Car Accidents Can Give You Serious Injuries
Car accidents occur every single day in Colorado. They are caused by poor weather conditions, faulty roads, defective auto parts, and driver negligence. These accidents often lead to a wide range of injuries, some minor and some absolutely life-threatening. The injuries are devastating not only because of their immediate severity, but also because of the complications that frequently arise during recovery and the long-term impact they have on every aspect of a person’s life.
If you have been severely injured in a car accident in Colorado, it is important to understand how truly life-changing these injuries can be. An experienced Colorado car accident attorney can help you through this difficult time and fight to ensure you receive the maximum compensation you are entitled to. Understanding what damages you can recover is an important first step in that process.
The 5 Most Serious Car Accident Injuries
While any significant car accident injury can be severe and life-threatening, some carry consequences that are particularly catastrophic and long-lasting. If you sustain any of the following injuries, you are likely facing a difficult and prolonged recovery.
1. Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are among the worst injuries an accident victim can sustain because they frequently result in permanent disability and impairment. According to the Brain Injury Association of America, traumatic brain injury is a contributing factor in approximately one-third of all injury-related deaths in the United States, and millions of Americans sustain some form of brain injury every year.
Due to blunt force trauma during a crash, the brain can sustain serious bleeding and bruising, which often leads to permanent impairment of vision, speech, memory, and cognitive function, as well as significant emotional and behavioral changes. Even so-called “mild” traumatic brain injuries such as concussions can have lasting effects if not properly diagnosed and treated. Many TBI symptoms are not immediately apparent, which is why seeking medical evaluation after any significant head impact is so important regardless of how you feel in the moment.
2. Facial Injuries
Facial injuries in car accidents are commonly caused by airbag deployment, impact with the dashboard, steering wheel, or windshield, and broken glass. Lacerations, burns, and fractures of the face can result in permanent scarring and disfigurement that is difficult and often impossible to fully repair. Even with multiple cosmetic surgeries and skin grafts, accident victims frequently find that they never look quite the same as they did before. The psychological impact of facial disfigurement can be profound, leading to depression, social anxiety, and significant emotional trauma that requires its own long-term treatment and support.
3. Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are among the most catastrophic consequences of serious car accidents. Misplaced bone fragments, disc rupture, and damage to the spinal cord itself can disrupt the transmission of signals between the brain and the body, leading to loss of sensation and function in the arms, legs, or both. Complete spinal cord injuries can result in permanent paralysis. When the injury occurs in the cervical region of the spine, the victim may require a ventilator to breathe for the remainder of their life.
The lifetime costs associated with a serious spinal cord injury are staggering, often running into millions of dollars when accounting for medical care, assistive equipment, home modifications, and lost earning capacity. This is exactly why pursuing full and fair compensation with the help of an experienced attorney is so critical for spinal cord injury victims and their families. If you have lost a loved one due to catastrophic injuries caused by another driver’s negligence, our wrongful death attorneys are here to help as well.
4. Internal Organ Damage
Life-threatening injuries to internal organs are serious and often require emergency diagnosis and surgery. They are most commonly caused by puncture wounds from fractured ribs, blunt force trauma to the abdomen, or impact with the steering wheel or seat belt during a high-speed collision. Internal bleeding is often difficult to detect and stop, and can rapidly become fatal if not identified and treated quickly. Even when surgery is successful, internal organ damage can result in permanent impairment that affects a victim’s health and quality of life for years to come.
One of the most important things you can do after any significant car accident is to be evaluated by medical professionals as soon as possible, even if you feel okay. Internal injuries in particular can be symptom-free in the immediate aftermath of a crash and only become apparent hours or even days later.
5. Back And Neck Injuries
Sprains, strains, and herniated discs are among the most common injuries sustained in car accidents, and they are often underestimated in their impact. Whiplash is the most frequently occurring neck injury in vehicle crashes, caused by the rapid backward and forward motion of the head during impact. Cervical dislocation and disc injuries are also common and can be extremely painful and debilitating.
What makes back and neck injuries particularly insidious is that they frequently result in chronic pain and long-term disability that significantly reduces quality of life. Insurance companies routinely try to minimize these injuries, arguing that soft tissue damage is difficult to prove and exaggerated by claimants. Having an experienced attorney who knows how to document and present these injuries effectively is critical to recovering fair compensation. You can learn more about how pain and suffering is evaluated in personal injury cases on our website.
What To Do If You Have Been Seriously Injured In A Car Accident
The period immediately following a serious car accident is critical, both for your health and for your legal claim. Seek medical attention right away and follow all of your doctor’s recommendations throughout your recovery. Keep records of every appointment, prescription, therapy session, and medical expense. Document how your injuries are affecting your daily life, your ability to work, and your relationships.
Be aware that Colorado has a statute of limitations on car accident claims, so do not delay in speaking with an attorney about your options. The sooner you have legal representation, the better positioned you will be to preserve evidence and build the strongest possible case.
Contact Our Colorado Springs Car Accident Attorneys
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident caused by another person’s negligence, our attorneys can help. At Rector Stuzynski Law Firm, our Colorado Springs car accident attorneys have the experience and resources to build a strong case designed to obtain maximum compensation for our clients. Call us today at (719) 578-1106 for a free consultation. We are available 24/7 and ready to fight for you.
