Surviving an auto accident is more than a miracle. Your body will go through various reactions as it tries to cope and recover from the trauma of the accident.
If you are a car crash victim, you should seek medical and legal help from your healthcare provider and car accident attorney.
Your doctor will guide you through the recovery process, while your attorney will help you seek your rightful compensation for incurred damages and losses.
Understanding how your body reacts after a car accident can help you cope and know what to do during the recovery process.
This post explains what you should expect as you get through your injuries.
Head Injuries
The body will continue to move at the car’s previous speed even if it has stopped after a collision.
The law of inertia postulates that if a body moves at a constant rate, it will continue doing so until it hits another object, such as an airbag, door, windshield, dashboard, or seat belt.
This occurrence increases your chances of getting head injuries. For example, your head might hit the front seat or windshield, leading to severe injuries.
Limb Injuries
If you didn’t know, your limbs are more prone to injuries than other body parts. So even if you buckle up with a seatbelt, your arms and legs are typically less protected, making them more susceptible to fractures and other injuries.
Your limbs can contact other parts of the car after a collision, leading to bruises, cuts, fractures, and other injuries.
Whiplash
A whiplash injury is essentially a neck injury that arises because of rapid back-and-forth movement, leading to loss of range of motion. For example, your neck may be thrown back and bounce forward after a collision, causing neck and head injuries.
This injury affects the muscles and tendons surrounding the neck. It can also affect the back and spine. The pain of a whiplash lasts a few days to months, but it depends on the intensity of the collision.
Spinal Trauma
Spinal trauma is one of the most common injuries associated with auto accidents. This is because the collarbone in your upper body is extremely fragile and prone to getting injured after a collision. In addition, the right or left clavicle might fracture easily since the seat belt is on the front of the collarbone.
The ribs might also fracture in the case of a high-speed collision. Since the rib cage protects the lungs, experiencing lung damage increases drastically. Your heart will also advance with your torso, inflating the risk of it hitting the chest cavity and bruising.
Spinal trauma and chest injuries can lead to massive blood loss. If left untreated, your wounds can become fatal. In addition, the intervertebral discs between your spine might also suffer trauma due to the effects of the accident.
Emotional Trauma
Aside from physical injuries and bodily harm, you may also suffer from emotional trauma. For example, the brain also responds to car accidents by releasing endorphins and adrenalin to increase your alertness and help your mind cope with the situation.
If you need any legal assistance after a car crash, consider hiring an experienced personal injury attorney. The lawyer will guide you through the process of claiming your rightful compensation for damages and injuries.
