With one reportable car accident occurring every minute, Texas roadways are perhaps among the most dangerous across the country. Whether minor or severe, an auto crash can cause painful injuries that may impact you for weeks, months, or years to come. In Texas, all passengers injured in car accidents generally don’t have to worry about liability. This is mainly because they played no role in causing the auto crash.
If you are a passenger who was injured in a car accident, here are some of the common injuries that may lead to a valid personal injury claim.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Car accidents are among the leading causes of TBI related injuries. These injuries are often characterized by short and long-term cognitive defects, such as disorientation, amnesia, dizziness, memory loss, and other symptoms. Whether mild or severe, TBI can change how your brain functions, thus affecting your quality of life significantly. If you suspect that you suffered a traumatic brain injury after a car accident, be sure to seek medical first, then talk to a skilled personal injury lawyer to learn how you can recover the compensation you deserve.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are not uncommon in auto crashes. Typically, breakage to the bones happens when the skeleton is put under stress that it cannot withstand due to a collision that causes the body to hit other parts of a vehicle. Whether it happens to your arm or leg, a broken bone will require treatment to get back to normal.
Whiplash
During an accident, the sudden change in speed is likely to force the passenger’s head to jerk quickly back and forth, causing a whiplash. This is a common injury that primarily happens in a rear-end collision. While it doesn’t manifest immediately after an accident, passengers who experience whiplash feel better in just a few weeks. Common signs of whiplash will include neck stiffness, pain, and headaches.
Neck/Back injuries
Much like whiplash, neck, and back injuries occur when your body is subjected to intense and rapid force during a collision. Injuries to the spinal cord are among the most common form of back injuries. In serious instances, body paralysis is common. Nonetheless, a milder accident can lead to rupture or herniation of the discs in your spine. Because back and neck injuries are not always obvious, it is critical that you receive thorough screening after a Texas car accident.
Bruising
Bruises are other common injuries that passengers suffer after a car accident. They usually happen when a passenger is slammed into their seat belt, dashboard, or windshield. Although bruises are rarely serious and will generally heal within weeks, you must seek medical attention to establish whether you suffered other internal injuries.
Internal Bleeding
The fact that you do not see any physical injury does not mean that you are completely out of danger. The forces of an auto crash can damage your delicate organs or blood vessels and cause them to bleed. Whether it happens in the abdominal area, chest, or head, internal bleeding should not be taken lightly. It is vital that you see a doctor immediately after an accident to ensure that the damaged internal organs do not threaten your life.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
After a car accident, it is likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder. In most cases, symptoms of PTSD will include nightmares, sleeping issues due to anxiety, aversion to images or sounds associated with the collision, and fear of driving after a crash. If you suspect that you are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after a car accident, it is in your best interest that you see a therapist or psychologist.
Contact an Experienced Texas Car Accident Attorney at Johnson Garcia LLP
Being injured in an auto crash is never easy. Besides physical injuries, you may also have to deal with lost wages and other non-economic losses. This situation is further complicated when the insurance providers cannot agree on who is responsible for the accident. But you don’t have to worry about all these if you trust a skilled personal injury attorney at Johnson Garcia LLP to handle your passenger injury claim. Our Houston car accident lawyers will review your case, document your injuries, and work relentlessly to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.
Give us a call at 832-400-6094 to learn how our experienced personal injury lawyers can help.
