Car Accidents - December 29, 2023

Common Injuries After a Car Accident

Car accidents can be a common occurrence in Georgia, but that does not make them any less traumatic for the victims. From fractures to whiplash injuries, lacerations, and more, car accidents can cause severe injuries to drivers and their passengers. 

Common Georgia Car Accident Injuries 

Drivers and passengers can suffer a variety of injuries when they are involved in a crash. Depending on the severity of the accident, victims can walk away with a few scratches and bruises, while others may suffer a much worse fate. Georgia car accident injuries can fall into many categories, including soft tissue injuries, back injuries, and neck injuries.

Cuts and Scrapes

Abrasions, more commonly known as scrapes and cuts, are minor car accident injuries. Most abrasions are easily treated with minimal medical care, but if the cut is deep it may require stitches. The best evidence for scrapes and cuts is generally visual, so it is important to take pictures of crash-related scrapes and cuts as soon as possible following a car accident. 

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries cause damage to the connective tissue. They typically involve tendons, ligaments, or muscles. The severity of these injuries can range from minor discomfort in the joints to excruciating pain that requires multiple surgeries.

Soft tissue injuries can be difficult to prove through general medical exams, so keeping a “paper trail” is important. Soft tissue injuries can also change over time, so proper documentation is crucial. If you file a car accident claim, you will need to prove all the injuries you sustained.

You can document soft tissue injuries by proving that you sought medical attention shortly

after your accident. Tell the doctors about the pain and discomfort you have experienced since the accident so that they can make a proper medical treatment plan. Being proactive in these steps can prevent the defendant and their lawyer from questioning the origin and extent of your injuries.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Traumatic brain injuries are some of the most severe injuries that can occur in a car crash. While people can survive a TBI, the lasting effects can be challenging. A TBI can alter a person’s emotions and mood or permanently affect their motor skills and cognitive abilities.

Back Injuries 

Car accidents can create a tremendous amount of force that can cause severe back injuries, including the following:

• Slipped discs 
• Fractures 
• Compression of the nerves in the vertebrae 
• Ligament sprain and muscle strain in the lower back 

Bruising 

Even in minor car accidents, bruises can occur. Knees or hands may slam against the car door or steering wheel, or the seat belt may get pressed against the chest, all of which can cause bruising. Fortunately, most bruises heal on their own without the need for much medical intervention.

Bruising does not tend to last long and cannot be proven through any type of medical testing.  However, bruising is an important part of your claim for damages. It is wise to preserve this evidence by photographing all bruises shortly after the car accident.

Neck Injuries

In a car accident, the neck is most vulnerable to injury. The cervical spine can be susceptible to severe damage, but many neck injuries are categorized as whiplash sprains and strains. In a crash, the body quickly lunges forward and the head can snap backward if not pressed against the headrest. 

This jerking motion creates soft tissue damage in the upper back and neck. Since whiplash is a soft tissue injury, it can be difficult to prove, but it is important to seek medical care for any pain. Some common signs of neck injuries include lower back pain, blurred vision, numbness, and tingling in the hands.

Concussions

Concussions are another common brain injury in car accidents. Concussions occur when the brain slams against the inside of the skull. Depending on how severe the concussion is, the effects can range from minor headaches to more serious issues, like mood swings, confusion, and memory loss.

Internal Bleeding

Internal bleeding can be very dangerous because internal bleeding often goes unknown unless the victim has a penetrating injury. Blunt force trauma from windshields, seatbelts, and steering wheels can cause internal bleeding without any visible signs. Due to the seriousness of internal bleeding, you must seek medical help right away even if you don’t feel hurt.

Common signs of internal bleeding include:

• Fainting
• Dizziness
• Abdominal swelling
• Purple bruising

Shoulder Injuries

When someone braces their hands against the dashboard or steering wheel, shoulder injuries can result from the impact. The shoulder ends up locked in place, receiving excessive force from the crash impact.

Broken Bones 

Serious car accidents can cause broken bones, which are almost always painful. Depending on where the break occurs and how many breaks there are, broken bone injuries can put a victim in the hospital with possible permanent damage. Broken bones tend to be the basis for expensive pain and suffering compensation in a crash.

Hand and Wrist Injuries 

Distal radius fractures, also known as broken wrists, occur frequently in car crashes. These injuries could require surgery, depending on the severity of the bone fracture.

Ankle and Foot Injuries

Foot, toe, and ankle fractures, sprains, and strains are common in car crashes. Toes and feet can also get severed in serious car accidents.

Crush Injuries 

When an accident results in a severe collision or rollover, a body part could get caught between an irresistible force and an immovable object, like the ground. This can create crush injuries for the victim.

Road Rash

Road rash is an abrasion that occurs from friction when someone is dragged or skids on concrete or pavement. Your car accident attorney can help ensure you document your injuries correctly.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Not all injuries from a car accident are physical. Victims may suffer from emotional and mental injuries caused by a car accident. They might suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, have trouble sleeping, and experience continuous flashbacks to the car accident.

Deaths

Tragically, some car accidents result in fatalities. When a victim succumbs to their motor vehicle accident injuries, the surviving loved ones have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for the damages the victim and the surviving family incurred. 

Generally, the people who can sue for wrongful death following a car crash include:

• The surviving spouse
• The deceased’s surviving parents
• Representatives of the estate belonging to the deceased

In a wrongful death case, the compensation that could be received includes: 

• The loss of the deceased income
• The loss of support and companionship
• Medical expenses
• Funeral costs
• Pain and suffering

Latent Accident Injuries 

Many car accident injuries are readily apparent, especially serious ones. However, latent injuries can happen and you should take them seriously. The best thing you can do is to seek medical treatment immediately following a car accident at the first sign of discomfort or pain.

You should never sign a release or agree to any insurance settlement until after you have received a full evaluation from a medical professional. You will want them to identify and document the nature and extent of your car accident-related injuries, with an explanation of how the injuries happened and how they will affect your life.

If you sign a release or accept a settlement amount before the extent of your car accident injuries becomes clear or any latent injuries appear, you will be unable to go after the at-fault party’s insurance company for more compensation. After signing a release, you have legally waived your right to receive additional compensation and the right to take further legal action against the other driver. It is important to keep an eye on the statute of limitations for car accidents, as you may have additional time to file a claim if your injuries were not discovered for some time following the accident.

Georgia Statute of Limitations 

Car accident injury victims have the right to recover compensation by seeking an insurance claim with the liable party’s insurance company or filing a lawsuit. In most cases, accident victims must file their lawsuit within two years of the crash, but certain exceptions could apply that shorten or lengthen this deadline. This deadline is the Georgia car accident statute of limitations. 

Exceptions to the Georgia statute of limitations can be made based on the following factors:

• At the time of the accident, the plaintiff was legally incompetent 
• The plaintiff is less than 18 years of age
• The plaintiff became disabled following the crash
• A pending, related criminal prosecution is underway 

Legal Counsel For Car Accident Injuries

T. Madden & Associates, P.C. is a black-owned law firm that is dedicated to helping injury victims fight for the compensation they deserve after being involved in a Georgia car accident. We understand the difficulties you are facing physically, emotionally, and financially. 

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle crash in Georgia, our dedicated attorneys offer thorough understanding and compassionate care for our clients and the communities we serve. Contact us today to discuss your case using our online form.