Perhaps you were harmed in a car accident in Albany, New York, and your injuries spanned your whole body. Crash injuries can be severe, too, sometimes requiring surgery. Below are some of the most common types.
Injuries to the head and neck
When the head is thrown around, you can suffer a concussion or traumatic brain injury, and since the symptoms are often delayed, you may not know it until days or weeks after the crash. More immediately recognizable conditions include cuts and bruising, broken facial bones and broken teeth.
Whiplash can occur when the neck in particular is snapped back and forth in a violent manner. You could strain or even tear the muscles and ligaments in the neck. If the neck vertebrae become dislocated, surgery will become necessary.
Injuries arising from the seat belt
Seat belts help save lives, but they can cause injuries of their own with the shoulder belt being known to harm the collarbone and ribs. Victims can injure their heart, lungs, liver and other organs by having their body press against the lap belt if that belt is worn incorrectly. Internal bleeding is possible, too, and victims will know they have it if their torso begins to swell and turn purple and if they suffer from headaches or dizziness.
Back and lower extremity injuries
A crash could break the back bones or cause the discs in the spine to be pulled or twisted. In serious cases, this leads to paralysis. In addition, occupants who don’t wear their seat belt may wind up breaking their leg, knee or foot. In addition, there are psychological injuries to consider like anxiety, depression and PTSD.
A lawyer to build up your case
If you’re thinking to pursue a personal injury case, it may be a good idea to hire a lawyer. Most injury lawyers have a network of third parties, including crash investigators, who help strengthen a case with evidence. You may have the lawyer negotiate for a settlement while you focus on recovering.