When an auto accident occurs in Toledo, Ohio, you and your loved ones can be left with a variety of different injuries. Some may be mild or may not present symptoms right away, so you should seek treatment soon after the incident to make sure that you are not injured or that your injuries are not more severe than you think. Other injuries are immediately obvious and traumatic, and can require emergency medical care.
It is important to get started with your auto accident injury claim quickly, whatever the injuries may be, to ensure that you have all of the necessary evidence and witness statements while everything is still fresh and recent. You don’t have to wait for your injuries to heal so that you know the full cost of those injuries. In fact, the future expenses can be estimated and included in your auto accident claim, and your attorney can fight for fair compensation while you fight to recover and get your life back on track.
Following are some of the most common auto accident injuries in Toledo, Ohio, which the attorneys at the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers see most frequently.
Auto Accident Head Injuries in Toledo, Ohio
Head injuries are among the most serious and common of auto accident injuries. They can happen when someone’s head impacts the steering wheel, the dashboard, or the roof of the car. They can also happen when objects strike or penetrate the head. Sometimes, these injuries occur because the person is thrown from the vehicle. Head injuries can range from mild concussions to serious and life altering traumatic brain injuries. It is important to get medical attention for any head injury, even if you don’t think it is serious.
Sometimes, the injured person will have bleeding from the head, symptoms of dizziness and nausea, an inability to maintain balance, or extreme sleepiness from a head injury. Other times, the person may experience nothing more than a mild headache, yet it could still be indicative of a more serious problem. Anyone with a head injury needs medical treatment and careful observation to ensure that their symptoms are managed and do not grow worse.
Auto Accident Neck Injuries in Toledo, Ohio
Neck injuries are another extremely common auto accident injury in Toledo, Ohio, and they are often not recognized until after the adrenaline of the accident wears off. This is especially true in cases of whiplash, where there is significant strain on the neck as the weight of the head slams forward and back because of the impact of the collision. In other cases, the neck injury could be even more serious, such as a broken neck, that could lead to paralysis or death if not quickly and appropriately treated. This is one reason that you should not move someone who has been injured, because doing so could cause someone with a neck injury to become paralyzed or die.
Auto Accident Back Injuries in Toledo, Ohio
Back Injuries, like neck injuries, can cause paralysis or death, if they involve the spine. Again, do not move someone who is injured, unless absolutely necessary, for this same reason. Having said that, not all back injuries involve the spinal cord. There are also back injuries that involve muscle damage, strains, and sprains. There are also slipped or ruptured discs in the spine and damage to the actual spinal cord which frequently results in paralysis.
Auto Accident Bone Injuries in Toledo, Ohio
Bone injuries are those that involve broken or fractured bones, caused by a significant impact to the affected area. Common broken bone injuries include broken ribs, broken noses, broken arms, broken legs, and broken hands or wrists. Depending on the position of the individual in the vehicle, and how they move in response to the accident, they may be more or less likely to break a bone. For example, if someone stiffens their arms against the dashboard to brace themselves when they know an accident is about to happen, they may end up with broken arms. In some cases, a broken bone can also cause internal injuries, such as when it is a broken rib that might puncture a lung. In other cases, broken bones will simply drastically impact the person’s life until the broken bones can heal. They may require surgery, a cast, and medical devices, like a sling or crutches, along with pain medication throughout the healing process.
Internal Auto Accident Injuries in Toledo, Ohio
Internal injuries are injuries to the organs within your body. As previously mentioned, they can often be caused by broken bones, particularly the ribs, which could puncture a lung. There are also cases where the seatbelt might damage the internal organs in the area of the belly. Unfortunately, these injuries are often not immediately visible, though they can be very painful, and they might cause death before anyone realizes the severity of the injury. Internal bleeding can also cause a person to go into shock.
Fatal Auto Accident Injuries in Toledo, Ohio
Many of the above injuries can be fatal if not treated quickly, and sometimes, no matter how quick you are to get treatment. In many very traumatizing cases, a person is killed on impact. This causes a substantial amount of grief, depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder for those who survive the accident and those who lost their loved one. This is where an auto accident claim can become a wrongful death claim.
Contact the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation of Your Toledo Auto Accident Claim
The skilled auto accident attorneys in Toledo, OH at the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers have seen all of these common auto accident injuries and more. We know how to seek the maximum compensation for your injuries and losses and we will represent you and handle the insurance company claims negotiations while you focus on recovering. We know how devastating these injuries can be, and we are here to help you. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.