Have you been involved in a car accident in Corpus Christi, or anywhere else in the State of Texas? Were you injured in the car accident? In 2016 alone, The Texas Department of Transportation reported that there were a total of 551,971 reported crashes! The majority of those accidents resulted in injuries and medical expenses for the drivers and their passengers. Injuries sustained after a car accident can range from neck and back soreness, to muscle tears, broken bones, paralysis and unfortunately, even death.
Below are a list of common injuries after a car accident:
- Neck Injuries – Whiplash is one of the most common neck injuries after any car crash. It is caused by an abrupt backward or forward motion of the head and leads to soreness, stiffness, headaches and pain in the neck and shoulder area. In severe car accident injury cases, discs, and ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerve roots may become damaged.
- Back Injuries– A bulging or herniated disc occurs when pressure is forced upon the spinal column, leading to a disc being damaged, causing the soft, sponge-like center to push through the disk’s exterior. Symptoms of a herniated or slipped disk include tingling, numbness, weakness, arm pain, and leg pain. If you have suffered a slipped disc after a car accident it is important to seek medical treatment immediately.
- Head Injuries- Concussions are a common injury after a car accident. Concussions occur when the head is hit and the brain bounces back and forth in the skull which, if hit hard enough, can cause bruising, bleeding and tearing of the brain. Concussions can temporarily affect the brain, causing confusion and problems with memory, speech, vision, or balance.
- Chest Injuries– Chest, sternum, and rib bruising occurs when the chest is hit with extremely high impact, and can cause a punctured or collapsed lung as well as difficulty breathing. This can happen from a side impact, the steering wheel, airbags, or a rollover car accident. In more severe cases, rib cage fractures and breaks can occur.
- Road Rash- Due to their lack of protection, pedestrians, bicyclist, and motorcyclist are more prone to road rash than motor vehicle drivers. Road rash can occur after an accident if a passenger is ejected onto the road from a severe impact motor vehicle collision, rollover, or lack of proper restraint.
- Lacerations – Airbags, steering wheels, glass from windows, and the vehicle body frame can all cause open wounds and lacerations. Lacerations can cause blood loss, lifelong scarring and disfigurement.
- Leg & Foot Injuries– Serious vehicle crashes which crumple the front of vehicles can cause legs and feet to become immediately impacted and crushed. Broken toes, ankles, legs and thighs are just some of the leg injuries associated with front impact crashes. Muscle strains and dislocated knees are also common injuries of a front impact car crash.
- Internal Bleeding– Seeking medical treatment after a car accident is crucial to diagnosing internal bleeding. In forceful impacts, organs can be damaged by car parts or broken bones, such as a rib bone. The most common organs injured after an accident are the liver and spleen. Light-headedness, dizziness, or fainting can result from internal bleeding once enough blood is lost.
As previously mentioned, seeking medical treatment after a car or truck accident is important to diagnose a number of possible injuries. Prolonging treatment can lead to future, long-term chronic pain. If you have reservations about seeking medical care due to cost or insurance coverage, contact The Patel Firm PLLC – Personal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation. We can determine if the at-fault vehicle has the proper insurance coverage to pay for your medical expenses. If you or a loved one have been injured after a car accident, do not hesitate to contact us. 24/7/365, someone at The Patel Firm PLLC is ready and waiting to take your call. Contact us today.
