While property damage is usually certain in a Las Vegas car accident, damage to the vehicle is not the only problem that crash victims experience. If you or someone you know has been involved in a Las Vegas car accident, you should make sure you get medical attention right away no matter how minimal you think your injuries are. This is because a medical professional will be able to immediately identify and treat any harm suffered. While the types of injuries resulting from a Las Vegas accident can be as unique as the parties involved, there are some common injuries suffered. These include:
- Bruises and cuts: An accident victim will likely have several cuts and bruises. Oftentimes a victim is harmed and bruised by the car’s seat belt during impact. The pressure can break the skin or the blood vessels near the skin’s surface, causing bruises. It is not uncommon for most bruises to heal or completely disappear in a few weeks or less. If the crash breaks windows an accident victim may have cuts, which is an opening or break in the skin, from broken glass. The severity of the cuts can vary depending on the seriousness of the accident and may require medical treatment.
- Bone fractures: These injuries can be partial or complete breaks of the bone and can be open or closed fractures. An open fracture breaks through the skin while a closed one does not. The most common way a fracture occurs when too much force is applied to the bone, causing it to break. This typically happens in car accidents when a crash victim’s body comes into sudden contact with parts of the vehicle. Though most fractures are not life-threatening, medical treatment is still necessary and the recovery period is dependent on the severity of the fractures.
- Whiplash: This is an injury to the neck as a result of a forceful movement back-and-forth due to the impact of the car accident. The person’s soft tissues in their neck extend beyond the typical range of motion in a whiplash injury, causing harm to the neck’s muscle and ligaments. Most whiplash injuries are caused by rear-end accidents.
- Spinal cord injuries: The leading causes of spinal cord damage are car and motorcycle accidents. The Mayo Clinic reports that nearly half of these types of injuries result from car and motorcycle crashes. Spinal cord injuries can cause permanent damage to a person’s sensation, strength, and other body functions.
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Car accidents can also cause mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This condition is often the result of a dangerous, shocking, or otherwise traumatizing event. After suffering a car accident a person may experience numbed emotions, re-experiencing trauma, increased physical reaction, and/or persistent avoidance of thoughts surrounding the crash.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reports that car accidents are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). A TBI typically happens after the head or body experiences a violent blow or jolt. A TBI may result in symptoms that cause physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, and behavioral problems. TBIs can range in severity from mild, to moderate, to severe.
Experienced Nevada Attorneys
The above includes some of the most common car accident injuries. If you or someone you know has been hurt in a Las Vegas car accident, know that you do not have to deal with the financial and legal consequences alone. The skilled attorneys at H&P Law will explain your rights and obligations under the law and fight for the compensation you deserve.
