomplete.
Incomplete spinal cord injuries are as follows:
- Anterior cord syndrome: This injury results in damage to the front of the spinal cord and impacts pain, feeling, and body temperature below the point of injury.
- Posterior cord syndrome: When the back of the spinal cord is damaged, it causes a posterior cord syndrome injury and typically impacts physical coordination.
- Central cord syndrome: An injury to the center of the spinal cord will typically result in a loss of function in one arm.
- Brown-Sequard syndrome: When one side of the spinal cord suffers severe damage, it can result in a loss of sensation or impaired movement on one side of the body.
Complete spinal cord injuries are much more severe. They include:
- Paraplegia: Paraplegia is a total loss of function and lack of sensation in the legs and trunk. Function in the hands and arms is typically normal.
- Quadriplegia: Also often referred to as tetraplegia, quadriplegia is a result of injury to the cervical region and neck of the spinal cord. This causes a total loss of function and lack of sensation in the legs, arms, and trunk.
Complete spinal cord injuries are permanent. They typically require lifelong care and in turn, high medical bills.
Chest Injuries
Making a hard impact with a dashboard or steering wheel can result in broken ribs or a bruised sternum. Broken ribs can even puncture lungs, causing a severe secondary injury. Even when organs are left intact, broken ribs can result in excruciating pain as a person tries to breathe.
Internal Bleeding and Organ Damage
Internal bleeding and organ damage after a car crash are typically caused by penetrating injuries and blunt force trauma. The sudden deceleration and the force of the collision can cause internal organs to impact the skeletal structure or other organs, causing lacerations or ruptures. Broken bones can also cause lacerations to the surrounding blood vessels and tissue, causing internal bleeding. As in the case with chest injuries and broken ribs, other broken bones may also puncture some organs.
Severe Burns
A car accident can cause a severe burn in a number of ways. A gas tank may explode and start a fire, or body parts can make contact with hot components of a vehicle, such as a muffler or engine. Burns are not only extremely painful to recover from, but they also require invasive medical treatment.
These can include surgery and skin grafts.
Broken Bones
One of the most common injuries from car accidents is broken bones. Broken bones can cause other injuries, as mentioned above, but they are very serious injuries on their own. Broken bones can severely limit a person’s mobility and prevent them from performing the simplest of daily tasks.
Additionally, broken bones also require extensive medical treatment, including multiple surgeries, long hospital stays, and physical therapy.
Amputations
Amputations are other common types of injuries from car accidents. An amputated limb, arm, or foot will also greatly impact a person’s mobility. Amputations can happen accidentally at the scene of the crash, or a limb or appendage may be too seriously damaged to be medically saved.
Amputations also often require extensive renovations to one’s home or vehicle to accommodate the injury and result in lifelong impacts.
Wrongful Death
The most severe injury that could result from a car crash caused by someone else’s negligence is wrongful death. An accident can cause injuries so serious, someone passes away from them right away. A penetrating injury to the skull or heart is an example of such an injury. In other cases, an accident victim may be seriously injured but they survive initially and pass away in the coming days, weeks, or months.
Our Car Accident Lawyer in Mount Pleasant Can Help After Injury
Regardless of the type of injury you have suffered in a crash, our Mount Pleasant car accident lawyer at Rikard & Protopapas can help. Our experienced attorney can accurately value your claim, including accounting for current and future medical treatment, so you obtain the full and fair settlement you deserve. Call us today or contact us online form to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help.