Early care after car accidents equals early cure

Are you a victim of a car accident in Florida? Various factors will determine the severity of your injuries. These include the speed of the vehicles when they collided, where you sat in the car, the location of the impact and whether you wore a seat belt. Most crash victims experience significant mental trauma after a crash, even if they escape severe physical injuries.

A shattered windshield can cause cuts and lacerations, and loose objects in the car can strike the occupants. However, these injuries could be insignificant compared to potential major orthopedic and other traumatic injuries, and if you decline an ambulance trip to a hospital for a medical examination, you could suffer long-term consequences.

Injuries to the back, neck and chest

If you were a passenger in the front seat or the driver, you might be a victim of any of the following upper body injuries:

• Whiplash, strains and sprains to the neck and back, and bruises or contusions to the chest, Even if these injuries are less severe, they can cause chronic pain and restrict movement.

• Fractures to the ribs, spine, collarbone, shoulder dislocation and injuries to the spinal discs, cervical bones and spinal cord are graver forms of upper body injuries. Spinal cord damage could even cause paralysis.

If you do not receive prompt treatment of these injuries, it could hamper your quality of life forever.

Head and brain injuries

The following injuries are most common, but often hidden:

• In milder forms, these can include mild scars, bruises or concussion.
• More severe head injuries include internal brain injuries and skull fractures.
• Even if there is no penetration wound, the whiplash motion of your neck and head on impact can cause the rapid shaking of your brain inside the skull.
• Internal brain injury can cause bleeding or swelling of the brain.

Severe brain injuries can lead to permanent disability, hearing or vision loss and nerve damage.

Injuries to joints and extremities

The following crushing injuries can occur upon impact:

• Non-severe forms of crush injuries can include bruises, sprains and strains to ligaments.
• More severe injuries include torn ligaments and fractured bones.
• Injuries could include cartilage damage such as torn meniscus of the knee, Achilles tendon rupture and sprained ankles.
• Fractured arm or leg bones can occur, and hipbones can fracture or dislocate.

These injuries depend on the severity and location of the impact on your vehicle.

Internal injuries

The following injuries could remain hidden if you do not undergo a medical examination:

• Internal injuries could damage your lungs, liver, aorta, heart, kidneys, bowels or spleen.
• The organs in your chest area could suffer life-threatening damage if fractured ribs penetrate them.

These injuries could be life-threatening if a doctor does not diagnose them timely.

Psychological Injuries

Psychological injuries are often invisible injuries caused by emotional trauma and distress. You could even develop post-traumatic stress disorder if a loved one died in the crash, and prompt treatment can prevent years of depression and other psychological trauma.

Dealing with insurance adjusters and recovering damages through the civil justice system of Florida can be daunting, but help is available. An experienced personal injury attorney can provide the necessary support, guidance and advocacy throughout ensuing legal and administrative procedures.