Car accidents can occur for all sorts of reasons. From faulty brakes and speeding, to intoxicated drivers and bad weather conditions, there can be a variety of causes that contribute to a collision. Similarly, people can sustain a wide variety of injuries due to a collision. However, the most common health complications arising following car accidents include:
1. Contusions
Often known as bruising, contusions can be more serious than they sound. They can affect your bones and internal organs, as well as the tissue beneath the skin. A bone contusion can be as painful as a fracture, while a large contusion in a muscle may require blood to be drained from the affected area. Given the high speed at which some impacts occur, it’s not unusual for people to experience serious contusions as a result of a car accident.
2. Whiplash
When the neck is subject to force, it moves backwards and forwards rapidly. This movement causes injury to the neck, which can result in pain and discomfort, as well as a reduced range of movement and tingling in the arms. Although whiplash doesn’t always develop straight away, it’s a very common car accident injury. Therefore, it’s better to have it checked immediately by booking a private MRI scan without having to obtain a doctor’s recommendation.
3. Back Injuries
If your vehicle is subject to a sudden impact, it can cause a variety of different back injuries. You may feel like you’ve ‘jarred your back’, for example, but this could actually be a herniated disc or a muscle strain. In more serious accidents, people can also experience injuries to their spinal cord, which could have a permanent impact on their mobility.
4. Concussion
If you hit your head as a result of a car accident, you’re likely to sustain a concussion. Although this type of head injury isn’t usually serious, it’s vital that you receive medical attention and are observed following this type of incident. Headaches, dizziness and forgetfulness are common symptoms of a concussion, although most people find that these resolve after approximately two weeks.
Claiming Compensation After a Car Accident
If you’ve been involved in a car accident that someone else was fully or partly responsible for, you may be able to take legal action against them. Hiring a personal injury law firm, like Horst Shewmaker, to represent you means you’ll have the expert advice you need when making your claim. For example, you’ll want to know what your legal rights are, who you can make a claim against and how much compensation you’re likely to receive, and your legal team will be able to provide this information.
In addition to this, your personal injury lawyer will support you through the legal proceedings and help to gather relevant evidence to support your claim. Furthermore, your attorney may be able to negotiate a settlement that allows you to resolve the situation more quickly and means you can avoid having to go to court.
If you’ve sustained contusions, whiplash, back injuries, a concussion or any other type of injury because of a car accident, it’s well worth getting legal advice. By doing so, you can enforce your rights and claim the compensation you deserve.
