The physical damage you may suffer after a car accident can range from minor bruising to traumatic brain injury. Accident victims often work with a personal injury attorney following a car accident to receive compensation for their injuries. A judge or jury may award compensation for medical bills, as well as pain and suffering, after an accident, depending on a number of variables in the case.
Learn about some common injuries that are frequently experienced after car accidents, as well as how an attorney can help you seek out compensation for your injuries.
What are the Most Common Injuries from Car Accidents?
Whiplash
Rear-end collisions, T-bone accidents, and head-on collisions all have one thing in common: they jar your head and neck, causing whiplash injuries. Whiplash causes your muscles to become overstretched and sprains in your joints.
One big problem with whiplash is that you may not realize you have it right away or show signs of an injury, but the symptoms can manifest later. That is why it is imperative you have a doctor check your injuries after a car accident has occurred, as they may be able to spot the signs for a whiplash injury before you start to feel them yourself.
Concussion
Like whiplash, symptoms of a concussion following a car accident can take time to manifest. A concussion is a type of brain injury, so some of the symptoms like loss of consciousness, nausea, confusion, or amnesia can be signs that you need immediate medical attention.
A concussion can lead to serious long-term health problems such as seizures, chronic headaches, and loss of ability to concentrate. Get treated as soon as possible and document your injuries so you have a record in case you end up filing a personal injury claim.
Fractures
The force of impact from a car accident can lead to bone breaks of all kinds, from minor hand and foot breaks to leg, hip, and spinal fractures. Treatment for fractures can vary from a splint to a cast, and recovery time can be minimal or include surgery to better set the bone or include pins and metal hardware to ensure proper healing.
Musculoskeletal Injuries
A car accident can lead to generalized pain because your entire experiences sudden forces at high speeds. This leads to injuries impacting both the muscular system and skeletal system, along with all the tendons connecting the two systems and ligaments connecting bone to bone.
These types of injuries are often treated with anti-inflammatory medicines, physical therapy, massage therapy, and stretches.
Emotional Distress
An accident can be traumatizing and cause a lot of anguish in the weeks or months following it. Many people who experience car accidents may develop anxiety about driving or riding in cars later, and it may take some time to get over the fear the accident caused.
It may be helpful to seek out a therapist to work through the feelings an accident caused.
Your doctor may have recommendations for a specialist, and medication may also help.
There is nothing embarrassing about seeking out the right kind of help, and if an accident has led to emotional and mental anguish, it is important to seek out treatment just like you would if you only had physical injuries.
How Can an Attorney Help After a Car Accident?
A personal injury attorney understands the trauma you have experienced as well as the mounting medical bills that often follow. He or she has experience with cases like yours and can use the evidence you have collected following the accident to seek damages for the accident.
You may have part or all of your medical bills covered with the help of an attorney, and in severe cases they may be able to seek compensation for the unseen injuries that fall under the premise of “pain and suffering.”
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in Arkansas
If you’ve been in a car accident and sustained injuries—whether physical or emotional—and need an attorney, find one with a wealth of knowledge about car accident injury claims. Contact The Brad Hendricks Law Firm today to discuss your case. We have offices in Little Rock, Conway, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, and Texarkana to help clients statewide.