The personal injury attorneys at Entrekin Law Firm work daily with car accident victims who have suffered serious injuries. Some of the most common car accident injuries people suffer include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) result in approximately 2.8 million emergency room visits and hospitalizations every year. Car accidents are a leading cause of TBIs. TBIs happen when the brain is injured by a blow or piercing injury to the head.
TBIs are not always immediately noticeable, so it is best to monitor for potential signs of TBI, such as:
- Loss of consciousness
- Problems with senses, such as a weird taste in the mouth or ringing in the ears
- Problems concentrating or remembering
- Bowel or bladder problems
- Irritability or change in personality
Some TBIs can result in death or lifelong problems.
Spinal Cord Injuries
A lot of the brunt of impact in a car accident is absorbed by the back and spine, so spinal cord injuries are fairly common in car accidents. A blow to the back can cause paralysis by dislocating or fracturing vertebrae. Paralysis may either be partial or total below the site of injury.
In addition to the loss of mobility, spinal cord injuries can also cause:
- Loss of sensation
- Bowel or bladder function problems
- Loss of experiencing heat or cold
- Infertility
- Difficulty breathing
- Chronic pain
Back Injuries
Car accident victims may experience various types of injuries in their backs, including:
- Sprains – These injuries occur when ligaments tear or stretch.
- Strains – Strains are caused by damage to muscles or tendons.
- Slipped or herniated discs – These injuries happen when a vertebra slips out of place.
- Ruptured discs – A ruptured disc occurs when vertebrae break.
- Pinched nerve – Pinched nerves happen when pressure compresses the nerve and cause serious pain.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Car accidents can cause violent force on the human body, which is not as well-equipped to handle a collision with heavy metal as much as another vehicle is. Motor vehicle accidents can cause painful injuries to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Fractures
Practically any bone in your body could break because of the violent force of a crash. The severity of the fracture and the possible treatment can depend on the type of fracture you suffered, such as:
- Displaced fracture
- Non-displaced fracture
- Open fracture
- Closed fracture
- Hairline fracture
- Partial fracture
Nerve Damage
Nerve damage is the loss of sensation due to the nerve no longer being able to send messages from the brain. These injuries are not always evident and may require a thorough checkup from a doctor to be accurately diagnosed.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Car accidents can cause painful injuries to your tendons, ligaments, and joints. Whiplash is one common soft tissue injury caused by car accidents. Soft tissue injuries can be difficult to diagnose because they may not appear on imaging test.
Why It’s Important to Document Your Injuries
In order to recover compensation for the accident, you have to be able to connect your injuries, the car accident, and the other driver’s carelessness. Your medical records can create this link and help a car accident lawyer in Phoenix advocate on your behalf. Your medical records may describe:
- Your injuries
- The treatment you receive and your response to treatment
- Summaries of your care
- Test results
- How the injury has affected your life
- Your complaints of pain
Be sure you keep all of your medical records, bills, invoices, and results to fully document your claim.
Contact Our Firm for Help with Your Claim
If you suffered any of the injuries described above, the Phoenix personal injury attorneys at Entrekin Law Firm can help. Contact us today for your free case review.