Being involved in an automobile accident can be frightening, and often the shock of the crash is enough to mask some of the more long-term consequences that you and your body might suffer. If you are involved in an accident, getting the right medical attention and care immediately following the crash, and long-term, can make a significant difference in your accident recovery. Here are four potential long-term injuries that many people suffer after accidents.
Back Injuries
The most common types of back injuries that people suffer after being involved in a car accident are either herniated disks or bulging disks. The disks that normally provide support and cushioning between your spinal vertebrate can slip out of place and push against the nerve, or the cartilage can become damaged so the fluids inside the disk bulge and push on the nerve. In some cases you might only feel some slight pain when you initially get in the accident, but the long-term consequences of these injuries can be debilitating if you don’t get it treated.
Neck Injuries
Perhaps the most common neck injury that people suffer when they are involved in an accident is whiplash. This painful condition occurs when your vehicle is suddenly impacted (from behind, from the side, or if you crash into something) and your head snaps back and forth. You might feel some immediate pain in your neck with this injury, or it could take up to several days for the pain to surface. It’s best to see a medical professional if you suspect you might have suffered whiplash so you can get any treatment costs covered by insurance following the accident.
Concussion or TBI
Head injuries are also extremely dangerous, and in many cases you might not even be aware that there is a problem immediately after the accident. The two most common head injuries people suffer when they are in an accident are concussions and traumatic brain injury (TBI). A concussion is a brain injury that requires attention and care to prevent long-term consequences and even death in severe cases. If you suffered a significant brain injury, you could also find that you have TBI, which can impact your life in many different ways. Speaking with a personal injury attorney (after getting proper medical treatment) can help you get the compensation you deserve from the insurance to cover the costs of these injuries.
Lower Extremity Injuries
Another common place people get injured after an accident is in their lower extremities, such as the hips, thighs, knees, and ankles. If your vehicle is involved in a front-end collision, the steering wheel, dashboard, and even parts of the engine can crush your lower legs and hips. In some cases, you might experience such severe damage to these areas that your life will be permanently impacted.
After an Accident
The most important thing following an accident is that you receive proper emergency medical attention and care. Oftentimes your body is filled with adrenaline after an accident, and you may not immediately realize that you are injured. That’s why you should always visit an urgent care center to get checked out by a doctor after a motor vehicle accident.
Some lingering soreness after a car accident is expected; however, if you have pain that lasts for more than a few days, we recommend you make an appointment to come in to see one of our chiropractors.
We can do an evaluation and begin a treatment program to relieve your pain so that you can work, sleep and enjoy life again.
Help Seeking Compensation for Your Accident
Our team also works with your insurance company as well as your personal injury or auto accident attorney to provide the documentation you need, should you decide to take legal action regarding your accident.
While legal action may indeed be a priority in your case, we urge you not to put off medical treatment during this time. Waiting to receive the care that you need can not only affect your quality of life, but it can also make any damage that has been done more difficult — or impossible — to reverse.
Get the recovery that you might need from such accidents. Contact Apollo Chiropractic and get more information about our services and treatments in Salt Lake City, Murray, Holladay and Midvale.