Bam! It is your morning commute and suddenly you were rear-ended or sideswiped by another vehicle. This is more than just a minor affair; it has left you with significant injuries that leave you in the hospital, out of work and suffering from severe pain and suffering. The following are some common injuries you could sustain in a car accident.
Soft tissue injuries
Soft tissue injuries are a common car accident injury suffered by many in Louisiana. Whiplash is perhaps the most well-known soft tissue injury. Whiplash occurs when your head is jolted back and forth in a collision. It is important to note that the signs of whiplash may not manifest for a few days following the crash, so you should monitor yourself carefully. Whiplash can cause stiffness in the neck, dizziness, neck and back pain, cognitive issues and headaches. Oftentimes a CT scan or MRI is necessary to confirm you have whiplash.
Spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord injuries are among the most severe injuries that could be caused by a car crash. Spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis and life-long disabilities. The Dana and Christopher Reeve Foundation reports that on average a person who is paralyzed due to a car crash can expect to pay hundreds of thousands in treatment, rehabilitation and care for their injury.
Broken bones
Broken bones are a common injury sustained in car accidents. All it takes is for your arm or leg to strike the dashboard or side of the car to suffer a fracture. Sometimes a fracture is not immediately apparent, requiring medical imaging to uncover. Deformity, swelling or pain can also indicate a fracture.
Cardiac arrest
We might not anticipate all the internal injuries that could be suffered in a motor vehicle accident. One of these injuries is cardiac arrest. Stressful events such as an auto accident can cause a heart attack. When this happens, the heart stops beating. A person may need CPR or a defibrillator to survive and make their heart continue beating on its own. This injury can be deadly if not addressed immediately.
Ultimately it is important to understand that even what seems like a minor injury at first can develop into a major injury. Car accident injuries can have catastrophic consequences, including lost time at work, permanent disability and extensive medical expenses. It is important if you are in a motor vehicle accident that you monitor your health carefully so you can seek medical care and recover compensation for the harms you suffered.