Among the many types of car accident injuries you could potentially suffer from after a crash in South Carolina, you’ll find three commonalities. First, these injuries will take some time to recover from. Second, the recovery process will cost you money in addition to time. And lastly, returning to a state of “normal” after the crash will be a journey.
This journey looks different for everyone, but it will take lots of energy, time and attention. The last thing you need on top of this is to be dealing with a challenging legal case alone. Instead of trying to wrangle a complex legal system without the necessary experience, now is the time to rely on our Myrtle Beach car accident attorneys. At Maguire Law Firm, we handle the nitty-gritty details and keep your case running smoothly while you focus on healing and recovery.
You can further help yourself out by understanding the basics of a crash and its related injuries before discussing anything with attorneys or insurance companies. Learn about the most common consequences of accidents and what they could mean for your longevity, health and future.
Types of Car Accident Injuries
There are countless types of car accident injuries that you could face after getting involved in a crash. According to the South Carolina Collision Statistics Clock from 2020, one traffic collision happened every 4.3 minutes. A fatal crash happened once every 9.1 hours, while crashes that caused injury or property damage happened once every 16 minutes and 6 minutes, respectively.
As far as types of injuries from a car accident go, yours may vary from mild to severe. Sometimes a car crash can leave you with nothing more than a little discomfort. However, a single serious crash can potentially change the course of your life.
Spinal cord injuries
The spinal cord, located inside the spinal column, coordinates reflexes and sends sensory information from the brain to the body and vice versa. It also controls movement, making it a crucial feature of a healthy human body.
Injuries to the spinal cord can have catastrophic effects including but not limited to:
- Partial or total paralysis of the legs or arms
- Nerve damage
- Muscular weakness
- Damage to fine and gross motor functions
A spinal injury can range from being a mild nuisance to completely debilitating. If you lose motor control, it might impact your career. Losing mobility can change the trajectory of your life, forcing you to rely on others rather than living independently.
Traumatic brain injuries
These injuries affect your brain and are usually very serious. They commonly occur as a result of rear-end crashes, where whiplash can cause your brain to hit the inside of your skull and bruise.
Traumatic brain injuries can affect your physical, emotional and behavioral state, with symptoms such as:
- Confusion and agitation
- Vomiting and nausea
- Uncharacteristically aggressive or combative behavior
Unfortunately, the recovery time on TBIs is substantial, with even moderate head injuries potentially taking months to fully recover from. There are also a high number of TBI cases in which the injury never fully resolves, permanently changing a victim’s future and quality of life.
Soft tissue injuries
Some of the most common types of car accident injuries are soft tissue injuries, which tend to range from mild to moderate. Severe soft tissue damage can happen, though it is less frequent than more minor injuries.
Whiplash
By far the most common type of injury you could face in a crash, whiplash involves damage to the neck as a result of your neck whipping back and forward due to a sudden change in acceleration. It’s most common during rear-end crashes but can happen when any strong force hits a car.
Whiplash can sometimes cause pinched or injured nerves, which can lead to:
- Burning sensations
- Sharp tingling across the neck and/or back
- Migraines
- Shoulder tension and pain
Typically, the best way to handle whiplash injuries is through rest. It can take weeks or even months for full recovery, and you may need to wear a neck brace for part of the time to keep the injured area from moving.
The good news? Whiplash is one of the easiest injuries to recover from. If you follow your doctor’s orders, you’ll likely be feeling better within a week or two, and you’ll almost certainly regain full range of motion.
Muscle damage and strain
When you get into a crash, you’re at risk of tears and strain to every muscle in your body. These injuries are more common when you see the accident coming; you’re less likely to deal with them if you’re hit by surprise since your body won’t have the time to reflexively tense up.
Muscle strains, tears and other damage are often more mild. However, you can still expect to take several weeks away from your usual day-to-day activities to fully recover.
Traumatic injuries
These injuries are less common than typical whiplash or TBIs, but when they happen, they have a massive impact.
Traumatic injuries can include:
- Amputation of a body part
- Impalement
- Internal bleeding or damaged organs
These are intense injuries that have a high rate of fatality and severe complications. If you suffer from any injury in this category, you’re looking at a long stay in the hospital, intense medical care and follow-up, and a huge chunk of money lost to those expenses.
Delayed onset injuries
These are often among the most dangerous types of car accident injuries for one reason: they catch you off-guard.
A delayed onset injury doesn’t present symptoms until hours, days or even weeks after the crash happens. By then, you may have assumed you had luckily avoided any serious consequences, thus tapping out of the potential pursuit of compensation.
These injuries can be mild, moderate or severe, and may include things like:
- Internal injuries
- Brain bleed
- Damage to the nerves
Any damage that doesn’t show immediate symptoms is at risk of late identification. This means serious injuries with delayed symptom onset can put you at risk for complications due to not getting earlier treatment, resulting in an injury that’s even more severe and harder to treat.
Seeking Medical Help After a Crash
The different types of injuries in a car accident can cost you a fortune in medical fees as well as lost wages due to leave from work. Recovery is often a slow and difficult process, so it’s in your best interest to get help as soon as possible.
No matter how you feel in the immediate aftermath of a crash, always see a doctor, even if you think you’re fine.
Remember that adrenaline can often mask symptoms. If you feel even a slight twinge of pain, consider going to urgent care rather than waiting to see your general practitioner. This helps you avoid the issue of a delayed onset injury and lets you start the healing process immediately.
Contact an Experienced South Carolina Car Accident Lawyer Today
No matter which of the many types of car accident injuries you face, you should always contact an attorney. At Maguire Law Firm, we want you to receive the best care in the aftermath of your crash. We understand that this is an extremely difficult time in your life and that recovery is full of stress and financial concerns.
Our lawyers are here to reduce that stress by expertly guiding you through the legal processes of dealing with a car crash. Don’t worry about handling insurance companies on your own; we’ll be with you every step of the way, making sure you get the care and support you deserve. Reach out to Maguire Law Firm today so you can focus your attention on healing, recovering and regaining control of your life.
