There are approximately 50,000 people injured in Maryland car accidents annually. You could be overwhelmed with injuries and pain if you have been in a car accident. In addition, if another driver caused the accident, they might need to pay you for your injuries.
After a car accident, a skilled Baltimore, Maryland, car accident lawyer can help you get the most money for what happened to you. First, find out about the most common car accident injuries below, then contact Pinder Plotkin to discuss your case.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Some injuries are more common than others in car accidents. If you have had one or more of these injuries, speak to a Pinder Plotkin attorney. They may help you recover damages in your case:
Broken Bones
Broken bones often happen in serious car accidents, especially with tractor-trailers and other large vehicles. However, you may not know you have a broken bone right after the crash. After a few hours, you could experience severe pain. The most common car accident bone fractures are:
- Closed fracture
- Stress fracture
- Partial fracture
- Displaced fracture
- Non-displaced fracture
Some bone fractures may require months of healing and recovery, such as a hip fracture. This broken bone could result in lost work time and tens of thousands of medical expenses.
Internal Injuries
A severe car accident can damage your internal organs and vessels. For example, a 40 MPH car accident can slam your torso against the seatbelt, damaging your pancreas, liver, stomach, intestines, etc.
Many people with car accident organ damage do not know they are hurt at first. That is why it is best to have a doctor examine you immediately. There could be internal bleeding that you do not know about.
Neck Injuries
There are many types of neck injuries in car accidents. The neck can be damaged by the head whipping back and forth in a crash. You could have damaged muscles, tendons, cartilage, discs, and bones.
Whiplash is the most common car accident neck injury, with approximately 120,000 injuries annually. This injury is not visible from the outside but can cause debilitating pain. If you suspect whiplash, go to the doctor immediately after the accident. Whiplash is difficult to see on x-rays and other imaging tests, so your doctor must document the injury carefully.
Paralysis
A severe Maryland car accident caused by DWI or a hit-and-run can damage the spinal cord. Paralysis can affect the arms, legs, torso, or all three. Experts estimate that in the U.S., car accidents cause about 50% of spinal cord injuries. The blow to your back can tear or bruise your spinal cord.
Unfortunately, spinal cord damage can be permanent. If you have these symptoms, you could have a spinal cord injury from the crash:
- Loss of feeling in your limbs
- Loss of movement
- Body spasms
- Trouble breathing
- Inability to feel hot or cold
- Movement loss
Being paralyzed from a car accident can leave you hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills and losses. In addition, it can cost more than $500,000 per year to be cared for with a paralysis injury.
Back Injuries
A severe crash can damage the delicate bones, discs, and soft tissues in the back. Even a ‘minor’ back injury from a car accident can limit your mobility, work, and enjoyment of life.
A car accident can cause these back injuries:
- Strain. Damage to tendons and muscles in the back
- Torn or stretched ligaments in the back
- Slipped or herniated disc. A vertebra moves during the crash and tears one or more spinal discs.
- Nerve damage. Severe pain caused by crushed or torn back nerves.
Lost Limbs
The terrible force of a car crash can tear off a limb. Or, the arm or leg could be crushed in the accident, necessitating amputation. Losing a limb means months or years of rehabilitation and mental health counseling. You also may need prostheses or other medical devices.
Unfortunately, a lost limb from a car crash can severely affect your mobility and life. You could be entitled to ample compensation for pain, suffering, and mental anguish.
Burns
A car crash can spray flammable liquids into the passenger compartment and burn you severely. You also may come into contact with hot parts of the engine that cause severe burns. In addition, some rear-end crashes puncture gas tanks and cause deadly fires.
Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common in severe car accidents. This is because even if the airbag deploys, the head can still slam against the steering wheel, windows, or dashboard.
Common signs of a TBI after a car accident include problems with memory, coordination, body function, and communication. If you suspect a brain injury from a car accident, you must be treated immediately by a medical professional.
Concussion
A concussion is a type of TBI. It is caused by the head suddenly moving in the accident, which may slam the brain into the front and back of the skull. This movement can even twist the brain out of shape, causing a concussion and other damage.
A mild concussion can cause severe symptoms and threaten your life. Even more concerning is that these brain injuries cannot be easily recognized, so a prompt medical diagnosis is necessary.
Contact Maryland Car Accident Lawyers Today
Being in a bad car accident with a serious injury can be one of the worst things that happen to you. If you have one of these common car accident injuries, you may be unable to work and in pain. You may not know what to do.
However, a Baltimore car crash attorney may help if someone else caused the accident. If your attorney proves liability, you may be entitled to compensation for your lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical bills.
The Baltimore car accident lawyers at Pinder Plotkin know what seriously injured car accident victims are experiencing. We are hardworking attorneys for hardworking people and are ready to fight for you. Call Pinder Plotkin today for help, or use our online chat to ask questions about your case.