Car accidents are unfortunately becoming more common each year. Although a number of safety precautions have been instituted too mitigate them, population growth has caused roads to become more congested. As a result, more people suffer from both minor and serious car crashes. Even small accidents can cause serious injuries.
The National Safety Council reports that over 1.7 million people are injured in car accidents every year. Another 46,000 people lose their lives in car accidents. An estimated 35% of car accident deaths are in passenger vehicles and another 27% are in light trucks.
In some circumstances, there is nothing that can be done to help people that have been in serious car accidents. Fortunately, most people can recover if they get prompt treatment and are seen by reliable medical professionals.
Legal Nuances and Things You Need to Do After Suffering a Car Accident
We will get into some of the treatments that you need to be aware of if you have been in a car accident. However, it is also important to understand the laws. For the sake of this article, we will assume you live in Florida.
In Florida, any car accident needs to be reported if anyone is hurt or killed or there are damages exceeding $500. You need to make sure that you document the scene carefully.
Laws may also vary depending on the nature of the accident, such as whether you were hurt during a ridesharing experience. You may need an uber accident lawyer if you have been injured while riding in an Uber.
You also need to realize that Florida is one of the few “no-fault” states. This means that you are responsible for your own medical bills. If you are harmed by another party, you need to sue them in court. This means that having a good lawyer is even more important.
Medical Treatments That You Might Need After a Car Accident
Here are some of the things that healthcare providers can do to help people that have been victims of car accidents. The National Institutes of Health has a full list of medical interventions that people can take advantage of.
Epidural Steroid Injections For Pain Treatment
Epidural steroid injections are excellent treatment options for patients that are suffering pain in the neck, back or arms. These injections are sent to the epidural space, which is an area between the spinal nerves and bone, which contains a lot of fat. These injections are great for removing excessive proteins that are known to cause swelling.
Patients that are suffering from excessive swelling may find that these treatments are highly beneficial. Epidural steroid injections may not help with pain caused to the bone or tendons, but can still be highly beneficial for swelling affecting other parts of the body.
Of course, these injections aren’t easy to administer. The doctors need to use an X-ray to look at the space and make sure that the needle is placed at the right site. This is why it is important to make sure that the doctor performing the injection has some experience using it.
In-Office Neurocognitive Testing
Accident victims must cope with a number of possible injuries. Those people are concerned about back pain and damage to their spine or internal bleeding. However, other types of injuries can be just as problematic.
Anybody that has been in a car accident needs to be especially careful about the risk of neurological damage. It concussion or whiplash can need to serious brain damage if it is not treated promptly.
This is why in-office neurocognitive testing can be very important. These types of examinations can reveal neurological damage that would otherwise go unnoticed.
There are a number of reasons that this is important. It is important to determine the link between a car accident and future neurological problems as soon as possible. This can help medical professionals get treatment for the patient before the problem progresses. Also, it helps the patient get proper compensation for their injury, especially if the issues cause future wage loss or other difficulties. Without the right neurocognitive testing, the patient might not be able to prove that the car accident was the cause and might not get the settlement they deserve.
Casting
Many patients suffer broken bones after car accidents. Broken arms are most common, since the upper extremities are usually in the path of anything the car collides with and arms are more likely to be thrown into the dashboard or wheel of the vehicle. However, broken legs are also fairly common.
There are a number of things that doctors can do to help patients that have broken bones during car accidents. One of the most important things that can be done is to put a cast around the injury. This helps the patient make sure that the bone heals properly.
Blood Transfusions
Many people need extra blood after they have been in a car accident. Blood donations help replace any blood that has been lost. However, the patient needs to get blood as quickly as possible to ensure they can recover quickly.
Getting Prompt Treatment Is Essential After A Car Accident
There are a lot of things that you need to take into consideration after going through a car accident. It is important to get immediate treatment to protect yourself and minimize the risk of an injury. The good news is that medical professionals are trained to identify the common problems and help treat the condition.