Every year, more than three million people are injured due to traffic accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

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As varied as the circumstances of each collision, injuries sustained in a car accident can take many forms, but there are some types of injuries that are more common than others. The effects of some car accidents may resolve without any medical treatment within a few days. Injury that is more severe might result in physical disabilities. In 2007, Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles recorded over 366,917 accidents involving drivers. In this article you'll find information regarding:

 

• Common Car Accident Injuries

 

• Common Types of Car Accidents

 

• Why Seek Medical Attention Immediately?

 

• Steps to Follow if You've Been in a Car Accident

 

• What Kind of Doctor Should You Should See After a Car Accident?

 

Common Car Accident Injuries

Here are some of the most common injuries suffered by victims of motor vehicle accidents:

 

• Traumatic brain injury.

  (TBI) Almost all TBIs result from vehicle accidents, which damage the brain when the head is struck or pierced. TBI kills 50,000 people annually. Another 80,000 to 90,000 are permanently disabled.

 

• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis.

  Spinal cord injuries can result from the impact and torque of a crash. Paralysis can occur below the level of the spinal cord injury when it is damaged.

 

• Back Injuries.

  As a result of car accidents, back injuries are common since the spine cannot withstand heavy impacts. A back injury may take time to manifest after an accident. Back injuries can cause severe pain and long-term disability.

 

• Burns. 

  After a collision, cars can catch fire or occupants can suffer burns if they come into contact with hot fluids, surfaces, steam or chemicals. Surgery and skin grafts may be required for severe burns.

 

• Internal Injuries.

  In certain crashes, when the body is thrown into an object, or when flying debris hits the body, internal organ damage may occur. This type of injury may result in internal bleeding that requires urgent medical attention.

 

• Broken Bones and Fractures.

  In car accidents, people often suffer broken legs, arms, ribs, ankles, and wrists. Occasionally, victims of car accidents suffer broken pelvises. It may be a simple break that requires a cast, or it may be more serious.

 

• Disfiguring Facial Injuries.

  A car accident can cause facial injuries due to broken glass, impact with steering wheels, dashboards, windshields, airbags, side windows, car seats, or other hard surfaces. In the case of facial injuries, surgical correction may be required to eliminate the disfigurement, which could leave a lasting scar.

 

• Limb Loss and Amputation.

  A crash can result in the amputation of an arm, a leg, a finger, a toe or other appendage. The victim of such an injury may be permanently disabled as a result of the injury.

 

• Neck Injuries and Whiplash.

  An injury to the soft tissues of the neck can result in whiplash, a term commonly used to describe muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries after a car accident. Even 15 mph can lead to whiplash, whether the driver is wearing a seatbelt or not. Car accidents can also result in severe disk injuries and cervical dislocations.

 

• Knee Injuries.

  In car accidents, the knees can be injured if they smash into something in the vehicle. In addition to bruises, there can be multiple fractures. If the knee is twisted suddenly in a crash, the meniscus, or cartilage could tear.

 

• Foot and Ankle Injuries. 

  In car accidents, foot, toe, and ankle strains, sprains, and fractures are common. An accident can also result in severed feet or toes.

 

• Shoulder Injuries.

  When the hands are braced against the driver's seat or dashboard, force can be absorbed by the shoulders. As a result of the impact of the collision, the shoulder locks in place and receives excessive force causing an injury.

 

• Hand and Wrist Injury.

  Car accidents can result in distal radius fractures (broken wrists). Depending on the severity of the fracture, this type of injury may require surgery.

 

• Lacerations and Bruises.

  In a traumatic accident, flying objects, shattered glass, or torn pieces of metal can leave lacerations which is a deep cut or tear in skin or flesh. When a person's body hits an object, or vice versa, bruising occurs. A rash as a result of being dragged along concrete or pavement is called road rash.

 

• Crush Injuries.

  The body can suffer a crush injury if two objects are pushed together under pressure. It is possible to suffer minor bruising and lacerations, or significant damage to bones, muscles, or organs.

 

• Soft Tissue Injuries.

  Soft tissue injuries (muscle strains, bruising, and other damage done to a person's muscles, tendons, and ligaments) commonly occur in car accidents. Injuries of this kind can be painful and long-lasting.

 

• PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). 

  Car accidents do not all result in physical injuries. If you have been in a car accident, you might suffer mental and emotional injuries. There is a possibility that you'll suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and that things you used to do routinely may now seem worrying and even impossible to do. After a car accident, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your mental health treatment and emotional suffering.

 

Common Types of Car Accidents

Various factors can affect the type of injuries you sustained in a crash, including speed, angle of impact, and weight of your vehicles. It is more likely that different kinds of injuries will occur in different kinds of crashes.

 

• Head-On Collisions.

  The consequences of a head-on collision can be fatal or cause serious injuries. Among the most common injuries seen in head-on crashes are brain and head injuries, spine and back injuries, whiplash, soft tissue injuries, broken bones, loss of limbs, and serious cuts.

 

• Rear-End Collisions.

  Rear-end collisions are most likely to cause whiplash injury, although neck and back injuries are also common. Head and soft-tissue injuries are other types of injuries that occur in rear-end collisions.

 

• Side Collision.

  When a vehicle is involved in a side-impact collision, you are most likely to suffer injury if you are on that vehicle's side. There are many injuries that can be sustained in such collisions, including head, brain, neck, back, chest, abdomen, pelvis, limbs, and soft tissue injuries.

 

• Fatal Accidents.

  A crash that results in a serious head injury, burns, or crushing injury is the most likely to be fatal.

 

• SUV Rollover Collisions.

  The center of gravity of SUVs is higher than those of many other types of vehicles, making them prone to rolling in a crash by simply turning a  corner too fast or unexpectedly. This type of accident can lead to broken bones, concussions, and spinal cord injuries, among others.

 

• Truck/Commercial Vehicle Accidents.

  Because commercial vehicles are larger and heavier, they can cause catastrophic damages when they collide with smaller vehicles. A commercial vehicle may be loaded with hazardous chemicals, causing burning or head injuries, broken bones, crushing injuries, spinal cord injuries, and even spinal cord injuries.

Why Seek Medical Attention Immediately?

Perhaps you think that your injury is minor and that the pain will disappear on its own, or maybe you have symptoms that seem to have occurred a little while after the crash.

Injuries sustained in car accidents often do not become apparent immediately after the incident. Despite the fact that you were hit, it may take days for your neck and back to start hurting. Many types of injuries will only get worse if they are not treated.

 

An initial twinge in your back may turn into a pain radiating down an arm or leg and impairing your range of motion and daily functions. Another possibility is that a headache you thought was just stress is actually caused by the impact of the collision and causing damage to your brain.

 

You should see a doctor as soon as you experience symptoms for your own health and well-being. Furthermore, it is also important in order to submit a claim for medical reimbursement. When injuries do not show up on x-rays, and you do not seek medical care immediately after the accident, insurance companies will dispute your claim.

 

 

Steps to Follow if You've Been in a Car Accident.

 

Following a car accident, there are certain things you should do in order to maximize your chances of receiving fair compensation for damages. Here is a nine-step guide that will help you seek compensation from the insurance company and protect your rights.

 

1. Ensure that the police are called and that a report is filed.

   Once an accident has occurred, it is vital to inform the authorities. There are several reasons for this. As a first step, officers will conduct a preliminary investigation and interview all parties involved, as well as third-party witnesses, examine the accident scene, inspect the vehicles, and determine which party was at fault. Liability can be established best by law enforcement reports that identify who was responsible. Law enforcement reports eliminate "he said, she said" situations. Despite saying they were at fault at the scene and offering to resolve the issue informally, the other driver's story could be altered subsequently. If the other driver denies that the accident occurred, you will be left unable to assert a claim against the insurance company because they claim their insured was not at fault. Ensure that this does not happen to you. When a car accident occurs, contact the police and file a report.

 

2. Gather contact information from witnesses.

   When you are able to talk to witnesses of the accident, you should make an effort to get their contact information. In many cases, third-party witnesses will not wait for law enforcement to arrive at the scene of the accident. As a consequence, the moment law enforcement arrives at the scene, witnesses may have already left, leaving you relying on your word over the other driver's. Witness information can be useful for law enforcement in determining who was to blame. Often, police reports do not detail enough information about witnesses to enable them to be contacted later. Witness names may be present in a police report without phone numbers or other identifying details. It can be difficult to locate witnesses with common names, such as John Smith. You will need to know the information of a witness in case he or she needs to testify at a trial. At the scene of the accident, if you are able, make sure to obtain witness information.

 

3. Get medical help right away.

   You should seek medical attention immediately if you have been injured in a car accident. There is no point in worrying about medical expenses or hoping the pain will go away. As a result, if you delay seeking medical attention, you are more likely to be argued that you were not hurt in the accident. Insurance companies have repeatedly cited this argument as their defense. If you wait a few days for pain to go away before seeking treatment, many insurance companies claim that you were not injured. Insurance companies can also claim that your injuries are the result of circumstances that occurred after the accident and before you sought treatment. Additionally, the insurance companies will suggest you sought medical treatment only after an attorney advised you to do so. Therefore, car insurance companies will use the fact that you don't receive medical treatment immediately following the accident as an opportunity to deny that you have injuries.

 

4. Give a detailed description of your injuries.

   You should describe your injuries thoroughly and in detail when receiving medical treatment following an accident. Medical records will document the complaints and injuries you suffered. Therefore, the insurance companies will rely on your medical records when assessing your injury claims in the future. An injury that has not been reflected in your original medical records will be shot down by the insurance company for being unrelated to the accident. There's a possibility that a slight pain you didn't think was important could become more serious over time. Unless you describe it at your first medical visit, you could have trouble proving the injury is associated with the accident. The time is not right to demonstrate how great your pain tolerance is. Be sure to tell your medical provider if you feel even a little affected in any part of your body.

 

5. Get a Comprehensive Diagnosis.

   After sustaining injuries in an accident, make sure you undergo all diagnostic tests and examinations that are necessary. Expenses and savings should not be the focus of attention at this time. Only your health and the discovery and documentation of any injuries you have sustained should be your concern. Ensure the medical providers you are seeing are aware of this. Make sure you get all the necessary tests, even if your doctor is reluctant to do them. Self-advocacy is vital. So, ensure you get the necessary x-rays, MRIs, scans, and other tests so your doctors can properly diagnose your injuries. It is easier to prove that injuries were caused by an accident if they are diagnosed soon after the accident. Don't let the insurance companies argue that your injuries were not the result of the accident. When you first receive treatment, make sure you undergo all the necessary medical tests.

 

6. Never give an insurance company a statement, even your own.

   Never give an insurance company a statement following an accident, not even your own! Insurers will definitely attempt to contact you and say that they are there for you and have your best interests at heart. Some people believe that their insurance company is on their side, and that the other side's insurance adjusters should be given a wary eye. As it turns out, things are not that way. You will need to contact your own insurance company if the other driver does not have adequate insurance coverage to cover your injuries. When you do that, then you are facing your insurance company directly. While you will be seeking the maximal payout possible, your insurer will be seeking the lowest payout possible. A company's duty to its shareholders is to maximize profits and stock prices. To achieve this, they collect insurance premiums, and when claims are made the don't pay out much. It is always the insurance company's practice to contact injured people shortly after a car accident to obtain a statement from them. The reason for this is that they know that the injured individual has not had time to talk to an attorney. During the claim process, the insurance company will seek a statement that it can use against you later on.

 

7. Obtain an Experienced Car Accident Attorney.

   In the event that you were injured in a car accident, you should seek legal representation from an experienced attorney. A lawyer will fight to see that you get maximum compensation for your injuries, as opposed to an insurance company. Throughout the entire process, an experienced lawyer can give you guidance. An attorney can assist you with: settling your property damage claim, repairing your vehicle, ensuring that your medical treatment is covered, negotiating and reducing any medical liens, etc. Studies have shown that people who use the services of attorneys are compensated two to three times more than people who represent themselves.

 

8. Document your injuries, experiences, medical treatment, and costs.

   Following an accident, you may want to keep a diary in order to remember important details. Throughout the diary, you should document details about your accident, the pain and symptoms you experienced, the medical providers you have seen, any time missed from work, and any co-pays and prescription costs you have incurred. In the occasion of a lawsuit, you may not have your day in court for two to three years after the accident. Thus, a diary may assist you in recollecting details you may have forgotten or distorted over time.

 

9. Attend all your medical appointments and therapy sessions.

   When an injury accident occurs, any prescribed medical treatment and physical therapy must be followed. Physical therapy and doctor appointments may require a lot of time and effort. However, they are vital to your recovery from an injury and to your health. Insurance companies will argue that you are not injured if you do not attend prescribed medical appointments and do not complete assigned physical therapy.

 

What Kind of Doctor Should You See After a Car Accident?

The majority of people who suffer from a car accident do not know what to do next or who to contact to get the treatment and professional advice they need. Here are two common doctors that treat car accident injuries:

Personal Injury Doctors

The earliest you can see a personal injury doctor, the better off you will be. Doctors in this group are trained to help victims of accidents right after they occur. Additionally, getting treatment sooner prevents injuries from becoming worse, which also keeps medical bills low. Personal injury doctors have treated plenty of car accident patients in the past. Specialties they possess are useful in the treatment of car accident-related injuries. As a result, you are sure to receive the best care possible.

 

Neck and Spine Doctors

As we mentioned earlier, most car accidents can result in neck and spine injuries. Neck pain specialists deal with injuries from the head to the shoulders. Sometimes neck injuries limit your mobility, and the pain can vary from mild to severe. In some cases, neck specialists can also treat head injuries. A spine specialist is similar to a neck specialist. However, because they address the entire spine, and not just a portion past the shoulders, they have a broader scope of work. Back pain is one example. After a car accident, most injuries they deal with concern the spine or individual vertebrae.

 

In Pinellas and Broward counties in Florida, Docs4PI can help you find the right doctor for your car accident injuries. Contact us here to get connected to the right medical professional today!