In the best case, getting into a car accident results in minor property damage to a vehicle and the owner suffers no injuries. Unfortunately, that’s not always how car accidents work out.
Many car accidents cause serious personal injury to victims. That gets to be extremely frustrating because it could have been avoided. Human error causes most car accidents, so when someone suffers injuries, it adds frustration onto the existing pain. Although some injuries are immediately clear, especially in serious accidents, other injuries, including mental trauma, may be harder to discover. But these injuries still deserve attention; otherwise, they could fester for a lifetime.
Ultimately, some injuries affect victims for the rest of their lives. Not only does this require mental stamina, but also it requires a substantial sum of money collected from the at-fault driver to help the victim cover their expenses. Here are eight common injuries that may linger for the rest of a victims life.
Neck and Back Injuries
Neck and back injuries are some of the most common car accident injuries. Even in slow-speed accidents, neck and back injuries can occur. Whiplash, commonly caused when one car rams into the rear of another, may cause lingering effects for the rest of the victims life.
Left untreated, neck and back injuries can develop into more serious medical issues. Serious car accidents may even cause spinal cord injuries, which can paralyze victims and make their lives extremely challenging.
Burns
In terrible car accidents, fires may start. This can cause painful burn injuries that leave scars. Not only do these scars show physical signs of injury, but also they may require additional medical attention to prevent injury.
Burns can also happen when airbags deploy. Because airbags must deploy at rapid speeds to ensure they cushion a persons body and prevent direct impact with harder car surfaces, airbags deploy with such force that they can cause burns to the skin. In the most severe cases, these burns may require surgery to repair.
Tissue Damage
In hard-impact vehicle accidents, victims may suffer broken bones. Although bones can heal with the right medical attention and proper time, they can also cause tissue damage.
Broken bones can destroy and tear tissue. A victim may not realize they have tissue damage until their doctor takes an X-ray or until they experience severe bruising and pain. Untreated tissue damage can cause serious medical issues that may never go away.
Amputation
In some of the most tragic car accidents, victims may lose limbs. When a car is hit with such force that it traps the victims body or pins limbs, that part of the body may shut down and have to be amputated to save the persons life.
Although people can receive prosthetic limbs and the technology that goes with them is progressing rapidly, it is not the same. Learning to live with an amputated limb, even if a person gets a prosthetic limb to replace it, places great mental strain on the victim.
Anxiety and Depression
Scary events often leave victims with mental trauma. This manifests itself in many ways, including nausea, panic attacks, and fear of cars.
After a car accident, victims may need time to heal both physically and mentally. They should not ignore their mental needs and how that can affect their daily life. Victims who suffer from severe anxiety and depression after a car accident may find it difficult to go back to work, care for family members, and even manage their own daily activities.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
One of the most serious mental traumas facing car accident victims is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many people correlate PTSD with soldiers at war. But PTSD can show up after any traumatic event, including car accidents. According to the American Psychiatric Association, women are twice as likely to suffer from PTSD than men, and their symptoms are usually more intense.
For any victims who may experience PTSD, it is important to seek proper medical care. Many people who suffer from PTSD choose to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. That can take people down a dark road from which they may never emerge.
Behavioral Changes
Changes in mood, appetite, routine, demeanor, and behavior in general are all telltale signs of underlying trauma after a car accident. Some victims become short-tempered, whereas others eat drastically more or less food than they did before their accident.
When a victim or their family and friends notice behavioral changes, it is vital to address them head on. Leaving these mental issues alone and failing to address them can cause lifelong problems for the victim.
Death
Without a doubt, the most tragic results of a car accident cause a persons death. Over 30,000 people lose their lives every year in car accidents. This causes families to be torn apart. And the worst part is that it may have been entirely preventable.
When someone tragically loses their life in a car accident, that may leave the family confused and emotionally torn. Losing a loved one is one of the most emotionally challenging times in any persons life. The family, the friends, the loved ones who the victim left behind now have to figure out how to move on. This hole in their lives will never be replaced and always feel like something is missing.
Hazlet Car Accident Lawyers at Mikita & Roccanova Help Victims with Lifelong Injuries Recover
Getting into a car accident presents many life challenges. When you suffer injuries that affect your ability to live your life, that creates frustration along with the physical issues. To help you recover maximum compensation, reach out to the experienced Hazlet car accident lawyers at Mikita & Roccanova. Call us at 732-705-3363 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation. Located in Hazlet and Highland Park, New Jersey, we serve clients in Ocean County and Sussex County, and Pennsylvania.