Life is a beautiful thing full of wonder and joy, but it also has a habit of throwing us a curveball when we least expect it. Sometimes, these can be really easy to deal with, but other times, they can turn your life upside down and severely disrupt your quality of life (not to mention your bank balance). So what are you to do if you find yourself the victim of some kind of accident that wasn’t your fault? Aside from seeking immediate medical attention and possibly enlisting the help of a personal injury attorney, it can help to know the health risks you might face in order to prepare yourself and ensure that you’re able to receive the right kind of medical attention.
Some Individuals May Experience Chronic Pain Long After The Initial Injuries Have Healed
When many people think of an accident, they tend to think of the immediate pain and damage caused without considering the long-term effects. However, in plenty of cases, an injury can last long into the future, causing chronic pain that you have to live with for years (or even the rest of your life). This trip and fall lawyer notes a significant number of incidents that could lead to long-term issues, including traumatic brain injuries that can last for your life and spinal injuries that could potentially reduce your quality of life enormously. While there’s not much you can do if you end up with some form of chronic injury, you can usually alleviate many of the issues by seeking prompt medical attention. Even if you don’t believe your injury is too severe, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and have a doctor check you out. You can never know what kind of internal injuries might be lurking in the background that will result in enduring health problems you’ll have to deal with for the rest of your life.
Whiplash Can Cause Neck Pain And Headaches After Car Accidents
Accidents involving cars are among the most common causes of injury, and according to some statistics, there were 42,514 deaths from motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2022 alone. However, while the death rate is certainly high, the usual suspect when it comes to car accident injury is ubiquitous whiplash. When this term is mentioned, many people think it’s a minor problem that gives you a sore neck. This is sometimes the case in lower-speed incidents, but when higher speeds are involved, whiplash can prove even potentially deadly. It can also lead to the sort of chronic pain we discussed in the previous section and serious discomfort for the rest of a person’s life.
Concussions Lead To Dizziness, Confusion, And Memory Issues After Head Injuries
A concussion is a serious injury that can occur even from the slightest impact on your head. It might be caused by you falling and banging your head against the ground or something falling from above. In either case, it’s something that ought to lead you to seek immediate medical attention. Any form of head injury is liable to cause long-lasting damage if not treated quickly. In most instances, concussion usually only leads to short-term injuries, but as with any injury sustained from an accident, it’s necessary to double-check that there are no underlying problems that might persist into the future.
Internal Injuries Can Be Life-Threatening And Require Immediate Medical Attention
An internal injury might not always cause you pain, but left untreated, it could result in massive complications or even death. This is why it’s always advisable to have a doctor perform a range of tests on you to ensure that any superficial injuries are just that and won’t spiral into anything worse. In order to make sure you are not suffering internal injuries, a raft of tests will be conducted that include:
- X-rays
- CT scans
- MRI
- Ultrasound
- Blood tests (which can indicate if your kidneys or liver have been damaged)
Accidents May Lead To PTSD, Anxiety, Or Depression, Impacting Mental Health Significantly
Accidents can lead to all manner of injury, but one that often goes overlooked is the potential to cause significant mental health concerns. The more intense accidents can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder that can last throughout one’s life and dramatically affect one’s ability to live life. The more serious cases will involve the need for in-depth psychological treatment that may last for a short while or last longer, depending on the severity of the disorders. The issue facing people who have been involved in an accident and suffered from PTSD as a result of it is that because it can be an ongoing issue and subjective to a certain degree, it’s not always easy to put a number on any damages you may be entitled to.
Regular Medical Checkups Are Essential For Monitoring Ongoing Issues Post-Accident
Even after you’ve recovered, your injury may require ongoing treatment and checkups to ensure it doesn’t flare up and cause you even more issues. Your doctor should inform you of what sorts of post-accident actions you need to take, whether you should come in for a regular checkup, and at what intervals.
Legal And Financial Implications Post-Accident
If you were involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault or was due in some part to another negligent party, you are probably in line to receive compensation to help you cover your costs and provide you the chance to focus on your recovery rather than worrying about money. The legal action you take will depend on the accident or incident you’re involved in since there are different categories. If you were the victim of medical malpractice, you’d need to employ an attorney specific in this area, whereas if you were injured at work, you might be entitled to receive workers’ compensation. If you’re not sure whether your case has legs, you can always book an initial consultation with a professional injury law firm, which will provide you with advice on whether you should start legal action and, if so, what your next steps ought to be.
All accidents are bad, but some can result in far more severe injuries than others. When you know what kinds of problems different injuries can cause for both your short- and long-term health, you can better prepare for life afterward.
