Car accidents can be traumatizing, painful, and expensive. While bruises and sprains may heal quickly, other injuries last longer — sometimes for life. Furthermore, even if you recover physically from a crash, you may suffer psychological or economic consequences for months or years.
In this post, an experienced North Carolina attorney covers how to seek compensation for the long-term effects of car accident injuries.
Eight Car Crash Injuries That Can Have Long-Term Effects
From broken bones to nerve damage, nearly any part of the body can suffer injury in a motor vehicle collision. The following common injuries frequently have long-term effects:
- Head injuries: Although some traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are mild, others have catastrophic consequences like cognitive impairment, long-term disability, and even death.
- Back injuries: Back injuries range from herniated discs to spinal cord damage. The lasting effects may include chronic pain, restricted mobility, and permanent paralysis.
- Neck injuries: Whiplash in car crashes occurs when the head whips back and forth violently. This can cause limited movement, chronic headaches, and enduring pain.
- Organ damage: Internal organs like the liver, spleen, lungs, or kidneys can also be damaged in a collision. Even when car crash victims seem fine, they may be bleeding internally and need immediate medical attention.
- Severe burns: A painful and permanent type of car accident injury is burns. Serious burns often require repeated medical treatments and cause irreparable scarring.
- Limb loss: Whether the victim loses both legs or a single finger in a crash, amputations are life-altering injuries that can cause physical and mental health challenges.
- Bone fractures: Some broken bones heal quickly, but a crushed pelvis or compound elbow fracture may have complications like permanent nerve injury, joint damage, or uneven limbs.
- Soft tissue damage: While bruises and sprains are minor compared to the other injuries on this list, they can also cause lasting effects, such as chronic pain and restricted movement.
Common Long-Term Effects of Car Accident Injuries
No matter what type of injury an auto collision causes, the long-term effects typically fall into the following categories:
Physical Effects
Many car crash injuries heal in days to weeks. Others last months or years or may even be lifelong. Examples of common chronic or permanent physical injuries include the following:
- Total or partial vision loss
- Total or partial hearing loss
- Total or partial paralysis
- Amputations of limbs or extremities
- Loss of mobility in limbs or joints
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Back pain, neck pain, or headaches
Cognitive Effects
Some long-term effects of car accident injuries affect the mind more than the body. For example, a traumatic brain injury may not hurt, but it can cause cognitive impairment, confusion, memory loss, and poor concentration. This can make attending school, holding a job, or maintaining interpersonal relationships difficult.
Emotional Effects
Even if you can’t pinpoint a specific physical or cognitive impairment, you may not feel the same after a car crash. Traumatic events often cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health challenges. You may feel depressed, anxious, or fearful or find it hard to sleep or control your temper.
Financial Effects
Finally, all of the above can be expensive. You may need emergency medical care, physical rehabilitation, psychological counseling, and prescription medication. In addition, your injuries may interfere with your ability to work, which compounds the financial burden.
Types of Compensation for Car Accident Injuries
If you’ve suffered the long-term effects of car accident injuries, you may qualify to seek financial compensation. North Carolina accident victims can pursue three types of damages:
- Economic damages: Also known as “special damages,” economic damages compensate you for the monetary costs of your accident. These include property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity.
- Non-economic damages: Also known as “general damages,” non-economic damages compensate you for the less quantifiable consequences of your accident. These include pain and suffering, physical disfigurement, psychological trauma, and decreased quality of life.
- Punitive damages: Not available in every case, punitive damages may apply in car accident claims involving willful or wanton conduct, such as car racing or drunk driving.
If you lost a close family member in a fatal car collision, you may also qualify to seek damages. Examples include compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, loss of income, and loss of companionship.
Contact Us for Legal Help After a Car Crash
If you’ve suffered long-term effects of car accident injuries, you may be hurting physically, emotionally, and financially. The experienced team at Paynter Law can help you seek compensation for your losses. Call us today at (919) 245-3116 to learn more about your legal rights and options.