Car Accident Injuries That Are More Dangerous Than They Seem
While most people are aware that car accidents are a serious matter, there are some instances where people are lucky and they escape with minimal injuries. While things may seem fine initially after an accident, the truth is that there are similar instances where minor injuries later developed into more serious conditions that have life-altering effects.
This puts an emphasis on the need for safety measures whenever you travel. This is especially important to consider if you plan on driving on a dangerous road. The following are a few car accident injuries that are more serious than they might seem at first:
Soft Tissue Damage
Any injury that occurs to the body besides the bones is considered soft tissue damage. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments are the most common examples of such parts and these parts are what enable a person’s movement, exertion, and range of motion. Even when the car accident occurs only at low speeds, there’s still a significant chance that you could sustain soft tissue damage. Damage to your soft tissue will significantly hinder movement.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs when the head gets jerked violently. This sudden movement damages the ligaments, tendons, and nearby tissues of the neck and spine. While whiplash is not a life-threatening injury, it can severely affect your quality of life. Frequent headaches, stiffness of the neck, and the pain that comes with it last anywhere from two to three months.
Herniated Discs
A herniated disc occurs when the force of a collision is so intense that it causes the tissue between the vertebrae of the spine to rupture. The pressure from the rupturing of the tissue can drastically increase pressure and inflame the nerves near your spine which can cause severe pain, loss of sensation, and even loss of control over your limbs.
Concussions
Contrary to popular belief, a concussion may occur even without a direct blow to the head. Concussions are life-threatening because if left untreated, the nerves may never fully heal, and this may develop into a disease called “chronic traumatic encephalopathy” which can cause the brain to break down. This could lead to memory loss, depression, and dementia.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury refers to the damage caused by a severe impact to the brain itself. These injuries hinder brain functions and they often cause a person to exhibit a change in personality and forgetfulness. The danger with traumatic brain injuries is that it can take several months before its symptoms begin to manifest. As a general rule, anyone who has suffered a concussion or has been knocked unconscious during an accident must be watched carefully for any signs of TBI. You may even need to consult a neurologist.
It’s important to detect these injuries as soon as you can, as these injuries will have a significant impact on your quality of life, not only in terms of comfort, but also in terms of finances. It’s for this reason that you need to seek help from professionals to help you secure the compensation that could potentially act as a buffer for the burden you might face.