Getting into a car accident can be very stressful. Depending on the severity of the crash, it can mean putting your car in the repair shop, finding an affordable rental and dealing with painful injuries.

The expenses associated with car accidents can be high, especially when you’re the one who’s at fault, or not properly insured. But even if you are, who knows if you’ll get the coverage needed to pay all of your mounting bills.

This is where an experienced injury lawyer in Baton Rouge becomes important. Once you hire one, you can target the driver at fault and their insurer to help pay for any damage and injuries.

The type of injuries you may sustain from an accident varies. However, educating yourself about the common car accident pain you can witness is essential.

So here is a quick list of the different types of car accident pain we’ve seen over the years.

Injuries to Your Brain and Head

This is likely the most common car accident pain victims complain about. In some instances, traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is witnessed. It’s not uncommon in today’s motor vehicle accidents, which is mainly due to the sudden change in velocity.

You’re traveling at a certain speed, then quickly halt due to slamming on the brakes or making impact. This can lead to your head slamming against the windshield, steering wheel or dashboard. And in other instances, you may get a whiplash, due to your head jerking back and forth quickly.

It’s important to note that your brain is floating around inside of your skull unattached. So when you come to a sudden stop, your brain can shake around inside your skull or even slam against it.

The effects of this can result in loss of consciousness or other symptoms that appear later on. Some of these effects may include:

  • Concussion
  • Bruising, bleeding, swelling of your brain
  • Diffuse axonal injury
  • Penetrating injury
  • Recurring traumatic brain injury
  • Skull fracture

Following a TBI, it’s important to seek emergency attention right away, along with follow-up care. Your brain is a vital organ that controls many aspects of your emotional and physical being. In some cases, car accident pain relating to a brain injury can lead to loss of bodily functions and mobility.

Even if the impact of your head doesn’t seem severe, you should still have it checked out. This way you can have the extent of your injury assessed. Your doctor will need to check your brain’s blood pressure, oxygen and blood supply.

After stabilization, your doctor will likely have a brain scan performed. Now, this is where you will determine whether there’s any tangible damage.

Then depending on the severity of your car or motorcycle accident injuries and pain, you may have to undergo physical therapy, surgery or other medical treatments.

Going back to work or school and doing normal daily activities may take time to adapt to.

Neck and Back Injuries

It’s no surprise that damage can occur to your spinal cord and may be the root cause of your car accident pain. Your neck and back attach at the spine, so when there’s a sudden halt or impact of the vehicle, it can cause damage to these areas.

Now, your spine and neck are very flexible, but this can be a bad thing. For one, it will move wildly, which can lead to extensive damage during a crash. Yet, the spine is also rigid, which causes resistance during the crash.

This too can lead to injuries of the back and neck. Some of the common car accident pain reported in this area of the body include:

  • Whiplash
  • Neck or back strain
  • Cervical fracture
  • Fractured vertebrae
  • Herniated discs
  • A variety of other spinal disc injuries (i.e. bulge, tears, etc)

Unfortunately, neck and back injuries can last a lifetime, even with the best care. The car accident pain and disability caused can be difficult. In some cases, these individuals are unable to work or perform other daily tasks.

When you have a knowledgeable car accident attorney on your side, he or she will be able to help you get lost wages. The lawyer will also go for reimbursement of treatment.

Treatments may include surgery, cortisone shots, pain medications, brace or collar and muscle relaxers.

Injuries of the Spinal Cord

Now, this is a scary one for a lot of people. The thought of car accident pain related to a spinal injury is horrifying. This is because we know how important the spine is.

When this becomes damaged in the wrong places, it can lead to paralysis, loss of function and sensation loss. In other words, it can be very crippling.

In some instances, these injuries occur due to disc fragments, ligament tears, and bruises or displaced pieces of bone touching your spinal cord. This can lead to damage to your nerve cells, which send signals to your body and brain.

Out of all the car accident pain, you can suffer from, spinal injuries are the most expensive. The cost of recovery is high, thanks to treatment options, such as surgery, ongoing physical rehabilitation and assistive devices you may need.

In just one year, the price for spinal cord injuries can run into the hundreds of thousands. Then the years following can also be quite high.

So it’s not just the immediate medical care you receive. It’s the ongoing treatments you have to get for multiple years. Then if your spine never fully recovers, it could mean never returning to work or dealing with high medical bills for the rest of your life.

If you’re not able to provide for your family, who will? A car accident attorney can help you get initial funding from your lawsuit, and then monthly payments for social security disability.

Victims of spinal injuries deserve compensation for lost wages and benefits, medical bills, permanent disability, emotional trauma, physical pain and suffering and more.

Facial Injuries

Injuries to your face may not seem like much. But it goes beyond cuts and bruises to your skin. Your face can make contact with your windshield, steering wheel or dashboard. Even the deployment of your airbag can cause damage to your face.

Fractures and a broken nose can take place, along with dental injuries, cuts and lacerations, and jaw damage. Let’s review some of the common car accident pain caused by facial injuries.

Facial Lacerations

These are due to deep scrapes or puncture wounds to the face. Your skin is soft, so it’s easy to become damaged.

In some instances, the scrapes come from a bone puncturing or lacerating your skin. Or the vehicle itself coming into contact with your face during the accident.

The most serious cases involve glass, bones poking through your mouth and other foreign objects piercing through your skin.

Bumps and Bruises

Bruises appear when a small blood vessel tears or ruptures beneath your skin. These injuries aren’t considered dangerous, but they can be painful nonetheless.

Broken Facial Bones

There are a number of bones that construct your face. Any of these can break during an accident. In this case, you may need to have surgery done.

Facial reconstruction is an option if the damage witnessed is extensive.

Dislocated Jaw

It sounds painful and it really is. A dislocated jaw can take place when one or both jaw joints pull apart. Once put back into place, the healing can begin.

In some cases, surgery is the only way to fix the damage done to your jaw. The seriousness of the injury will determine the treatment. However, the options include plastic surgery, dental work, dental reconstruction and mouth guards.

That is if there’s any tooth damage present.

Psychological Distress

Your emotional well-being may be at stake after a crash. Dealing with car accident pain can be very difficult, especially when you’re batting all sorts of injuries.

There are different types of mental distress a person may go through, and this includes the following.

Short or Long-Term Emotional Distress

Now, it’s not uncommon for folks to overlook the possibility of emotional distress. However, this is just as important as any other injury caused by car accident pain.

The severity of your other injuries will determine the extent of your emotional distress.

Anxiety

One form of emotional distress revolves around anxiety. This can occur whether there were any physical injuries or not.

These can manifest into panic attacks and distrust in vehicles and people.

Depression

Long-lasting physical injuries can really put a damper on your mood. So much so, it can lead to depressing thoughts. Not being able to conduct the same tasks you once may make you feel helpless.

The more serious the accident, the more severe the depression may be.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Or known as PTSD. It’s common for this to emerge after you’ve had a major injury or trauma. For some people, car accidents are a traumatic experience. Because of this, they end up getting PTSD.

There are different ways to treat this, such as through behavioral and cognitive therapy. And in most cases, medications are also provided.

It’s important to treat this right away, so it doesn’t grow into a big problem. It’s best to combine treatment options together to get the best emotional and psychological help.

For instance, using physical therapy can lessen the effects the car accident pain has on your mental state. Not following up with treatments for physical injuries may make your mental conditions worse.

Comprehensive treatment is the key if you really want to overcome your disabilities.

Leg and Knee Injuries

Inside of a vehicle, your legs and knees are in a position to slam into the console in front of you. It’s also possible in severe accidents for passengers to have their legs trapped by the dash.

This can lead to fractures, contusions, and broken bones. Areas you may injure include the knees, ankles, and toes. These joints are very susceptible to injury in car accidents.

Broken Bones

Overall, any bone in your body can break during an auto accident. So it’s not uncommon for bones to splinter. Everything from your legs and arms to your ribs and skull can break.

And when this happens, they have to be set or a cast placed on to correct it. In worse scenarios, surgery is the only way out. Make sure to seek emergency help to determine whether you have a fracture or a clean break.

You don’t want to go home with a bone puncturing your lungs or stomach. These can spell major trouble if not taken care of right away.

Shoulder and Rotator Cuff

One thing you don’t want to do before an accident is to try to brace yourself for impact. It seems like the plausible thing to do, but the reality is that your shoulder can tear or separate.

This happens to your rotator cuff or shoulder joint. This type of car accident pain can be substantial, especially in the evening. Surgery is normally needed to fix these issues.

What to Do About Your Car Accident Pain

If you were in an auto accident, your next steps are very important. As mentioned, it’s essential to seek emergency medical help.

This way, you can diagnose the issues you have right away. You’ll need this documentation once you file a lawsuit against the other party.

After seeking medical attention, it’s best to get in touch with an auto accident attorney as soon as possible. The attorney will go over the facts of the incident and identify what you may get out of your lawsuit.

At Babcock Injury Lawyers, you have access to a team of lawyers that are well-versed in personal injury lawsuits. We’ve won a fair share of our cases and will do everything within our power to win yours.

Dealing with a painful injury is difficult as is, so allow the experts at Babcock Injury Lawyers to handle the legal aspects of your situation.

If you’ve been injured, Stephen Babcock of Babcock Injury Lawyers is standing by to help you.

Your case — and your future will be our top priority. When we meet with you, we will review your case with you for free, and after you hire us you will have Stephen’s 100% Client Satisfaction Guarantee.

Contact us today.

Get Even! Call Stephen!