Being involved in a car accident can result in considerable damage, and this includes trauma, property damage, and physical injuries. However, there are certain injuries that may be harder to detect at first, but this doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be taken seriously.
In fact, there are many common car accident injuries that may not be noticeable for hours, days, or even weeks after the incident which can have lasting negative implications for your health. To learn more about the kind of injuries you should be aware of after a car crash, call us today at Daniel T Pagliarini AAL to speak with a car accident attorney. We’re able to serve clients in Honolulu, Hawaii, and throughout the islands including Maui, Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, and Molokai
Factors in Car Accidents That Cause Injuries
When learning about the different types of damages that can happen in a crash, it’s important to examine the causes of car accident injuries since this can often impact the type of injury. If the crash causes your body to hit something inside the car (like the door, dashboard, or steering wheel), you’ll likely suffer from an impact injury. The location of the crash will also affect this; for example, if you were rear-ended, hit on the driver’s side, or hit on the passenger’s side.
Another factor that can affect the kind of injuries sustained is whether or not you were wearing a seat belt. While it’s true that you’ll almost always sustain more serious injuries if you weren’t wearing a seat belt, you can also receive injuries because of the seat belt such as chest injuries. Broken glass and airbags can also cause injuries either by producing lacerations or puncture wounds.
Common Injuries You May Experience
There are several kinds of injuries you may sustain in a car crash and it’s not uncommon to suffer from multiple types. One of the most common is soft-tissue injuries, which involve damage to your ligaments, muscles, or tendons.
Car accidents can cause the body to jolt suddenly from one position to another. Also known as whiplash, this can stretch soft tissue causing sprains and pain in the neck, shoulders, and back.
Head injuries are also very common because when your body is moved suddenly in one direction, it can cause your brain to move within your skull. This causes swelling or bleeding in the brain that must be addressed by a doctor immediately because it could result in a concussion or even a traumatic brain injury (TBI). If you have any reason to believe you have a brain injury (such as loss of consciousness, nausea, confusion, or headaches), you should seek medical care immediately.
Lastly, cuts and scrapes are also quite common and these can be caused by your body hitting something in the car or projectile objects that were in the car like broken glass.
Should I See a Doctor?
One regular question we hear over and over is, “Should I seek medical attention after an accident?” and the answer to this is yes.
Some injuries take time to exhibit symptoms and only a medical professional can adequately assess your condition. It’s important to get a medical professional assessment and retain this documentation along with any other medical records to use as evidence in your claim. If you don’t seek medical care right away, the insurance company may use this against you and it can hurt your chances of winning a fair settlement.
Don’t Face This Alone. Call Now.
If you’re in the Honolulu, Hawaii area or anywhere throughout the state and you’d like to speak with a personal injury attorney about an accident you were in, reach out to us at Daniel T Pagliarini AAL for help.