Common Car Accident Injuries

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Car Accidents

Every day on our Illinois roadways, an overwhelming number of drivers experience car accident and injury, leaving them to face a barrage of health and financial challenges in the collision aftermath. According to the Illinois State Police, more than one million U.S. annual crashes are due to distracted driving incidents alone, not counting crashes due to intoxication and other factors. Every time we decide to ride in a vehicle, we place ourselves at risk. While taking proper safety precautions - like wearing our seatbelt and refraining from talking on the phone while driving - can increase our chances of remaining safe in the event of an accident, we are still susceptible to a variety of injuries upon impact.

Ongoing Conditions often Triggered by Collision

Collision-related injuries can be very tricky to detect, predict, and treat. Even with a full physical exam immediately after the accident, certain injuries may not be discovered right away. It is not uncommon for these injuries to give way to long-term, chronic conditions that develop later on, sometimes days or weeks after the initial accident took place. This is especially true for injuries related to the muscles or nerves, which do not always reveal themselves in full scope until some time after the collision.

Here are examples of some injuries and chronic conditions that are commonly triggered by a car crash:

PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) - The National Center for PTSD from The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that survivors of motor vehicle accidents commonly experience depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress due to a car collision. Posttraumatic stress is one of the most common mental health difficulties experienced, reportedly responsible for 25 percent of cases in men after an accident, and 13 percent of cases in women, according to a study conducted in the U.S. When it comes to the general population, studies show that 9 percent of motor vehicle crash survivors develop the condition. Signs include:

Whiplash - Likely one of the most talked-about conditions associated with car accident related injuries, whiplash can have a delayed effect, showing up days after the initial collision. Symptoms often appear within 24 hours of the crash, with notable neck pain and stiffness, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and loss of range of motion in the neck. Tingling or numbness in the arms is also common. Most cases of whiplash are triggered by a rear-end collision and can injure the bones in the spine, the disks between the bones, and ligaments, as well as muscles and nerves.

Sprains and breaks - A number of different kinds of muscle sprains can happen due to car collision, although ankle sprains are particularly common, as drivers often experience the rolling of an ankle when they come to a stop upon impact. The Mayo Clinic defines a sprain as the tearing or stretching of ligaments, which will prompt swelling, pain, and bruising, with limited ability in moving the affected joint. It is also common to hear a popping sound when the sprain takes place. Some mild to moderate sprains can take up to six weeks to heal, while severe sprains may take much longer.

Any injury caused by a car accident has the potential to become an ongoing problem, especially in the absence of proper treatment. The moment you experience a collision, it is important to protect your rights, should you be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Speak with an experienced Lake County car accident attorney right away and secure the sound legal guidance you will need to fight for your case. Call Salvi & Maher, LLP at 847-662-3303 for a one-on-one consultation.

Sources:

https://www.isp.state.il.us/traffic/distractdrive.cfm

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/whiplash/basics/symptoms/con-20033090

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/trauma/other/traumatic-stress-vehicle-accidents.asp http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sprains-and-strains/basics/definition/con-20020958