People who are involved in car wrecks will often suffer very serious injuries. These can greatly alter the life of each victim, as well as their family members.
One of the most important things to remember is that you could have a serious injury even if you feel fine when you leave the scene. One reason for this is that adrenaline might be masking your pain. It’s also possible that the effects of the injury haven’t shown up yet.
Brain injuries
It’s possible that a victim of a car crash will have a brain injury and not know it. These injuries can sometimes take days or weeks to become evident. Even the ones that don’t show up for a while can be very serious. Concussions, blood clots in the brain and other injuries are all possible in a car crash. Some people write off a headache after a car wreck as being normal, but that can actually be the initial sign that something is seriously wrong.
Whiplash
Many people don’t think of whiplash as a serious injury, but it can greatly limit your ability to take care of daily activities. Some people are limited in what they can do at work, while others who have physically demanding jobs might have to completely take off work. Whiplash is an injury that can occur at low speeds. Crashes at speeds of less than 14 miles per hour are responsible for the majority of these injuries. A stiff, sore neck is the primary sign of whiplash, but some people think this is normal after a crash and don’t get medical care for it.
Spinal cord injuries
Spinal cord injuries are more serious than whiplash because spinal cord injuries damage the nerves that run along the spine. Paralysis, numbness in the limbs and trouble with bodily functions are all possible after a spinal cord injury. While the majority of these will be evident on the scene, it’s possible that incomplete injuries might take a while to show up. Back pain and trouble moving the limbs are usually present in spinal cord injuries.
Victims of car crashes caused by negligence may opt to pursue a claim for compensation to recover the financial damages they’re facing because of the wreck. Time limits apply to these cases in Massachusetts, so be sure to act quickly. Working with someone who’s familiar with these matters can help you to get things moving.
