People can sustain injuries in auto accidents in every part of their bodies depending on where they were sitting in the car or how severe the impact was. Even though there are several ways to be hurt in an auto accident, attorneys know that the complaints they receive for bodily injuries fall under very specific categories. These common injuries from auto accidents illuminated below will help people determine if they are suffering from one of these typical types of injuries that often end up in the courts.
The Concussion
As drivers and passengers are being thrown around in a vehicle after a collision, the brain may be susceptible to the concussion. The concussion is known as a traumatic brain injury that leads it to function differently than it had before the auto accident. The symptoms that people experience do not always last but they can be debilitating for the sufferer. People complaining of a concussion may experience symptoms of headaches, the inability to concentrate, the inability to maintain their balance, not being able to exercise good judgment, memory loss and feeling uncoordinated.
Bruising
After being shaken, the brain can also experience bruising. Bruising is actually bleeding within the brain and has been given the name of intracerebral hemorrhage or contusion. The effects may not last longer than a day but some patients’ symptoms last for several months. The nerves within the brain may be damaged after the brain has been thrown against the skull during an auto accident and it can be the reason that the victim begins to behave differently than before the injury.
Whiplash
Whiplash often occurs during an auto accident when the neck has been injured in a rear-end collision. Whiplash can cause pain that is minor and known as neck strain. The neck strain does not last and may heal on its own. If the injury was more severe, the neck pain can persist and become a chronic condition. People suffering from whiplash have been known to feel the pain beyond their necks into their backs, shoulders, arms and their legs. They may have headaches or begin to feel as if someone is sticking them with several pins.
Injuries to the Back
Several injuries to the back can occur when people are involved in auto accidents. Injuries to the thoracic spine are upper back injuries that often result when the victim is in a vehicle traveling at high speeds. The nerve damage resulting from this injury can be permanent. Injuries to the lumbar spin in the lower back can make it difficult for people to perform several actions because of the inability to move due to swelling or tenderness.
Auto accidents can also cause the discs between the vertebrae to become herniated. The herniated disc may press against the spine or the nerves and cause pain or insensitivity. If the auto accident affects the spinal column directly, the victim has experienced the most serious injury possible to the back. The injury will not necessarily be debilitating but it can result in permanent loss of feeling within the body.
The article was written by an independent author and has not been reviewed nor edited by Goldberg & Osborne, an AZ car accident law firm. Goldberg & Osborne is not liable for any inaccuracies, inconsistencies, or errors in the article, nor is the article a substitute for a legal consultation.