When you are in a car accident, you may feel your body is moving and crashing in forceful and unnatural ways, hitting hard objects like the dashboard or windows or being tightly restrained by the seatbelt or airbag. In some cases, it may be obvious that you have sustained a serious injury, but in others, it may require a medical professional to diagnose.
We have talked about the importance of getting the compensation that you deserve after a car accident. However, it is even more important to make sure that you get the right treatment and diagnosis.
That is why the specialists at the Icon Medical Centers – accident clinic recommend you get medical attention as soon as possible after an accident, preferably from a doctor who specializes in helping accident victims, to make sure that all your injuries are discovered as soon as possible. This will help your treatment start sooner and may also result in a speedier recovery.
What are the most common serious car accident injuries?
Many different types of injuries may occur as a result of being in a car accident. While some are minor and may even heal on their own, others may be severe and extensive and impact the victim’s life in unimaginable ways. These are only a few examples of serious injuries following a car accident.
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Brain Injury
Brain injuries, like any other type of injury, range from minor to severe. Brains can suffer bruising, lacerations, cuts, scrapes, and more. Severe accidents may also result in closed head injuries, concussions, and even permanent damage with a long list of consequences.
Bone Fractures
Bones can break due to the impact of the crash. Broken bones can happen in the skull, ribs, sternum, legs, arms, hands, and face. If you hit the window, dashboard, or steering wheel with your head, you may suffer a cranial fracture. If your seatbelt holds you too tightly, your sternum may fracture. Bones in the face may break when they collide with the airbag or with solid surfaces.
Spinal Injuries
When the spinal cord suffers damage, it may result in paralysis from the point of impact. You may also experience diminished range of motion if the brain is unable to relay messages to other parts of the body because there is a break in the communication path.
Symptoms of a Serious Injury
Besides a broken bone or bleeding, some symptoms associated with a serious injury may not be immediately visible to the naked eye. Here are some tell-tale signs that a serious injury may be present.
Severe Swelling
Severe swelling anywhere in the body is a worrisome sign. It may indicate that a bone has been broken or that it is sprained.
Loss of Consciousness
Losing consciousness signals that a concussion or any other type of head injury may have occurred, even if it is only for a short period after an accident.
Diminished Range of Motion
When there is decreased range of motion in a limb or joint, coupled with pain, it may be a sign of a severe injury. If you experience this in your neck area, you may be suffering from whiplash.
Back Pain
Back pain after an accident may be a symptom of a herniated disc or a spinal injury. You should take these symptoms seriously since not treating them may make the condition worse over time.
Serious Injury Treatment Options
When a victim sustains a serious injury in a car accident, there are several ways it can be treated depending on the injury and the patient’s specific needs. The severity of the injury means that there is no one-size-fits-all approach that can address the wide range of injuries that car accident victims may experience. These are just a few treatment options:
- Surgery
- Physical therapy
- Exercise
- Casting fractured bones
- Epidural steroid injections
- Massage
- Rest
Recovery From Serious Car Accident Injuries
Every person’s road to recovery is as unique as their injuries. Some may embark on a path that looks like a straight line, with each day bringing improvement, while others may face lifelong complications and a diminished quality of life.
Prioritizing your health and seeking medical attention as soon as possible after the accident will go a long way toward ensuring that the highest rate of recovery is possible.
Once you are in the hands of a medical professional, you must keep all your medical appointments and closely follow your doctor’s orders closely. If the treatment includes physical therapy, massages, or exercise, make sure to comply with all the instructions. Some cases may call for rest, and that is also important since resting allows your body to heal and inflammation to go down.
Look into the food you eat and prioritize healthier options that may also play a positive role in your recovery.
Ultimately, there is no secret formula for recovery. Although many things are up to your doctor, you can also influence how fast your injuries heal.