Severe Physical and Emotional Damages Can Result in Many Varied Injuries
Automobile accidents cause a number of different damages, including physical and emotional injuries as well as property damage. Here are four of the most common injuries people suffer in car accidents:
Soft Tissue Injuries
Even the most minor car accidents can result in soft tissue injuries: damage to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that often causes pain, swelling, and bruising. Some common soft tissue injuries include:
- Bruises and contusions. Although bruises and contusions are relatively minor injuries, they can still result in pain and discomfort.
- Neck and back injuries. The intense and rapid force that drivers and passengers experience during a car accident can lead to herniated and ruptured discs of the spine, serious injuries that are painful and can severely limit mobility.
- Whiplash. The impact the accompanies an automobile crash often causes the body to be jerked around with great force, and many injury victims experience whiplash — pain and discomfort in their neck and back after a collision.
Head Injuries
During an auto accident, the head can be injured in a number of ways, including:
- Concussions. Concussions are head injuries that can cause headaches, fuzzy thinking, and memory problems.
- Traumatic brain injuries. Also known as TBIs, traumatic brain injuries can change the way the individual’s brain functions, processes information, and expresses emotions. While some degree of recovery from a TBI is possible, depending on the type and severity of the damage, such injuries often have lifelong effects.
Internal injuries
The impact of the crash often causes the body to hit various parts of the vehicle, leading to internal injuries such as:
- Internal bleeding. The force of an auto accident, particularly one involving high speed, can cause trauma to the body’s blood vessels, preventing them from clotting or repairing themselves, which may result in internal bleeding. Symptoms of internal bleeding include feeling cold, thirsty, and lightheaded.
- Brain bleeds. Open- or closed-head injuries can cause the brain to bleed, preventing oxygen from reaching certain areas of the brain and leading to potentially permanent brain damage.
- Organ damage. High-impact accidents frequently lead to organ damage, particularly of the liver and kidneys. If these injuries are not treated immediately, internal bleeding and lasting damage can be the result.
Emotional Injuries
Anytime a person undergoes an extremely stressful situation such as an automobile accident, there is potential for a variety of emotional and mental issues, including:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a car accident can include fear of driving or riding in a vehicle, an aversion to certain sounds or images associated with the accident, and difficulty sleeping due to nightmares and anxiety.
- Anxiety. Many car accident victims experience mild anxiety, but moderate and severe levels of anxiety can also result. Approximately 70 percent of females experience high levels of anxiety following a crash, and nearly 15 percent of those are still feeling moderately anxious six to eight months later.
- Depression. If you were involved in an auto accident and are now experiencing extreme fatigue, lack of energy, lack of interest in activities you previously enjoyed, an inability to sleep, or significant weight loss or gain, you could have a major depressive disorder. The stress, worry and financial effects brought on by a car crash can also lead to depression.
Contact an Experienced Colorado Automobile Accident Attorney
Are you suffering from serious injuries as the result of a car accident in Colorado? Contact the Law Offices of Daniel R. Rosen online or call 303-454-8000 or 800-ROSEN-911 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney today.