Types of Injuries Sustained in a Car Accident

In 2020, nearly 1,400 people have died in North Carolina car accidents so far. According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, over 89,000 North Carolina residents have been injured in car accidents so far this year. Motor vehicle crashes involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles are often the deadliest. Car accident injuries can leave victims with substantial medical bills, permanent disabilities, other life-long medical complications. Severe car accident injuries can leave a victim permanently disabled and unable to work to provide an income for his or her family.

Nearly any type of injury can result from a car accident. The weight, size, and speeds involved in a car accident can cause serious damage to a person's body. The force of the accident and the shattered glass and debris can cause damage to vital organs and even break the victim's bones. Even if the victim does not break a bone or sustained lacerations, the impact’s force can damage their spine and muscles, resulting in years of pain and suffering. We will discuss some of the most common types of car accident injuries below.

Bone fractures are among the most common types of car accident injuries. When a person tries to protect their face and head from damage, they will often put their hands up in front of them. Doing so can result in broken wrist, fingers, and forearms when the airbag deploys or when they slam into the seat in front of them. Additionally, if a passenger was crossing his or her legs when the accident occurred, the crushing of the motor vehicle could put pressure on his or her legs and fracture a bone in one or both legs. When motorcyclists are thrown from their motorcycle due to the accident’s force, they may experience broken bones, as well.

Our brains are incredibly sensitive to trauma. Anytime our body undergoes significant force, our brains are at risk of becoming injured. There are several ways our brains can become injured. First, the force of the accident can cause our heads to launch forward quickly and snap back. When this happens, the victim’s brain can collide against our hard skulls, causing bleeding and swelling. In other cases, the victim’s head physically slams into the dashboard, windshield, or window, causing brain damage. Finally, a sharp object, piece of glass, or debris can penetrate a person's head, causing brain damage.

Spinal cord injuries can be the most deadly and dangerous types of accidents. Like our brains, our spines are sensitive to force and easily damaged. Motorcycle and car accidents are the most common cause of spinal cord injuries in the United States. When the spinal cord is subject to a traumatic force, it can cause damage to the bones in the spinal cord, the nerves, the discs, and the tissue. The severity of the spinal cord injury depends on the location of the damage. When the neck area of the spinal cord becomes damaged, the victim can experience quadriplegia or paralysis below the area of the injury.

When someone suffers a severe spinal cord injury in the middle of his or her back, they could suffer paralysis below the waist, resulting in the need for mobility assistance. Those with paraplegia often need a lifetime of medical assistance and care, which can cost millions of dollars. In addition to the financial costs of paraplegia and quadriplegia, individuals with those conditions often lose the ability to engage in the activities they once love and must completely rearrange their lives to adjust to their new normal. Finally, those with quadriplegia often cannot return to their place of employment, even after they complete the rehabilitation process. Their families will need to adjust and find new sources of income.

If you or your loved one has suffered an injury in a Charlotte area car accident, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side to help fight for you and the compensation you deserve. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries through a personal injury lawsuit. Recovering compensation through a car insurance policy or through a lawsuit will allow you and your family to pay off your medical bills and secure your financial future. Medical bills can be expensive, and that is why you need someone to help fight for you. Contact the experienced Charlotte region personal injury lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC today to schedule your free initial consultation.