In recent years, we, as a car accident lawyer in NYC, have seen a spike in car accidents in all of New York’s boroughs. The injuries sustained in these accidents can range from simple scratches to severe, life-changing injuries. In this blog, we’ll be looking into some of the most common and serious injuries suffered in car accidents and how understanding these injuries is crucial when seeking medical attention and legal guidance.
Whiplash
Whiplash is an injury caused by a sudden jerk of the head and neck. In terms of car accidents, whiplash injuries are quite common and are often seen in rear-end collisions because the force of the crash moves the body forward as the head lags behind, causing damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the neck. Whiplash injuries are considered minor injuries, but they can lead to chronic pain if not treated properly.
Symptoms of whiplash injuries include:
- Headaches starting from the base of the skull
- Reduced range of motion
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Shoulder pain and upper back pain
Head Injuries
Drivers and passengers suffer from head injuries when the head hits the steering wheel, dashboard, or window, causing the brain to be violently shaken or jarred inside the skull. Head injuries can range from mild concussions to traumatic brain injuries, requiring immediate medical attention. Serious head injuries will undoubtedly require surgery or long-term rehabilitation.
Spinal Cord & Back Injuries
The spinal cord is the vital pathway that transmits nervous signals from the brain to the rest of the body, allowing you to move and feel. The spinal cord is particularly vulnerable, and high-speed impacts can twist, compress, and fracture the spine. It can result in injuries that range from herniated discs to nerve damage and paralysis.
Chest Trauma
Chest injuries are quite common in car accidents and are mostly seen in drivers and front-seat passengers since the chest takes a blow of significant force when it collides with the steering wheel or dashboard during an accident. Common chest injuries include
- Rib fractures
- Bruising or puncture of internal organs
- Seat belt and airbag injuries.
Chest injuries will require prompt medical attention since the full extent of the injuries is not immediately apparent.
Burns
Burn injuries come about when vehicles involved in accidents catch on fire due to the exposure of fluids such as fuel and coolants. The various types of burn injuries that can come about from car accidents include:
- First-degree burns: They only affect the outer layer of skin.
- Second-degree burns: impacts deeper layers of skin, causing blisters and severe pain.
- Third-degree burns: It destroys all skin layers, with recovery often requiring skin grafts.
- Fourth-degree burns: The most serious type of burn injury, where the burn destroys the skin and damages muscles, bones, and nerve endings.
Facial Injuries
As an accident lawyer in New York, we’ve noticed facial injuries are quite common in car accident cases. The face coming into contact with airbags, the steering wheel, the windshield, and side windows, as well as flying debris and broken glass, all contribute to facial injuries in car accidents. The general injuries to the face include:
- Lacerations
- Fractures
- Dental injuries
- Burns and scarring
Broken Bones
Bones in your arms, legs, and pelvis are generally the bones that are most affected in a car crash. However, the severity of the break will depend on the location and severity of the impact. Recovering from broken bones will take a long time, and treatment often involves a combination of surgery, splints, casts, and physical therapy.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries are less visible but considerably more dangerous since the implications are not immediately apparent. Internal bleeding is by far the most common type of internal injury seen in car accidents. It happens when blood vessels or organs are damaged by blunt force or penetrations. The liver, kidney, spleen, and lungs are the organs most vulnerable to internal injuries.
Psychological Trauma
It’s not just the physical injuries that you have to worry about—car accidents can also leave serious psychological scars. In the aftermath of the wreck, victims may be diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and PTSD because they might:
- Have trouble sleeping and concentrating.
- Relive the incident in nightmares or flashbacks.
- Feel irritable and emotionally numb
- Develop a fear of driving and riding in cars.
How Do We Claim Damages for These Injuries?
When claiming compensation for the injuries you’ve sustained in a car accident, you can submit a claim with your insurance provider. Since New York adopts a no-fault insurance system in relation to car accidents, you are entitled to compensation, regardless of fault in the incident. Your insurance coverage should cover the medical costs involved with these injuries up to $50,000 per person. However, insurance coverage may not account for the psychological trauma suffered.
Alternatively, you may file a lawsuit against the people responsible for your injuries. For you to file a lawsuit in relation to a car accident, you must show that:
- The economic damages you’ve suffered exceed $50,000; or
- The injuries you’ve sustained satisfy New York’s “serious injury” threshold.
If you’ve suffered one or more of the injuries we’ve talked about at the top, your case will satisfy the serious injury threshold. Furthermore, lawsuits also allow you to account for psychological trauma.
As per the statute of limitations, a personal injury lawsuit involving a car accident must be filed within three (03) years of the accident. If you’re filing a wrongful death lawsuit, it must be filed within two (02) years from the date of the death of the deceased.
Conclusion
When you’re in a car accident, the injuries you are likely to suffer can range from a few scratches to severe, life-altering injuries. When you are injured, your focus must be on your recovery, and handling the formalities involved with claiming compensation for these injuries can be left in the capable hands of a car accident injury lawyer in the Bronx.