Car Accident Injuries
We all know that a car accident can be a life-changing event. The types of injuries range from minor ones to spinal cord injuries and death. Let’s take a look at some of the most common car accident injuries.
Death From a Car Accident
An accident where someone dies is hard on the family of the deceased. It takes away the person they loved and can leave family members in a precarious financial situation, particularly when the decedent provided meaningful financial support. A wrongful death occurs when a negligent driver was reckless or failed to obey the rules of the road. The decedent may die at the scene or sometime later in the hospital. He or she may be aware that their injuries are fatal, yet suffer a great deal before passing away.
In a wrongful death case, a personal injury attorney representing the family will work to provide monetary compensation for the loss of the decedent’s support, both financial and emotional. If the deceased’s death is delayed, yet they are aware of their impending demise, the family can file a survival action since the person’s personal injury survives their death.
Watch Youtube Video ~ What is a Wrongful Death Claim? – by Edward A Smith, Sacramento Car Accident & Wrongful Death Lawyer.
Brain Injuries Caused by a Car Accident
Brain injuries represent some of the most critical injuries a person can suffer. They range from minor lacerations and blows to the head to a traumatic brain injury. They can cause life-altering changes to an individual’s way of living and work. Some of the most common are:
- Intracranial hemorrhage: This injury causes bleeding into the cranial vault (within the skull).
- Intracerebral hemorrhage: This involves bleeding within or around the brain
- Subdural hematoma: Blood accumulates between the layers surrounding the brain.
- Concussion: Brain injury caused by a blow to the head or violent back and forth motion of the head and body.
- Penetrating injury: This injury is due to piercing of the skull and membranes surrounding the brain.
- Skull fracture: Fracture of skull bones may or may not cause brain injury.
- Scalp lacerations: Excess bleeding may occur and requires immediate medical intervention.
Watch Youtube Video ~ Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury.
Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries are divided into the area of the back that is injured. For example, cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), lumbosacral (low back). The higher the injury, the more profound the effects. If an accident causes injury to the cervical spinal cord, paralysis below the level of injury may occur. In this instance, the patient may require ventilation devices to breathe.
Spinal cord injuries can also be complete and incomplete. A complete injury to the spinal cord results in permanent damage and paraplegia or tetraplegia. The degree of retained feeling and movement varies from one case to another.
Back Injury
There are a number of car accident injuries that involve damage to the back without involving the spinal cord. These include:
- Cervical Strain
- Herniated or fractured discs
- Cervical fracture
- Back muscle strain
Extremity Trauma
The extremities are often injured in a car accident. Traumatic injuries can include amputations. Peripheral nerve and vascular damage may also occur along with fractures. Prompt medical care is usually needed.
Blunt Trauma to the Abdomen
Abdominal injuries can result from seat belt trauma in an accident. These can cause bleeding or organ rupture in the abdominal cavity. In this case, the seat belt, when a violent crash is involved, may cause injury to the intestine. It is usually heralded by seat belt area ecchymosis or bruising. Other mechanisms involve impact with the steering wheel during a crash. Impact during a crash can also result in vascular damage.
Chest Trauma
Major organs are in the chest, so blunt trauma can cause significant damage. For instance, it might result in bruising of the heart or myocardial contusion. Ribs may fracture and can penetrate the lungs, causing bruising of the lungs or restricting ventilation. Older individuals experience more difficulties with a rib fracture.
Related Articles by Ed Smith, a car accident lawyer in Sacramento:
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento car accident lawyer. Car accident injuries can result in physical and financial problems that are capable of irreparably changing your life. At a time like this, you need the assistance of a capable injury lawyer who can guide you through such difficulties. Call me for free, friendly advice at (916) 921-6400, or use my nationwide toll-free line at (800) 404-5400. You can reach out to me online too.
I’ve practiced law in Sacramento for more than 35 years and have helped individuals in Northern California with wrongful deaths and motorcycle accidents.
In some cases, I won verdicts and settlements of $1 million, making me a member of a nationwide forum of trial attorneys called the Million Dollar Advocates.
When researching my law firm, look to reviews on Avvo, Yelp, and Google. You can get more information on how I resolved specific cases on my settlements and verdicts page.
If you are looking for in-depth articles about personal injury law, stay here on AutoAccident.com, the website I founded and own.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/car-accident-car-crash-car-2429527/
:cd [cs 870] cv