Car Accidents
Car accidents can cause significant health and economic consequences for victims. Over 2.7 million people were injured in car accidents in the United States in 2020. It is important to seek medical treatment after an accident, as well as some common injuries in car accidents. If you or a family member suffered injuries or death as a result of a car accident, consider speaking with a knowledgeable, compassionate car accident attorney at The Mark Casto Law Firm at 706-450-7071 to understand how we may be able to help you seek fair and just compensation for your losses and suffering.
Victims Should Seek Immediate Medical Attention
If you were involved in a car accident, you should seek medical evaluation and treatment as soon as possible following the accident. Prompt medical evaluation and treatment are imperative following a car accident for a few reasons.
Health and Safety
First, victims must seek medical treatment immediately for their own health and safety. Symptoms of some common injuries in car accidents do not show up until hours or even days after the injuries occur. Additionally, adrenaline or the shock of the accident might mask symptoms of some injuries, leading victims to believe they are not hurt while their injuries become more severe without proper medical care. Seeking immediate medical evaluation and treatment following a car accident will help ensure that your injuries are identified and addressed timely by healthcare professionals.
Foundation for a Personal Injury Claim
Another reason for victims of car accidents to seek immediate medical care is to establish the foundation for a personal injury claim. Insurance companies frequently attempt to minimize the amount of compensation paid to victims of car accidents. Insurance adjusters may also attempt to attribute a victim’s injuries to pre-existing conditions or incidents which occurred before or after the accident. Prompt medical evaluation and treatment will help to document the victim’s injuries following the accident, establishing a relationship between the accident and the victim’s injuries. This can help preserve the victim’s right to seek compensation under the law.
Some Common Injuries In Car Accidents
While each car accident is unique, victims do report some common injuries in car accidents. Here are some injuries that victims frequently suffer as a result of car accidents.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a neck injury that consists of damage to muscles, ligaments, or tendons in the neck. It occurs in car accidents when the body moves back and forth with sudden force due to the impact of the crash. Whiplash can cause significant pain and takes time to heal.
Broken Ribs
Ribs are designed in part to protect internal organs. The impact of a car accident may cause victims to be pushed forward, backward, or to the side, impacting and fracturing ribs. Broken ribs are often painful and may require significant rest to heal.
Other Broken Bones
Broken bones are another set of common injuries in car accidents. Depending on the nature of the accident, victims may suffer broken arms, legs, ankles, or even hips due to the extreme force an impact places on the body.
Knee Injury Or Trauma
The impact of a car accident may force victims forward, slamming their knees into the dashboard or the seats in front of them. This may result in damage to the soft tissue surrounding the knee, the kneecap, or the knee joint itself. Knee injuries can make walking painful and difficult and may require surgery to correct.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Traumatic brain injuries are all too common injuries in car accidents. They often occur when a victim’s head strikes part of the vehicle or other objects during a crash. Some victims suffer only a mild concussion and recover fully. Others may suffer a serious TBI that requires extended hospitalization, physical or occupational therapy, and can cause long-term neurological consequences. If you suffered a TBI or other injuries in a car accident in Georgia, an attorney at The Mark Casto Law Firm may be able to help you seek compensation.
Internal Injuries
The impact of a crash may damage internal organs and cause bleeding. Internal bleeding is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that must be identified and treated as soon as possible following a car accident.
Neck or Back Injuries, Such As A Herniated Disc
In addition to whiplash, the sudden impact of a car accident can cause portions of the spine to shift. This can cause a tear in the intervertebral discs between spinal vertebrae. Herniated discs can be very painful, and may also cause pinched nerves.
Cuts, Scrapes, And Bruising
Cuts, scrapes, and bruising are very common injuries in car accidents. They can be caused when a victim’s body strikes part of a vehicle, or when objects within the vehicle strike the victim’s body because of the crash. Cuts, scrapes, and bruising may occur on the victim’s face, hands, arms, legs, or any other part of the body that is impacted during a crash.
Post-Traumatic Stress And Other Mental Health Issues
Some common injuries in car accidents are unseen. Victims may suffer from post-traumatic stress as a result of a car accident. Post-traumatic stress can significantly affect a victim’s ability to function in daily life. Some victims may also develop anxiety or depression because of a car accident and the injuries they suffered, negatively impacting their quality of life.
How An Attorney Can Help
Common injuries in car accidents can be physically and financially devastating for victims. Dealing with insurance companies, mounting medical bills, and loss of income is often difficult for victims to do alone while recovering from the physical and mental effects of a car accident. An attorney can be able to help victims.
If you or a family member are the victims of a car accident in Georgia, consider speaking with a knowledgeable, compassionate attorney at The Mark Casto Law Firm at 706-450-7071 to understand how we may be able to help you seek compensation for your injuries and suffering.