From minor fender benders on neighborhood roads to catastrophic pileups on major highways, auto accidents are a familiar and ongoing problem across the country.
It is no surprise that a lot of car accident victims struggle to recover from some of the most common car accident injuries.
If you were involved in an auto accident caused by little to no fault of your own, you should consult with an attorney as soon as possible to get started on the road toward compensation.
As you focus on recovering from your injuries, your attorney can focus on securing full and fair compensation on your behalf.
Kreger Brodish LLP is standing by to help.
Our experienced legal team is ready to listen to your story, evaluate the available evidence, investigate the governing law, and build the strongest case possible on your behalf.
Contact us today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with a Durham personal injury lawyer.
Read on to learn more about common injuries sustained in car accidents.
Most Common Car Accident Injuries in North Carolina
Injuries sustained in auto accidents are as diverse as auto accidents themselves.
In all cases, victims should have a medical professional evaluate their injuries. Even minor injuries are compensable. Therefore, it is important to ensure they’re well documented in the medical records your doctor prepares.
Neck and Soft Tissue Injuries
Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries, and it happens when the crash forces your head to snap forward and backward quickly.
This motion can stretch and tear the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your neck and upper back. Symptoms like stiffness, headaches, and reduced range of motion often develop within a day or two after the crash; however, some soft tissue injuries take even longer to show up.
Head and Brain Injuries (Concussions, TBIs)
A hard blow to the head or a sudden jolt during a crash can cause a traumatic brain injury, ranging from a mild concussion to severe, lasting brain damage.
Concussions can cause headaches, dizziness, and trouble concentrating, and these symptoms do not always appear right away. More severe brain injuries can affect memory, speech, and motor skills for months or years after the crash.
Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
Your spine carries signals between your brain and the rest of your body, so an injury anywhere along it can cause serious harm. A car accident can harm vertebrae or discs.
It can also damage the spinal cord itself, sometimes leading to partial or full paralysis below the point of injury. Even less severe back injuries can cause chronic pain that lasts well beyond the initial recovery period.
Bone Fractures and Extremity Injuries
The force of a collision can break bones throughout the body, including the limbs, ribs, and pelvis.
Some fractures heal with a cast or brace. Others require surgery, metal plates, or screws to stabilize the bone. When a fracture is severe, it can leave you with limited mobility or a permanent disability, especially when the break occurs near a joint.
Internal Organ Damage
A car accident can cause internal bleeding or damage to organs like the lungs, spleen, liver, or kidneys, even when there is no visible wound.
This type of injury can be life-threatening if it goes untreated, so anyone involved in a serious crash should seek medical care right away, even if they feel fine at first.
Psychological Injuries (PTSD, Anxiety, Emotional Trauma)
The emotional toll of a car accident can be just as life-altering as the physical injuries. Many crash survivors develop post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, or a lasting fear of driving.
These psychological injuries can affect everything from your sleep to your relationships to your ability to return to your daily routine. As such, they deserve the same attention as physical harm.
Delayed Car Accident Injuries: When Should You Seek Medical Attention?
Not every car accident injury causes pain right away.
Adrenaline can mask pain in the hours after a crash, and some delayed symptoms after a car accident, like headaches, numbness, or stiffness, may not appear for days.
You should see a doctor as soon as possible after any crash, even if you feel fine, and seek immediate care if you notice worsening pain, confusion, swelling, or numbness in the days that follow.
Long-Term Effects of Serious Car Accident Injuries
Some car accident injuries cause lasting effects that follow you well after your initial recovery. The long-term effects of car accident injuries can include the following:
- Chronic pain
- Reduced mobility
- Cognitive changes
- The need for ongoing medical care
Documenting how your injuries affect your daily life over time can help support your claim if you decide to pursue compensation.
What Should I Do After Being Injured in a Car Accident?
There are many proactive steps you can take soon after an auto accident to protect yourself and your right to compensation. Take the following steps if you are injured in an auto accident:
- Report the crash to the police.
- Seek immediate medical attention to have your injuries evaluated, treated, and documented.
- Follow your doctor’s treatment plan and recommendations.
- Keep copies of all bills, invoices, and receipts documenting medical expenses you incur treating your injuries and repairing your damaged property.
- Gather your pay stubs and other wage documentation to calculate the lost earnings caused by your injuries.
- Start a pain journal documenting your recovery, including the physical pain and emotional distress you experience each day as a result of your injuries.
- Contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your legal options and get help preparing insurance and legal claims.
Car Accident Statistics in North Carolina
Auto accidents are a familiar and ongoing problem throughout the state.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDMV) reports that there were 276,026 motor vehicle crashes statewide in one recent year alone. Of these accidents, 1,653 resulted in at least one fatality, and another 74,639 resulted in at least one injury.
The leading causes of these accidents included:
- Drunk driving led to 12,264 total accidents, including 407 fatal accidents and 8,100 accidents that resulted in injury.
- Speeding led to 16,282 accidents, including 427 fatal accidents and 8,574 accidents that resulted in injury.
- Distracted driving led to 49,485 total accidents, including 165 fatal accidents and 20,722 accidents that resulted in injury.
- Improper lane changes led to 64,380 total accidents, including 982 fatal accidents and accidents that resulted in injury.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Americans spend more than 1 million days in the hospital each year from crash injuries.”
These common car accident injuries resulted in about $18 billion in lifetime medical costs in one recent year. In that same year, over 2.5 million people visited emergency departments to treat crash injuries, leaving nearly 200,000 victims hospitalized.
What Compensation Can I Receive for My Injuries Through a Car Accident Lawsuit?
Once fault is established in your case, you may receive a wide variety of compensation for both the economic and non-economic impact your injuries have on your life.
Our legal team can help you pursue compensation for the following things:
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses
- Costs of long-term care and support for permanent disabilities
- Lost wages/income from time missed at work
- Lowered earning capacity if your injury results in a permanent disability
- Physical pain and suffering
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Property repair and replacement costs
What Is the Deadline for Filing My Car Accident Claim?
In North Carolina, you normally have three years to file a lawsuit after suffering injuries in a car accident.
Missing the deadline nearly always forfeits your right to seek compensation through a civil lawsuit. Therefore, you should speak with a car accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident.
This will ensure that your attorney has plenty of time to build a strong case on your behalf and that it is filed before the deadline passes.
Consult With a North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you were injured in an auto accident you did not cause, contact Kreger Brodish LLP today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a skilled Durham car accident lawyer.
Our compassionate, knowledgeable legal team is standing by to help.
You pay nothing unless we win your case.
