Experiencing a vehicle collision can lead to serious injuries that require medical treatment and can cause long-lasting health issues. San Antonio auto accident injuries affect thousands each year, making it important to understand what to expect after a crash.
San Antonio, the second most populous city in Texas, sees thousands of auto accidents each year. Being aware of the most common San Antonio auto accident injuries can help drivers be prepared if they are unfortunately involved in a collision.
Common San Antonio Auto Accident Injuries
Cuts and Lacerations
When an auto accident involves broken glass from a windshield or window, vehicle occupants are vulnerable to lacerations and avulsion injuries from the shards. Airbags deploying can also cause abrasions and burns on unprotected skin. Lacerations vary in severity – some require only basic first aid while others affect deeper tissue, muscle, and nerves and need surgical repair. Scarring is also a common complication of more serious lacerations suffered in a crash. Infection is another risk if wounds are not properly cleaned.
Whiplash as Common San Antonio Auto Accident Injuries
Whiplash is an injury commonly seen in San Antonio auto accident injuries and dealt with by our motor vehicle accident lawyers. Whiplash is a neck injury caused by the head being thrown back and forth by the impact, stretching and straining the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck. Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness, reduced range of motion, headaches, dizziness, and arm or shoulder numbness. For many, whiplash pain improves with at-home treatments like ice, rest, over-the-counter pain medication, and gentle stretches. But some victims experience chronic pain and limitations from their whiplash that requires physical therapy or further medical care.
Concussions
Concussions are another common consequence of San Antonio auto accident injuries and car crashes seen by our vehicle accident lawyer team if an occupant’s head impacts parts of the vehicle interior during the collision. The sudden movement causes the brain to bounce around or twist inside the skull, harming brain cells and leading to concussion symptoms like headache, dizziness, confusion, memory issues, nausea, and loss of consciousness. Brief loss of consciousness at the scene happens in around 1 in 10 concussions from car accidents. While most concussion symptoms fade within a few weeks, some crash victims are left with post-concussion syndrome featuring headaches, concentration and memory problems, and other issues that linger for months or years post-accident.
Spinal Cord Injuries as Severe San Antonio Auto Accident Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are a severe type of injury that may result from the violent motions and impact forces exerted on occupants during a serious auto collision. Vertebrae fractures or displacement, ruptured discs, and ligament damage can lead to pinched nerves or complete paralysis below the level of spinal cord trauma. Locations of common spinal cord injuries in vehicle crashes include cervical (neck), thoracic (midback), and lumbar (lower back) areas. Symptoms range from pain, muscle weakness, and numbness to loss of mobility and bladder/bowel control. Sadly, many spinal cord injuries cause permanent disability.
Broken Bones
Fractures from the sheer collision forces are prevalent in higher-speed crashes. Common car accident fractures our road accident attorney team have dealt with occur in the ribs, collarbone, arms, wrists, legs, ankles, pelvis, and hips. Chest and abdominal injuries like pulmonary contusions, bruised lungs, and organ lacerations also regularly stem from seriously broken ribs in crashes. Broken bones with bone fragment displacement may need realignment, casts, pins, or plates. Complex fractures raise risks for impaired healing, arthritis, and lasting pain.
What to Do After San Antonio Auto Accident Injuries
Being injured in a vehicle collision can be overwhelming. Knowing what to do after experiencing San Antonio auto accident injuries can help you take the right steps. Having an understanding of what to do after sustaining injuries in a San Antonio auto accident can help bring some clarity amidst the uncertainty.
Seek Medical Care
The first priority is getting checked out medically after any accident. Even if you don’t have obvious injuries, underlying issues like whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding often have subtle or delayed symptoms. Seeking prompt medical care can diagnose serious problems early and help prevent long-term effects. This step is also vital for documenting your injuries related to the crash.
Report the Accident
You will need to report the collision to San Antonio law enforcement and, eventually, your insurance provider. Police reports detailing what happened can be valuable evidence down the road if you need to make an injury claim. This step also formally begins the claims process through your insurer and the at-fault driver’s policy. Filing the report quickly also protects you from potential accusations later that the crash never occurred. Remember to speak to a personal injury attorney before your insurance company, so your rights are protected.
Document Everything
Be sure to keep thorough records related to your accident injuries, medical treatments, insurance communications, police reports, missed workdays due to recovery, rehabilitation expenses, property damages, and anything else pertaining to consequences stemming from the collision. Photos and written logs help establish evidence. This documentation will be indispensable if you need to pursue negotiations, claims, or court cases for repayment of losses caused by the at-fault driver.
Prioritize Healing
Most importantly, make your health and recovery top priorities moving forward. Follow all doctor-prescribed treatment plans, physical therapy, rehabilitation, medications, and lifestyle changes to help you heal properly. Listen to your body and take it easy without overexerting yourself too soon after your injuries. With time, care, and support, you can eventually transition from this difficult period in your life after your accident.
Being injured in a motor vehicle crash can derail lives in many ways. From physical harm to emotional distress to financial burdens, San Antonio auto accident injuries have significant short and long-term impacts.
Seek help for Your San Antonio Auto Accident Injuries
At Karns & Karns Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys, our experienced team of the best car accident attorneys is here to guide you through every step of the process. If you or a loved one has sustained a San Antonio auto accident injuries in a car accident that was not your fault, there’s every chance that you can get the compensation you deserve. With us by your side, you can focus on recovery while we take on the legal nitty-gritty. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation and evaluation of your case. Call us at 1-800-4THEWIN (1-800-484-3946).
