Vehicle accidents in New York are stressful enough without the concern of injuries. Statistics report that around 2 million vehicle accidents with bodily harm occur annually. While the accident may be minor, it can cause several types of injuries.
Common vehicle accident injuries
Whiplash is a soft tissue injury that occurs from the rapid jerking of the neck back and forth. This action forces the muscles out of alignment, which may cause neck stiffness and soreness and arm or hand numbness.
A traumatic brain injury is among the more serious types of auto injuries. Occurring from blunt force trauma to the head, a TBI may be mild, such as a concussion, or a more serious injury causing bruises or brain bleeds. Some common symptoms of TBIs include dizziness, fatigue, headaches, blurred vision, vomiting, nausea and confusion.
Sometimes, serious burns occur after vehicle accidents because of the heat coming from engines and exposure to chemicals. Blood vessels may rupture in a crash from a seat belt or object, causing internal bleeding, but it often goes unnoticed.
What to do about injuries
The first thing to do at the scene of a vehicle crash is to call 911 and get the vehicle to safety. If the driver cannot dial emergency services or is unconscious, another passenger or witness can call it.
Injured drivers should seek medical attention for accident injuries as soon as possible, even if they don’t feel injured. This is because adrenaline can disguise symptoms until the body calms down, also known as the fight-or-flight response. It is important to take pictures of the vehicle damage and injuries of the drivers and passengers for proof.
Drivers should refrain from apologizing or agreeing to recorded messages from the at-fault party’s insurance. Sometimes, insurance companies are fair and agree to a settlement, but others need litigation filed against them before they will pay out.
