Although motor vehicles are safer than ever, hundreds of people are injured in auto accidents on Alabama roadways each day. Since 1985, our attorneys at Moore Law Firm have helped more than 12,000 injury victims recover maximum compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. We understand the devastating physical, emotional, and financial impact car accident injuries can have on victims and their families. Symptoms of car accident injuries don’t always appear right away, but seeking medical attention and being aware of the symptoms and types of injuries you may have sustained can help to ensure you get the care you need.
Neck And Back Injuries
Back and neck injuries can range from minor to debilitating and may lead to chronic pain and/or permanent disability that can affect your quality of life and ability to earn a living. Injuries like whiplash are caused when your head moves forward and snaps back suddenly. When a car suddenly stops or is impacted, your body keeps moving forward but quickly moves back when your seat belt restrains you. Sudden deceleration or acceleration can also cause sprains, strains, other soft tissue injuries, and damage to the intricate structures of the spine and vertebrae. Some common neck and back injuries include:
Whiplash – Victims of whiplash may experience neck pain and stiffness, headache, loss of range of motion, numbness in the arms, blurred vision, dizziness, and fatigue. Without prompt, proper treatment, symptoms may worsen or become chronic.
Herniated Discs – This type of spinal injury can cause intense pain or may not be detected until you get an x-ray or scan. Spinal discs are rubbery cushions located between each vertebra in your spine. They contain a gelatinous gel and act as shock absorbers and give your spine flexibility. When discs rupture or shift, this gel can leak out, discs can hit the spinal column and irritate and damage nearby nerves. Symptoms of a herniated disc may include radiating pain throughout the body, arm or leg pain, numbness or tingling, and muscle weakness.
Fractured Vertebrae – Spinal fractures most commonly occur in the mid- to lower back. Although some fractures heal with the use of back bracing, surgery may be required for more severe cases. Symptoms include the sudden onset of back pain, pain that worsens with movement limited mobility, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the limbs, and even loss of bowel or bladder control.
Spinal Cord Injuries – The impact from a car crash can cause vertebrae to become broken, crushed, or dislocated, and the spinal cord can be severed in very serious cases, which usually leads to paralysis. Symptoms of spinal cord injury include loss of sensation, inability to move all or part of your body below the injury, loss of control of bladder, bowel, and sexual function, difficulty breathing, spasms, pain, tingling, and numbness.
Our attorneys are well-versed in handling cases involving these types of car accident injuries. Managing back and neck injuries often requires surgery, extensive physical therapy, chiropractic care, prescription medication, and ongoing care in certain cases. At Moore Law Firm, we understand how to accurately value your claim and ensure you recover the maximum compensation you need to get well and protect your family’s financial stability.
Head And Brain Injuries
Head and brain injuries can have lifelong consequences that affect your everyday functioning and quality of life. They often require extensive ongoing treatment and can lead to permanent disability, chronic pain, personality changes, and psychological issues. Common head and brain injuries include:
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – These types of car accident injuries can range from a mild concussion to serious, permanent TBI that affects cognitive, motor, and sensory functions. If you sustain a blow to the head in an accident, it’s critical to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Although some symptoms appear immediately, others can take hours or even days to develop. Diagnostic imaging such as MRIs and CT scans help medical professionals detect injury and allow them to perform appropriate treatment quickly to mitigate the damage a TBI can cause.
Symptoms of TBI include severe headache, slurred speech, blurred vision, nausea or vomiting, difficulty thinking concentrating, or remembering new information, light sensitivity, fatigue, irritability, depression, anxiety, changes in sleep patterns, and seizures.
Skull Fractures – A skull fracture can be caused by a severe impact or when something penetrates the skull. Symptoms may include tenderness, swelling, bruising, and bleeding from the nose or ears. Some skull fractures are serious enough to require surgery.
Facial Lacerations– Cuts on the face and other areas of the body from shattered glass or sharp metal are quite common in car crashes. Facial lacerations can cause severe scarring and disfigurement, which can damage a victim’s physical and mental health. They may require extensive plastic surgery, affect your self-esteem, and hinder your ability to earn a living.
Broken Bones
In addition to skull and spinal fractures, broken legs, arms, and ribs are particularly common in auto accidents because of the force of the impact. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists who are struck by vehicles may also suffer severe fractures, crushed bones, or even amputation. Compound fractures and severely damaged bones may require multiple surgeries to repair and may never return to their former strength. Hip and pelvis fractures typically require extensive rehabilitation and recovery can take a long time. Broken ribs can cause extreme pain when you try to move, cough, laugh, or even breathe.
Psychological Trauma
Some car accident injuries aren’t visible. Even if you’re not physically injured, the trauma of a crash can affect your emotional and mental health. PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and nightmares can all make it difficult to function and do the things you used to love. Long-term talk therapy, medications, support groups, and other treatment can add up quickly. Our car accident lawyers are adept at proving psychological disorders due to trauma sustained in a motor vehicle crash. We employ the services of qualified medical experts who evaluate your symptoms and demonstrate how they may be affecting your daily life.
How An Auto Accident Lawyer Can Help
Battling insurance companies to recover maximum compensation can be challenging without an experienced car accident attorney in your corner. A minimal settlement or denied claim can put you and your family in a precarious financial situation. Our compassionate team at Moore Law Firm is here to guide you through the process, fight for your rights, and provide support so you and your family can focus on healing. Our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means there are no up-front costs and we only collect attorney fees if we recover compensation for you.
Contact Us If You’ve Suffered Car Accident Injuries
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car accident, don’t go it alone. To schedule a free consultation with a car accident lawyer, contact us or call Moore Law Firm at 251-445-7602 today.