Whether you live in the Myrtle Beach area or you’re here on vacation, an unexpected accident can cause painful injuries that impact you for weeks and years to come. Some types of injuries are common in car accidents.
When you’re injured in an auto accident, you will need to work with an experienced Myrtle Beach car accident lawyers to build a claim for recovery. The damages awarded are meant to compensate you for your injuries and restore your life to normal. Here are the most common types of car accident injuries in Myrtle Beach and what you can do to avoid them.
Whiplash
Whiplash is the common name for muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries that can happen in a car accident. When you’re in a car accident, your body often moves suddenly; faster than you would ever move on your own. That trauma can strain muscles and other soft tissues without breaking bones. Whiplash can be very painful, and it can take time to heal.
Scrapes and Cuts
You may have scrapes and cuts as a result of a car accident. You may receive cuts from the impact of your vehicle or the other vehicle, or you might get hit by loose projectiles in the car like your phone. Either way, scrapes, and cuts can be painful as well as pose a risk for infections and other complications.
Head Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries and other brain injuries can cause immediate injuries and complications that last far into the future. If not treated properly, traumatic brain injuries can cause long-term problems with brain function as well as headaches and sleeping difficulties. It may be difficult to diagnose a brain injury, and you may need a deliberate treatment plan to avoid complications.
Broken Ribs
Ribs are fragile. Even light or moderate impact can cause ribs to break. You might suffer broken ribs in a car accident when you’re pushed forwards, backward or sideways because of the impact of the crash. Broken ribs can be painful and require long periods of rest.
Other Broken Bones
Broken arms, legs, hips and even shoulders are common in a Myrtle Beach car accident. A car accident puts unnatural amounts of force on your body. When it’s more than your bones can withstand, you can suffer a painful break. Broken bones are common in all types of crashes including rear-end and side-impact accidents.
Internal Bleeding
While it’s common to suffer cuts in an accident, it’s also not surprising to suffer from internal bleeding. Internal bleeding can be dangerous especially if it’s not treated quickly after the crash. It’s important to seek medical attention immediately for anything but the most minor accidents. If there’s any chance that you may have suffered internal bleeding, it’s crucial to find critical care to make sure that you don’t have life-threatening injuries.
Herniated Disc
Just like you can break a bone in a car crash, you can also suffer from a herniated disc. A herniated disc occurs when one or more vertebrae in your spine either rupture or shift out of place. A herniated disc can cause pain and complications.
Knee Trauma
The sudden impact of a crash can cause your knees to strike the dashboard. That can cause pain to your ligaments and your kneecap. You might need braces, crutches or surgery to rebuild your knee and correct for damage. Knees are complicated, and knee injuries can be painful. Knee injuries in a car accident are especially frustrating because they can cause difficulty walking.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Not all car accident injuries are physical. You might suffer from mental and emotional injuries because of a car accident. You might have post-traumatic stress disorder, and things that used to be routine may become worrisome and even impossible. You may be able to recover from your mental health treatment and emotional suffering after a car accident in Myrtle Beach.
Other Psychological Pain Like Guilt
In addition to a post-traumatic stress disorder, you might suffer from other psychological injuries as a result of your car accident. You might feel a great deal of guilt. You might have flashbacks. All of these kinds of mental distress are very real injuries that can result from a car accident. It’s important to get the help that you need for your mental injuries as well as for your physical injuries.
How Can You Avoid Car Accident Injuries?
Even though you can’t control the other drivers on the road, you can do what you can to avoid car accident injuries. First, always wear your seatbelt. They really do save lives.
Also, be sure to observe the speed limit. Crashes that involve speeding drivers are often much more severe than they would have been if drivers had obeyed the speed limit. Finally, keep your vehicle in working order. Making sure that your car is in good shape helps you avoid injuries from crashes that result from equipment failure.
Seek Medical Treatment Immediately
Another way that you can avoid car accident injuries is to seek medical treatment as soon as you can after you’re in an accident. Sometimes, injuries take time to show. You might be seriously hurt and not realize it. Getting an evaluation from a professional helps you identify injuries that you may not be aware of that can get more serious without treatment. You should seek medical treatment after all but the most minor traffic crashes.
Another reason to seek medical treatment immediately after a traffic accident is to document your injuries and make a care plan. With a care plan, you can work to recover as quickly as possible and respond in the best possible way to your injuries. Medical attention also documents your injuries to build your case for a fair recovery.
How Can an Injury Lawyer Help Me After a Car Accident?
If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident, the best way to get the compensation you need to make a full recovery is by working with a skilled lawyer on your personal injury claim.
They can help you document your injuries and seek the financial recovery that can help you get the treatment that you need. Being in a car accident is never easy. Your lawyer can help you evaluate your case and take the necessary steps to respond in the best way possible after an accident.
