Every year, over three million people are injured in car accidents across the country. Car accident injuries range in severity from relatively mild cuts and bruises to traumatic brain injuries. Despite the wide range in types and severity, some fairly common injuries that result from car accidents include bone fractures, head and neck injuries, and brain injuries.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Houston Car Accident Attorney & Get Compensated For Common Injuries
Car accidents only take seconds, but the impact on victims can be devastating. Becoming familiar with the common injuries that occur in car accidents can help you articulate your symptoms to your medical doctor and your attorney. Contact the Houston car accident attorneys at Ceja Law Firm PLLC today to schedule a free case evaluation and learn more about your legal options.
Common Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Other Head Injuries From a Car Accident
Head injuries caused by car accidents can range from mild concussions to catastrophic brain injuries. Every brain injury is unique and comes with a unique set of symptoms. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can include vision problems, hearing loss, ongoing pain, difficulty concentrating, and mood changes. Those with severe traumatic brain injuries may not be able to return to work because their symptoms are so pervasive and ongoing. Victims with severe brain injuries may need around-the-clock medical care, surgery, rehabilitation, and more.
Neck and Shoulder Injuries, Including Whiplash
Even at low speeds, the force of a car accident can result in a sudden jerking movement of a person’s neck and head. When a person’s head and neck jerk forward and backward forcefully, it can cause damage to the neck muscles and ligaments, an injury commonly called whiplash. Whiplash can result in generalized neck pain, swelling, and numbness in the arms, hands, legs, and feet.
Herniated discs are common crash-related injuries resulting in acute arm or leg pain and numbness. Finally, some victims experience a fracture in their spinal cord resulting in a spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injuries can be very serious, cause partial or complete paralysis, and require ongoing medical care.
Chest and Rib Injuries
If you experience chest pain after a car accident, it’s crucial that you call 911 and go to the emergency room. You could have a life-threatening injury, even if the pain is mild or dull. Car accidents can result in bruised or fractured ribs, chest muscle strain, a ruptured diaphragm, and a fractured sternum. Torn cartilage or internal bleeding can also present as chest and rib pain. Seat belts save thousands of lives every year, but they can cause bruising, abrasions, fractures to the sternum, and internal injuries.
Knee and Leg Injuries
In car accidents, a person’s knees and legs can collide with the steering wheel, door panel, or dashboard. Seat belts and airbags do not protect a person’s knees or legs. The force of the accident can result in torn ligaments that can be painful and permanently disabling. Shattered tibia bones are also common in frontal collisions. Car accidents can also cause hip injuries requiring surgery, erecting steel pins, and years of rehabilitation. Others include knee fractures, ruptured tendons, dislocated knees, and twisted ligaments.
Bone Fractures
Bone fractures are caused by car accidents every day in Texas. Bone fractures can be caused by someone being ejected from the vehicle during a collision, the crushing force of the collision, or slamming forward into the seat belt. The following types of bone fractures can cause long-term medical issues:
- Vertebral
- Clavicle
- Pelvic bone
- Fibula (lower leg) and femur (upper leg)
- Cranial
- Facial bones
- Sternum (breastbone) and ribs
Emotional and Psychological Trauma After Car Accidents
Being involved in a car accident is terrifying, and victims may experience signs of psychological distress. It’s fairly common for individuals injured in car accidents to seek psychological and emotional counseling after the accident. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe mental health condition that car accidents can cause. If you suspect you’re suffering from mental trauma caused by a car accident, it’s important you reach out to a mental health counselor. Some of the symptoms of emotional and psychological trauma include the following:
- High-stress levels
- Mood swings
- Withdrawal from social events
- New phobias
- Disturbed sleep due to insomnia or nightmares
- Depression
Delayed Common Car Accident Injuries
Not all car accident injuries are apparent immediately after the accident. When victims are involved in serious accidents, adrenaline and shock can mask pain symptoms. If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s important that you’re aware of delayed car crash symptoms that can take days or even weeks to appear.
If you’re experiencing generalized neck, back, or shoulder pain, numbness, tingling, or any of the symptoms of a concussion, it’s crucial that you reach out to a medical doctor and receive treatment. Make sure you keep all your medical documentation and discuss your case with an attorney who can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Fatal Car Accidents
Unfortunately, some car accidents result in injuries that are so serious the victim dies from them. Texas consistently leads the nation in car accident fatalities, with approximately 3,000 people killed in car accidents yearly. The force of a car accident can cause internal organ damage, severe bleeding, serious head injuries, and other injuries that cause a victim’s death.
If your loved one was killed in a car accident caused by another person or business, your family might be entitled to compensation for a wrongful death lawsuit. Nothing can bring your loved one back, but pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit can help you and your family hold the at-fault driver accountable and recover compensation for funeral expenses, medical expenses, lost income, and more.
Discuss Your Common Car Accident Injuries Case with a Skilled Houston Attorney
If you or your loved one have been seriously injured in a Texas car accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Car accident victims may be entitled to compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and more. Contact Ceja Law Firm PLLC today to schedule a free case evaluation.
Ceja Law Firm PLLC helps clients with common car accident injury cases throughout Harris County and the Greater Houston Area including Pasadena, Baytown, Sugar Land, Bellaire, Galveston, Texas City, Jacinto City, and more.
