Common Types of Injuries from Motor Vehicle Accidents

Car wrecks can lead to all kinds of injuries, from as subtle as soft tissue damage to as severe as death. If you have questions about your injuries, feel free to Contact Us Online or call our office at 817-294-1900. Here are some of the more common injuries we see from automobile accidents:

Neck and Back Muscle Sprain and Strain:
A sharp pain anywhere in the general area between your shoulder, head and neck is often the result of the sudden jerking you experience in a car accident. This can lead to damage of the soft tissue in your neck (cervical spine) and back (thoracic is the mid back and lumbar is the low back). Sometimes people feel a little sore immediately after the accident then experience extreme real pain and discomfort later that day or the next day. Oftentimes this is treated at first with over-the-counter pain reliever with the hope that it will go away. Many times the muscles are hurt to the extent that treatment is needed before they will get better. Many types of medical professionals treat this type of injury, including primary care physicians, chiropractors, pain management specialists and physical therapists.

Damage to the Vertebrae:
Sometimes a claim starts out with the assumption that the pain is related to muscular damage only, but when the patient does not respond to therapy or other conservative care, it is discovered that the accident has caused damage to the vertebrae. An MRI can detect a disc bulge and/or a herniated disc. A bulging disc is one which protrudes into the nerve canal and can result in numbness, tingling or radiating pain in your arms or legs. This can also lead to a chronic condition.

A disc injury can be very painful and can be very disruptive in your life. This type of injury can sometimes be treated conservatively with therapy, but if that fails, the injured party may be a candidate for spinal surgery. If needed, I can refer my clients to specialists who can treat these types of injuries.

Spinal Surgery:

Obviously a surgery to your spine is a very serious matter. The three most common types of spinal surgeries are: discectomy, laminectomy and spinal fusion (with or without implementation).

Discectomy: This is where the damaged disc is removed. While still a major surgery, it is the least intrusive of the three major types of spinal surgery.
Laminectomy: The lamina is the part of the bone covering the spinal nerves. A laminectomy removes a part of this bone to gain access to bigger portions of the particular disc that's putting pressure on the nerve.
Fusion: This is the most intrusive kind of surgery and usually occurs when a laminectomy has failed or there is obvious spinal instability. The process involves putting plates, rods and/or screws into the area cut out by the laminectomy to stabilize the spine.

Scars:

Texas law allows an injured party to recover compensation for disfigurement, including scars directly received in the accident, or from surgeries which occurred as a result of injuries received in the accident. If you need scar revision surgery in the future, it is a compensable part of the injured party's claim, as long as it is properly supported by a medical professional.

Concussion/Brain Trauma:

Symptoms such as loss of consciousness, memory loss, problems concentrating, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and headaches are all signs of brain trauma (known commonly as a concussion). There are usually not any outward signs, but if you're experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is important that you be medically evaluated. These can be very serious injuries.

Knee and Shoulder Injuries:
These are common injuries sustained by car accident victims. Swelling is a sure sign you might have ligament damage, or worse, a torn ACL or other anterior ligament. Ligaments that stabilize your knee or shoulder are easily damaged. These body parts are often damaged upon bracing yourself. They can also be damaged when they come into contact with a hard surface as a result of the accident impact.

Broken Bones:
All kinds of bones can be broken in a car accident, depending on the severity and location of the impact. Clearly, if you have had a bone fractured as a result of someone else's negligence, you are entitled to monetary compensation. When you suffer a broken bone, you will undoubtedly suffer an incredible amount of pain. This pain is a part of the damages which are available under Texas Law.

Free Consultation
If you would like to discuss your injuries, medical treatment or your claim in general, please call the Anderson Law Firm at 817-294-1900, or you can Contact Us Online.