Vehicle accidents can have devastating consequences — even if they seem insignificant at first. If you are involved in a crash, you might be happy just to have survived, and if there are no obvious broken bones or blood-gushing wounds, you might even refuse an ambulance trip to the hospital. You could, however, regret this later, as some injuries only become evident in time.
In contrast, you might have suffered severe injuries that required emergency surgery, intensive care and more. Regardless of the nature of your injuries, you will have to face financial consequences — from not only medical expenses, but also lost income and other related costs.
Typical vehicle accident injuries
Advisors in Connecticut often suggest that accident victims should always have a medical evaluation done, even if they believe they were uninjured. A thorough medical examination may pick up potential problems that could cause future health issues. Doctors’ reports will be necessary if such injuries lead to a personal injury lawsuit at a later stage. Here are some notes about the five most common crash injuries and the impact they can have on your life and your financial stability:
- Neck Injuries — These can cause herniated discs that may need surgery or extensive physical therapy. However, you may not realize the rapid movement of your head on impact might have caused whiplash injuries that are invisible but could have long-term consequences. These neck sprains and strains could resolve themselves or they can cause chronic pain for years.
- Bone fractures — The severity of these injuries depends on which bones were broken, and the how they broke. Clean breaks may require nothing more than a cast, but splintered bones or other multiple fractures may require surgery to fit metal pieces such as plates and screws. With compound fractures that involve bones piercing the skin, major surgical procedures may follow because of the high risk of infections and extreme pain levels.
- Legs and Knees — While many car accidents cause upper body and head injuries, most major crashes also result in severe injuries to the legs and knees of occupants. Cuts, bruises and broken bones of legs, ankles, feet and toes are as common as dislocated knees in high-impact crashes.
- Back Injuries — These injuries involve strains or dislocation of discs that might need no more than supportive care. However, major accidents can cause serious spinal injuries that could leave you with chronic pain, and severe spinal damage may even cause paralysis.
- Brain Injuries — Traumatic brain injuries include any head trauma that results from the movement of the brain within the walls of the skull. The sudden motion of the head in whiplash movements — even if the head does not strike the windshield or steering wheel — can cause trauma to the brain. It could only be a concussion that will likely only need a rest period as treatment, or this type of injury could be a mild contusion, requiring some hospitalization. Severe brain injuries can be irreversible and have life-changing consequences.
Regardless of the type of injuries you suffered — or the severity of them – as a victim of another party’s negligence, you can file a personal injury lawsuit in pursuit of financial relief to help you cope with the consequences of a car accident. Along with your medical expenses, you can claim lost income and other damages. If applicable, these could include medical equipment, such as a wheelchair, and even modifications to your home to accommodate physical limitations after the accident.
