Common Car Accident Injuries
Three million individuals in the United States are injured every year in motor vehicle accidents. Bumps, bruises, and other minor injuries heal quickly and do not require intensive medical care. Others have a more significant and lasting impact on a crash victim’s overall health and well-being. Serious car accident injuries can interfere with a person’s quality of life and ability to go about their daily activities.
The severity of car accident injuries depends on a host of different factors, including how the accident occurred, how fast the vehicles involved were traveling at the time of the crash, and if the victims were protected by airbags or seatbelts during the collision.
After a wreck, some injuries are obvious to see, while others may not be immediately apparent or may develop in the hours or days after a crash. Because of shock or fear, victims may not realize they are hurt after a crash. It is important to seek medical care after any car accident to rule out potentially serious injuries. Common car accident injuries include:
Cuts and Bruises
Most minor cuts and scrapes in a car accident require minimal care and heal fairly quickly without complications. Yet some lacerations that occur when the body comes in contact with jagged metal, glass, or other objects can lead to significant blood loss or infection. Because bruising may indicate a more serious underlying injury, it should always be checked out by a healthcare professional.
Fractures
In a wreck, the body absorbs some of the force of impact. That pressure can cause bones to fracture or break. Fractures also happen when the body collides against the vehicle or is bent into an unnatural position. Fractures vary in severity and how they impact a person’s day to day mobility.
Chest Injuries
Bruised or broken ribs and other chest injuries are especially common among drivers because, during a powerful crash, they may come in contact with the steering wheel. Although seatbelts are designed to protect passengers during a wreck, they can also cause internal injuries.
Head Injuries
When a driver or passenger slams their head against the dashboard, side doors, or roof of the car, they can suffer concussion or other traumatic brain injuries. Damage to the brain may leave the victim with long-term cognitive impairment. Hearing loss, vision problems, and other sensory issues can also occur with significant trauma to the brain.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Damage to the body’s ligaments, muscles, and tendons are the most common types of car accident injuries. They happen when the body is suddenly jolted in one direction or another, twisting or tearing the body’s soft tissues, especially in the head, neck, and back. Whiplash occurs most often in rear-end wrecks as the head and neck are forced forward and back again, stretching those soft tissues too far.
Recovering Compensation After a Wreck
Car accidents can be devastating is so many ways. Beyond the physical pain and suffering caused by car accident injuries, there is the financial impact associated with medical treatment and the loss of income if you are unable to work. Many victims of serious wrecks also experience emotional trauma as well.
In the state of Virginia, car accident victims may be barred from monetary damages if they are found to have contributed in any way to the wreck that caused their injuries. That is why it is so important to enlist the skilled representation of East Coast Trial Lawyers to prove the details of your crash and show why you deserve compensation.
Our Virginia Beach Car Accident Lawyers Seek Maximum Compensation for Your Injuries
To schedule a free consultation with a Virginia Beach car accident lawyer to discuss your accident and learn about your legal options, call 757-352-2237 or contact us online today. Located in Virginia Beach, East Coast Trial Lawyers proudly serves clients throughout Virginia, including but not limited to the areas of Chesapeake, Eastern Shores, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk.