Most Common Car Wreck Injuries

Navigating through numerous car wreck, trucking wreck, and motorcycle accident cases, attorney Andrew Johnson has seen a wide array of injuries. The most common of these injuries are to the head, neck, and back. Below, we describe what these injuries are and how treatment normally plays out.

Head and Brain Injuries

The most dangerous types of injuries are neurological. Some people think a brain injury means someone who is brain dead. This is not the case; a concussion is a brain injury, as is hemorrhaging (bleeding), tissue damage from force, hematoma (clotting), a skull fracture, and diffuse axonal injury (breaking off of axons due to rapid acceleration and deceleration of brain).

Brain injuries, no matter how "minor," are scary. These head injuries can change your memory, your ability to process information, your mood, and your energy. Fortunately, the southeast has some of the best neurologists in the county. If you are concerned you may have suffered a TBI (traumatic brain injury), here are symptoms to look for:

• Immediately After the Wreck: loss of consciousness, confusion, blurry vision, and concentration issues

• After the Wreck: sensitivity to light, concentration problems, memory loss, sensitivity to sound, nausea, dizziness, exhaustion

If these symptoms are present, the best thing to do is see a doctor immediately and find out what s/he can do to help.

Bodily Injuries

The most common injuries to the body that we see are broken bones, strained muscles, and sprained muscles. These injuries can cause brief and manageable pain, or long-term inoperable pain. Here are the common injuries to the body:

• cervical strain (whiplash)

• lumbar/thoracic strain

• disc herniation

• disc bulge

• sacroiliitis

• spinal cord compression

• sciatica

• spondylolisthesis

If not treated, these injuries may become more severe. This is why getting prompt, proper treatment is critical.

Treatment Path

Treatment normally begins with either (1) an EMS trip to the hospital or (2) a visit to a primary care physician. These first-step doctors typically address issues in order or severity. If you are experiencing the common head, neck, and back issues, the treating doctor will likely order a combination of physical therapy, x-rays, MRIs, and orthopedic care. Your most important job regarding treatment is to be as honest and specific with the physicians about your problems, and to do what the doctors say. This is the best way for any car wreck victim to get back to 100% health or, in some cases, as close to 100% health as possible.

We understand that some clients have no health insurance, or treating providers delay treatment, which causes injuries to continue with proper care. Luckily, there are options for patients to treat medically without paying money up front. This type of care is not ideal, but it's sometimes necessary.

Hiring a South Carolina Car Accident Lawyer

It's important to note that these actual injuries are only part of your damages. Other damages come from how these injuries have affected you ("non-economic damages"). You can read more about these here.

At Littlejohn Law, we analyze all damages and create a narration of the actual injuries, their effects, and the long-term ways your life has will continue to change. This story makes your case unique and helps maximize recovery.

If you have suffered an injury in a car accident and aren't sure of the next steps, give Andrew a call. Our goal is not only to help clients, but also to guide those who just need a little direction. Regardless of your injury, we wish you a speedy recovery.