Car accident injuries: a brief overview

New York residents who are injured in a car crash may be left dealing with serious, even catastrophic, injuries. In fact, crash injuries can impact just about any part of the body. The following is a summary of the most common injuries.

Beginning with the head and face

In a crash, a person’s head can hit the windshield, window, roof or steering wheel, sometimes resulting in a concussion or a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI can be treated with pain medications. If it leads to bleeding under the skull, it may necessitate surgery. The face, including the skin, bone, and teeth, can be damaged as well.

Neck and spinal injuries

Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries. This happens when a person’s neck muscles and ligaments are injured after it is rapidly snapped back and forth. Mild cases will include neck strain while more severe cases may involve the dislocating of the neck vertebrae. Next, victims may have the discs in their spinal cord pushed or twisted. In extreme cases, this could lead to paralysis.

Injuries related to seat belts

People who neglect to wear their seat belts may hit their knees, legs or feet against the dash or steering column. Even when wearing a seat belt, though, a car’s occupants can be hurt. For instance, the shoulder belt can press against a person’s collarbone and ribs while the lap belt, especially if positioned incorrectly, can constrict one’s internal organs. This may even lead to internal bleeding, which will require immediate medical attention.

Some injuries are psychological with many crash victims developing post-traumatic stress disorder. They may suffer from anxiety whenever they drive and have recurring nightmares about the incident.

A lawyer to assist with your injury case

Car accidents (including distracted or drunk driving, motorcycle accidents, et cetera) are usually the result of someone’s negligent driving. Both drivers may even be negligent but to different degrees. If your losses were so serious that your insurance company cannot cover it all, you may want to consult a lawyer about filing a third-party insurance claim. An attorney may apply this state’s negligence laws to your situation during a case evaluation.