Car accidents are one of the leading causes of serious and catastrophic injuries. They can cause long-term disability or even death. These types of injuries often require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation that can be costly. Understanding the different types of catastrophic injuries resulting from a car accident can help you understand the risks you face when getting behind the wheel.
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury occurs once your brain suffers a blunt or penetrating trauma, such as a strike or jolt to the head. The primary injury is the initial wound sustained during the collision. Injuries to the brain’s primary structures can affect a single cerebral hemisphere or the entire brain. Such an injury may disorient a person, make them unable to recall what happened, cause vision problems, dizziness, or even cause them to lose consciousness immediately following an accident.
The brain suffers delayed trauma after an accident as it swells and presses against the skull, cutting off blood supply and oxygen. Such an injury is secondary and can be as harmful as the initial wound. However, when you get injured in a car accident, you may not realize the severity of the injury until later on, and that is why you shouldn’t accept any settlement offers from the insurance company immediately. Having an auto accident attorney would help you seek compensation after a car accident, as you should claim compensation for the injuries you suffered due to the other party’s negligence.
Spinal Cord Injury and Broken Bones
Spinal cord injury damages a dense network of nerves and cells that relay information between the rest of the body and the brain. Damage to the spinal cord may alter the feeling, mobility, strength, and bodily functions underneath the injured area temporarily or permanently due to this injury.
Multiple bone fractures are extremely painful and disabling and can occur if the impact is significant enough to cause the bones to break. Arms, legs, ribs, and skulls are the most common vulnerable body parts that can get damaged during vehicle collisions.
Extremely high medical costs, lengthy rehabilitation, and permanent impairment are all possible outcomes of bone fractures. A serious bone fracture may necessitate plates, screws, or rods to restore the bone’s normal alignment and prevent further movement.
Burn Injuries
Any body part exposed to high temperatures, chemicals, or electricity after a car accident might suffer from burns ranging from mild to severe. These burns are usually caused by hot metal, steam, battery acid, or gasoline.
More serious burns may be deeper and cause the skin to become charred, with a leathery texture. Burns of this severity can cause severe pain and lead to infection, nerve damage, and scarring.
In some cases, these injuries can even be fatal. Treatment for severe burns may include physical therapy and rehabilitation. Moreover, you may require skin grafting if you suffer such burns long-term treatment and care may be necessary to help the individual regain their quality of life.
Conclusion
Car accidents may cause various catastrophic injuries to victims, primarily due to negligence of the other party. Such injuries may be life-threatening or cause temporary or permanent disability to the victim. Remember that you have legal rights against the perpetrators of such accidents and a chance to seek compensation from them.