The collision between two vehicles often results in injuries to the occupants. Car accident injuries range in severity. While some injuries are mild, others can be serious.
The Nevada Department of Public Safety reported an average of 1,228 serious injuries in car accidents from 2013 to 2017.
At Henness & Haight Injury Law, our personal injury lawyers have over 20 years of experience in representing car accident victims.
From this experience, we have seen several injuries that are commonly suffered by accident victims.
If you have experienced these or other common car accident injuries, our seasoned car accident attorneys may help you recover compensation.
Head and Brain Injuries
Head and brain injuries are some of the most severe car accident injuries. Brain injuries range from mild to severe, depending on the type and amount of force that impacts the head during the accident.
Concussion
A concussion occurs when a blow to the head causes the brain to hit against the skull. Concussions can cause temporary loss of awareness or consciousness.
Contusion
A contusion is a bruise on the brain caused by a powerful blow to the head. The contusion might require surgery if the brain is swelling or bleeding internally.
Skull Fractures
A skull fracture is a break in one of the skull bones. There are four types of skull fractures:
- Linear skull fractures,
- Depressed skull fractures,
- Diastatic skull fractures, and
- Basilar skull fractures.
The most severe skull fractures are depressed and basilar skull fractures.
Depressed skull fractures occur when part of the skull sinks into the brain. Sometimes, these types of skull fractures are visible by looking at the injured area.
Basilar skull fractures involve a break in the bone at the base of the skull. Symptoms of a basilar skull fracture include bruising around the eyes and ears. A person with a basilar fracture may also have fluid draining from the nose and ears.
These types of skull fractures are very serious and need immediate medical care.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Car accident injuries can include traumatic brain injuries.
Traumatic brain injuries can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
Mild traumatic brain injuries
Mild traumatic brain injuries are the least severe type of brain injury.
The physical and cognitive symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury can include:
- Loss of consciousness for less than 30 minutes,
- Nausea,
- Dizziness,
- Fatigue,
- Blurred vision, and
- Memory and concentration problems.
Even though this type of traumatic brain injury is called a “mild” injury, the symptoms can be devastating.
Moderate traumatic brain injuries
Moderate traumatic brain injuries have more severe symptoms.
These symptoms might include, for example:
- Loss of consciousness for up to several hours,
- Nausea or vomiting,
- Memory loss,
- Convulsions or seizures,
- Loss of coordination,
- Weakness or tingling in the hands and feet,
- Slurred speech, and
- Agitated, aggressive, and unusual behavior.
The symptoms of moderate traumatic brain injuries can be permanent.
Severe traumatic brain injuries
Severe traumatic brain injuries are the most serious type of brain injury.
Symptoms of a severe traumatic brain injury can include:
- Coma,
- Severely altered consciousness,
- Intolerance to light, and
Seek medical treatment immediately if you suffered a head injury in a car accident.
Traumatic brain injuries can cause serious and often permanent neurological damage.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a neck injury that happens when the head is thrown backward and then forward or from side to side. The forceful jerking motion can injure the bones and discs in the spine and the muscles, tendons, and nerves in the neck.
Symptoms of whiplash can include:
- Neck pain and stiffness;
- Loss of range of motion in the neck;
- Tenderness or pain in the neck, upper back, and shoulder area; and
Sometimes, symptoms of whiplash are apparent immediately after the accident.
However, most times, signs and symptoms do not occur for several hours or days after the accident.
If you experience neck pain or other whiplash symptoms after a car accident, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
These symptoms can also indicate a more serious neck or back injury.
Spinal Injuries
Injuries to the spine can include spinal fractures, disc herniation, and paralysis.
Symptoms of a spinal fracture can include pain extending to the arms and legs. Spinal fractures may also cause lost control over body functions. For example, spinal fractures sometimes cause bladder control issues.
Disc herniations can cause numbness, tingling, or radiating pain, typically in the arms and legs. These injuries can also cause muscle weakness
An injury to the spinal cord itself can cause partial or permanent paralysis.
Spinal cord injuries that result in paralysis from the waist down (paraplegia) or the neck down (quadriplegia) are often permanent.
Broken and Fractured Bones
Bones are commonly broken in car accidents. Breaks in the arms, wrists, legs, and ankles are some examples of typical bone injuries. The ribs and pelvic bone also often break in a car accident.
Simple fractures and breaks are mild injuries. A medical professional will often apply a cast to simple breaks.
Compound breaks are more severe and often require surgery to reset the bone.
Contact a Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer at Henness & Haight Injury Law
Car accident injuries can have lifelong effects on the injured victim. If you have suffered these common car accident injuries or another injury in an accident, you might be entitled to compensation.
An experienced car accident attorney at Henness & Haight Injury Law can help you pursue a personal injury claim to recover damages for your injuries and losses.
Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not have to pay unless you recover a settlement or verdict.
Schedule a free case evaluation online to review the details of your claim with our professional and knowledgeable legal team.