3 Types of Car Accident Injuries With Devastating Health Effects

 Posted on January 24, 2020 in Car Accident

One of the most common questions drivers or passengers struggle with when they are hurt in a car accident is whether their injuries are considered serious, or if they should be concerned about their long-term health. In many cases, when people have a headache or some aches or pains for a few days following an accident, they are tempted to brush the symptoms off with the hopeful assumption that they will soon be on the mend. However, severe and minor injuries alike can be tricky to assess, as some are subtle at first and then gradually worsen over time, while others are immediately noticeable.

Injuries That May Result in Long-Term Damage

While some car crash injuries are thankfully minor or temporary, others end up being catastrophic personal injuries that alter our lives forever. A few examples of such devastating injuries include:

• Herniated discs - Most cases of herniated discs are due to the wear and tear that occurs over time from the aging process. However, a herniated disc is also a common occurrence from the blunt force involved in a car accident. When the discs that sit between the bones in the spine are ruptured or slip out of place and strike a nerve, ongoing pain, weakness, and numbness can occur. Discs are usually ruptured in the lower back, but they may also rupture in the neck. Believe it or not, someone can have a herniated disc without any symptoms, and they may only discover the injury by having a spinal image taken. Slipped discs may not be severe in every case, but those who experience chronic back or neck pain may continue to struggle with lifelong effects from the injury.

• Spinal cord damage - This is perhaps one of the most feared -- and talked about -- injuries that can occur due to a car crash. Any damage to the spinal cord is serious, and it usually results in a permanent threat to normal bodily functions. The symptoms are vast and alarming. You may experience everything from difficulty breathing or loss of sensation and the ability to feel or touch, to spasms, loss of bladder control or loss of movement in one part of the body altogether. Numbness, the inability to maintain balance, or any kind of paralysis are immediate red flags that you may have spinal damage after a vehicle accident. The changes brought on by spinal cord damage are challenging, but it is possible to adjust and go on to live a healthy life, despite the new limitations on your body.

• Traumatic Brain Injury - An equally frightening injury that can occur due to a car collision is a traumatic brain injury or TBI. Some TBIs are mild, and they may affect your brain cells only temporarily, while more severe cases can result in life-long complications or even death. Any hard blow to the skull can have complex effects on your physical and psychological health which can manifest with a range of cognitive and sensory symptoms. You may experience problems with your memory, speech difficulties, dizziness, disorientation, and fatigue, in addition to sensitivities to light and sounds, blurry vision, ringing in the ears, or an inability to smell. Your prognosis for recovery depends greatly on the severity of the trauma and which parts of the brain were affected by the impact.

In many of the above cases, a car accident victim may need special accommodations, such as extensive rehabilitation or physical therapy and even a wheelchair-accessible home and vehicle. A skilled personal injury lawyer can review the details of your collision, determine the extent of the damages you have suffered, establish liability, and work to hold a negligent driver responsible.

Contact a Schaumburg Car Accident Lawyer

A vehicle collision may seem minor when it first occurs, but it can result in debilitating and long-term consequences. If you or your loved one have been involved in an automobile accident that caused a life-changing injury, it is imperative that you speak with a competent, dedicated Arlington Heights personal injury attorney. The skilled law firm of Newland & Newland LLP will work tirelessly to protect your rights and fight for the compensation you need and deserve. Call our office today at 847-797-8000 to schedule your free phone consultation. 

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/herniated-disk/symptoms-causes/syc-20354095

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-cord-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20377890

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20378557