Common Injuries Explained by a Car Accident Lawyer in Orange County
A successful car accident lawyer in Orange County often has extensive medical knowledge. This is because an accident can cause many different injuries– from minor bumps and bruises to brain damage, to death. Learn more about the most common car accident injuries below.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries regularly occur during a car accident. Soft tissues include your skin, muscles, nerves, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissues. During the impact of a collision, your soft tissues are subjected to a variety of forces and trauma. Quick deceleration, changes in direction, and blunt impact can cause your soft tissues to stretch, rupture, and rip, resulting in:
- Lacerations (cuts),
- Contusions (bruises),
- Sprains and strains, and
- Nerve damage.
Don’t assume your soft tissue injuries will go away on their own. While some soft tissue injuries heal with rest, others require extensive surgeries, physical therapy, and chronic pain management. It’s always best to seek medical care (and follow up with your doctors).
Unfortunately, insurance companies frequently deny soft tissue claims. Soft tissue injuries do not always show up on diagnostic studies (such as x-rays and MRIs). And, insurance companies frequently allege that they were caused by other factors, such as the aging process. However, a car accident lawyer in Orange County can help you refute the insurance company’s arguments– getting you the compensation you deserve.
Injuries to Your Back and Neck
Many injured motorists also sustain back and neck injuries. These might include:
- Whiplash (when your neck’s muscles and tendons are stretched and pulled during a collision),
- Herniated discs,
- Spondylolisthesis (when the bones in your spinal column slip out of alignment)
- Spinal cord damage, and
- Nerve damage and neuropathy.
Spinal injuries can cause severe pain, numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, and even paralysis. Back and neck injuries can also cause referred pain in your arms, shoulders, legs, and feet.
The anatomy of your back and neck is complex. If you’ve suffered a spinal injury, you might need significant medical treatment, including physical therapy, surgery and pain management. Because back and neck-related claims can be expensive, insurance companies frequently deny them– arguing that the condition has healed or that your problems are caused by pre-existing conditions. For this reason, many people with back injuries hire a car accident lawyer in Orange County.
Head Injuries
Many head injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury or concussion, have long-lasting and serious effects. Motorists and pedestrians can strike their heads on dashboards, windows, steering wheels, or the pavement. This trauma can cause swelling and dysfunction in your brain, resulting in cognitive deficits, memory problems, mood changes, and emotional distress. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you might need long-term care and rehabilitation services.
Sometimes, head injuries are hard to identify and diagnose. If the insurance company denies your claim, contact a car accident lawyer in Orange County immediately. A lawyer can help you build a strong claim for compensation.
Chest Injuries
Drivers and passengers frequently suffer chest injuries during a car accident. When your body suffers blunt trauma during a collision or is forcefully restrained by a seatbelt or airbag, you might suffer broken ribs, collapsed lungs, organ damage, and internal bleeding. A car accident can also trigger a heart attack. Your chest injuries can lead to hospitalization, surgery, and life-changing disabilities.
Psychological Injuries
Psychological injuries, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are common after an accident. If you’re experiencing severe depression, anxiety, or PTSD symptoms after your accident, seek mental health treatment immediately. A psychologist or counselor can help you regain control of your symptoms.
However, Insurance companies frequently dispute mental health claims– alleging that your condition was a pre-existing condition or was caused by other stressors. A car accident lawyer in Orange County can help you link your psychological injuries to the accident– getting you the compensation you deserve.
Injuries to Your Arms and Legs
The forces of a car accident can also damage your arms, shoulders, legs, knees, ankles, and other associated body parts. These injuries can range from a sprain or strain to joint replacement, to amputation.
Am I Entitled to Compensation for my Car Accident Injuries?
If you were injured by a negligent driver, you typically can receive damages for your injuries. These damages might include compensation for both your economic and non-economic damages. The value of these damages will vary, depending on the circumstances surrounding your case.
Most California personal injury claims require a detailed legal, medical, and factual analysis.If you were seriously injured in a collision, you should contact a car accident lawyer in Orange County immediately. A lawyer will help you submit an insurance claim, file a lawsuit, and work to maximize your damages and recovery.
A Car Accident Lawyer in Orange County Can Help
If you have serious injuries, it’s in your best interest to contact a car accident lawyer in Orange County. At Russell & Lazarus, APC, we guide our clients through the claim and litigation processes and make sure they understand their legal rights. We are proud to offer customized legal strategies– and initial consultations are always free.