Even fender benders can cause serious crash injuries

On Behalf of | May 16, 2019 | Motor Vehicle Accidents

If you are one of the many vehicle operators in Missoula and across Montana, you and your loved ones might be at considerable risk of suffering crash injuries. Even minor accidents can cause injuries of varying severity, depending on different factors. These include the speed of the colliding vehicles, the position of the passengers, the place of impact and whether occupants wore their seat belts.

If you or a loved one are involved in a wreck, it may not be concerning if there is no blood gushing from open wounds. However, not all injuries are immediately apparent, and a medical evaluation is essential because, the sooner a doctor can diagnose the injuries, the better the chances of full recovery.

Bone fractures

The compression or blunt force upon impact typically cause the following fractures:

  • Although a crash can cause any bone to break, most frequently treated fractures after auto accidents are to arms, legs, hands and feet of victims.
  • Rear-end collisions often cause fractures in the hands, wrists and arms of the driver due to the position of the hands on the car’s steering wheel.
  • Even if you cannot identify a fracture, you might see swelling, bruising, redness, loss of function, deformity and severe pain, which are all signs of broken bones.

Rapid diagnoses can secure prompt treatment, depending on the location and severity of the injury.

Whiplash

This is one of the most frequently diagnosed crash injuries that happen as follows:

  • If another vehicle strikes your car from behind or on the side, the impact will likely cause your head and neck to move in a rapid whiplash-like motion backward and forward or from side to side.
  • This could damage tendons and muscles in your neck.
  • Symptoms of whiplash injuries that you might become aware of include stiffness and pain in your neck, and you might lose range of motion with the pain worsening with movement.
  • Minor whiplash damage will heal within a short time, but more severe conditions will need medical care.

A doctor can evaluate the severity of your whiplash injury and determine the best treatment method.

Musculoskeletal injuries

Unlike whiplash injuries that affect only the shoulders and neck, musculoskeletal injuries can affect your entire body in the following ways:

  • Stretching, compression or bending of any parts of your body during the accident can cause damage to ligaments, muscles, nerves and tendons.
  • You can liken the pain produced by these injuries to the pain caused by fractured bones.
  • Pain will likely worsen with movement.
  • If the painful area becomes red and swollen, the damage might involve soft tissues.

You can prevent long-term damage by working with a physician.

Concussion

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that could happen during whiplash when violent head movement could cause the following:

  • Even without your head smashing into anything, a concussion can occur when your brain slams into the inside of the skull.
  • Symptoms might only appear after several hours.
  • Signs that you might experience include head pressure, headache, ringing in your ears, dizziness and you might even see stars.
  • In some cases, concussions can cause loss of consciousness.
  • You might have trouble with your memory and concentration, and you might have problems focusing.

It is crucial to see a doctor who can do a neurological evaluation.

Along with all the physical damage, you might suffer emotional injuries that could have long-term health consequences. These could include depression and anxiety that will likely not last long. However, if you have ongoing nightmares and relive the accident repeatedly, you need to consult with a doctor for treatment before it develops into post-traumatic stress disorder.

Recovery of damages

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a crash that resulted from the negligence of another party, you could pursue financial relief through the Montana civil justice system. An experienced personal injury attorney can assist throughout ensuing legal proceedings. With the advocacy of legal counsel, your chances of recovering all economic and noneconomic damages will increase significantly.

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