Cars today are safer than ever before, thanks to air bags, crumple zones, and other engineering advancements, but millions of people still suffer injuries in auto accidents every year. Some of the most common — and most serious — are injuries are to the head, neck and back.
As a personal injury law firm serving Idaho and Utah, we have come to understand that there really is no such thing as a “minor” injury to a person’s head. Traumatic brain injuries in fact can worsen over time, especially since nerves in the brain do not heal themselves the way other parts of the body can. Common head injuries in car crashes include concussion, which may occur when the head moves with such velocity that the brain contacts the skull; fracture, when head strikes something on the interior of the car or when a person is thrown from a vehicle; hematoma, when a blood vessel in or under the brain is ruptured, causing blood to collect in the brain tissue or underneath the brain; and brain hemorrhage, which is uncontrolled bleeding in or around the brain.
Back injuries that are also common in accidents and that can be particularly devastating include:
- Spinal cord injury — A severed spinal cord leaves the victim paralyzed forever. A bruised spinal cord that is not severed may also result in paralysis, at least for a period of time.
- Spinal fracture — Broken vertebrae not only cause crippling pain but also can endanger the victim’s life because any wrong movement can damage the spinal cord as well.
- Herniated disc — The force of a car accident can compress the spine so much that it causes the discs between the vertebrae to slip or bulge, causing severe pain and disability of movement.
- Spondylolisthesis — This occurs when the spine is knocked out of alignment, potentially causing nerve pain, numbness and loss of motor function.
Neck injuries often found in conjunction with the other injuries mentioned above are:
- Whiplash — This common car accident injury consists of soft tissue damage caused by the sudden back and forth movement of a person’s head during an impact. Whiplash often leads to severe headaches, chronic neck pain and loss of neck movement.
- Neck sprain or strain — Similar to whiplash, the muscles and ligaments in your neck can be injured due to the sudden impact of a car crash.
These injuries are obviously serious, but the full extent of the severity of harm suffered is sometimes not apparent. Make sure to get checked by a doctor if a crash results in head, back or neck pain, even if it seems minor at first. You should then seek advice from an experienced car accident lawyer to explore your right to seek monetary compensation.
At Morgan Law Firm, we represent victims of motor vehicle accidents in Utah and Idaho. Call 208-999-1717 or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation. Our offices are conveniently located in Boise, Meridian and Middleton, Idaho and in Lehi and Ogden, Utah.
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I went to see Dave Morgan when I had an automobile accident. The insurance was slow to pay the bills. Dave quickly filed papers and the matter was handled efficiently and in short time. I highly recommend the Dave Morgan firm.
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I was scared when I was hit and nobody was there for me and I was still in pain. I didn't want to go with a lawyer on TV. So I looked around online and found the best lawyer! I was very lucky to find Attorney with great compassion and understandin...
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I have known Dave Morgan for several years. He was very knowledgeable and assisted me in my legal needs quickly and compassionately. He is a man of high integrity and a strong sense of right and wrong. I highly recommend him.
