The United States has over 80 fatal traffic accidents on a daily basis. That equates to over 32,000 deaths a year as a result of traffic accidents alone. Luckily, not all traffic accidents lead to fatalities, meaning that a significant number of those who are involved in traffic accidents manage to survive. Among the injuries that people suffer as a result of traffic accidents, the most common are whiplash and traumatic brain injury (TBI). In addition to physical injuries, a large majority of the survivors of traffic accidents also end up suffering from symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
1. Whiplash from a Car Crash
Whiplash occurs when the head and the torso are thrust in opposite direction at once due to a collision. The name ‘whiplash’ is derived from the fact that the neck makes a whip-like motion, causing heavy damage to the muscles that are used to tilt or turn the head. A whiplash results in heavy neck pain and headache, which sometimes don’t necessarily occur immediately after the accident. However, even when no pain is experienced, the first thing that you need to do is to get in touch with a chiropractor for a checkup and to receive proper medical care. Treatments of whiplash include massages, ultrasound treatments, wearing a neck collar, and/ or consuming painkillers to ease the stress on the affected neck muscles.
According to chiropractors, a whiplash that is not immediately treated may result in pain that can last for years after the accident. Arthritis and premature disc degeneration as you grow older is also among the possible risks you may run in the long term should you fail to get immediate therapy after a vehicular accident.
2. Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often occurs as a result of a blow to the head or a piercing head injury, which are not uncommon in traffic accidents. These can range from a mild concussion to more severe injuries that may potentially weaken or cause damage to critical brain functions such as memory, concentration, emotional control, speech, and even vision.
If TBI goes untreated or is not treated in time, this can lead to serious long-term health complications. These complications include but are not limited to frequent headaches, forgetfulness, clumsiness, fatigue, and dizziness. In the worst cases, people can even lose their ability to speak and may also end up visually or hearing impaired. Depression is not unusual, and it can have a stagnating effect on the healing process, as it often pulls the patients in a downward spiral, especially when you wait too long to start with treatment.
3. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
In a recent publication by the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), experts published their findings on a case of a man who developed a panic disorder after being involved in a car accident. This man, with no prior history of any post-traumatic stress symptoms, became agoraphobic and suffered a decreasing energy level, coupled with depression and insomnia. In the publication, the researchers explain how they treated the patient using psychotherapy.
This case study is a good example of how someone who has been involved in a car accident can still suffer from its effects long after the accident. The symptoms that accompany PSTD can, and often will remain for a very long time if they are not treated adequately, and may cause significant discomfort not only to the sufferer but to those around them as well.
Symptoms of PSTD include having flashbacks or nightmares about the accident, depression, exhaustion, feeling like one is constantly being put on an edge as well as emotional numbness.
The most common treatment for PSTD is psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, as well as Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing. Medication is also on the list of treatments for PSTD, although PTSD specialists seldom resort to prescribing medication if the symptoms can be cured through other means and methods.
Not unlike whiplash, symptoms may not be apparent in the first few days – sometimes even weeks after the accident. This, however, does not mean that the victim of the vehicular accident is not suffering and will not suffer from PSTD. Seeking professional help even before you start experiencing symptoms will help to ensure a quicker recovery. If you put off seeking treatment and medical care, recovery will end up being more tedious and time-consuming.
Get Therapy as Early as Possible After a Car Wreck
The three examples mentioned above clearly underline the importance of getting therapy as soon as possible after a traffic accident. Chiropractors also advise that among the first calls you ought to make after being involved in an accident is to your local chiropractors’ office to arrange for an emergency consultation. After all, you would definitely want to learn of any side effects of the accident as early as possible. Also, by doing this you drastically reduce the healing time, especially for whiplash and PSTD. Being involved in a car accident is a dramatic event by itself; do not let the long term effects of not getting immediate therapy render you additional, unnecessary discomfort.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
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