Close up shot through cut windshield of two firefighters helping injured female driver in shock, one is holding her head.
Car accidents are a leading cause of injury and death in the United States, and Greenville, South Carolina is no exception. Serious injuries are common in these car accidents.
If you have been in a car accident and you believe that you may have been injured, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment can help to improve your chances of a full recovery.
Some of the most frequently treated injuries in Greenville car accidents include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
One of the most serious types of injuries that can occur in a car accident is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBIs can be caused by a blow to the head or by the brain bouncing around inside the skull. Symptoms of a TBI can range from mild, such as headaches and dizziness, to severe, such as coma or death.
Here are some of the most common types of TBIs that can occur in a car accident:
- Concussions: Concussions are the most common type of TBI. They are caused by a blow to the head or by the brain bouncing around inside the skull. Symptoms of a concussion can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion and memory problems.
- Contusions: Contusions are bruises on the brain. They can be caused by a blow to the head or by the brain hitting the inside of the skull. Symptoms of a contusion can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, confusion and difficulty speaking.
- Hematomas: Hematomas are collections of blood outside of blood vessels. They can occur in the brain after a car accident. Symptoms of a hematoma can include headaches, seizures, weakness and paralysis.
Other Common Injuries in Car Accidents
Woman suffering from neck pain in the car
In addition to TBIs, there are a number of other common injuries that can occur in a car accident, including:
- Whiplash: Whiplash is a neck injury that is caused by a sudden movement of the head and neck. Symptoms of whiplash can include pain, stiffness and headaches.
- Back injuries: Back injuries can involve anything from minor strains and sprains to more serious injuries, such as herniated discs and spinal cord injuries.
- Broken bones: Broken bones are a common injury in car accidents. They can occur anywhere in the body, but they are most common in the arms, legs and ribs.
- Soft tissue injuries: Soft tissue injuries include injuries to muscles, ligaments, and tendons. They can be caused by a blow to the body or by the body being thrown around in a car accident. Symptoms of soft tissue injuries can include pain, swelling and bruising.
- Scrapes, cuts, and burns: These injuries are common, especially if airbags deploy or there is broken glass. While typically not life-threatening, they can cause scarring and infection.
What Is a Serious Car Accident Injury?
A serious car accident injury is any injury that has long-lasting or permanent consequences. These can be debilitating and significantly impact a person’s quality of life.
Serious injuries are often life-threatening, involve long-term disability, and chronic pain.
- Life-threatening: These injuries require immediate medical attention and can result in death if not treated promptly. Examples include severe head trauma, internal bleeding and major organ damage.
- Long-term disability: These injuries cause lasting impairments that limit a person’s mobility, function, or ability to perform daily activities. This could include spinal cord injuries, amputation and severe burns.
- Chronic pain: Some injuries cause persistent pain that interferes with daily life and requires ongoing medical treatment. Examples include nerve damage and complex fractures.
Serious injuries typically have a major impact on quality of life, including inability to work, the need for long-term care and psychological trauma.
- Loss of work: Serious injuries can prevent someone from returning to work or force them to change careers or not work at all.
- Need for long-term care: Some injuries require ongoing medical care, rehabilitation or assistance with daily living activities.
- Psychological trauma: Car accidents can be very traumatic events, leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or anxiety.
Compensation for Common Car Accident Injuries
The man is lying on the couch at home after the accident with his leg in plaster. He holds crutches.
Determining compensation for car accident injuries can be complex and depends on various factors. The more severe your injuries and the more they impact your everyday life, the more compensation you can typically receive.
You can generally recover two main types of damages after a car accident:
- Economic Damages: These are the concrete and easily provable costs associated with your injury. Examples include medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs and property damage.
- Non-economic Damages: These are less tangible but still very real losses. They represent the pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring and disfigurement caused by the accident and its impact on your life.
Getting Help from Car Accident Lawyer Venus Poe
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a car accident, you should reach out to a trusted car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Attorney Venus Poe and her legal team are here for you. She will compassionately listen to your story and work to get you the help you need, including maximum compensation from the person who caused your injuries.
Contact Venus Poe, Attorney at Law today at (864) 754-0823 for an initial case consultation.