People get injured in Arizona car accidents every day. The type and severity of these injuries depend on the circumstances of the crash; however, severe, catastrophic and fatal injuries are unfortunately common. Many car accident survivors experience symptoms, pain and side effects for months, years or life from long-term injuries. These victims may be eligible for financial compensation for related long-term costs.
Brain Damage
Sadly, injuries to the head, skull and brain are frequent occurrences in car accidents. A victim may strike his or her head against the windshield, steering wheel or other elements inside the car during a collision, causing a traumatic brain injury (TBI). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 64,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2020 due to TBIs. Motor vehicle accidents are one of the top causes of these fatal injuries.
Some brain injuries, such as mild concussions, do not cause long-term symptoms. Others, however, can cause lasting or permanent brain damage. The long-term symptoms of a brain injury can include cognitive declines, confusion, memory loss, personality changes, balance problems, seizures, chronic headaches and paralysis. Severe and permanent brain injuries are most common in motorcycle, bicycle and pedestrian accidents, where the victim’s head is more exposed to injury.
Spinal Cord Injuries (Paralysis)
Another common long-term car accident injury is the spinal cord injury. The spine can suffer severe damage in a car accident, such as compression, crush injuries, severance, bone fractures and disk herniation. All parts of the spine can suffer injury, from the vertebra to the disks to the nerves. These injuries can result in long-term or permanent nerve damage, pain, loss of mobility, paralysis and other health issues.
Paralysis is the loss of feeling and function below the point of a serious injury to the spine – such as paraplegia (paralysis from the waist down) and quadriplegia (paralysis from the neck down). While some victims can restore some function or feeling through treatments such as rehabilitation, most cases of paralysis are irreversible.
Soft-Tissue Injuries
Many soft-tissue injuries inflicted in a car accident can have long-lasting repercussions. A muscle, ligament or tendon that is ripped, stretched, torn or pulled in a car accident may never feel the same again. A whiplash injury involving the ligaments and tendons of the neck, for example, can cause pain or a loss of mobility for several weeks or months. Other serious and sometimes permanent soft-tissue injuries are contusions, muscle damage, scar tissue and nerve damage.
Scarring or Disfigurement
A high percentage of car accident survivors come away with permanent reminders of the crash in the form of physical scarring or disfigurement. Dozens of car accident injuries can result in permanent physical damage, including:
- Second-degree and third-degree burns
- Injuries from debris or flying objects
- Injuries from explosions
- Severe lacerations from metal or broken glass
- Facial and dental injuries
- Road rash and traumatic tattooing
- Traumatic amputations
- Scars from life-saving surgeries
A car accident can result in long-term emotional and psychological scarring, as well. Car crashes are often traumatic for those involved, sometimes resulting in diagnosable conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can have a major effect on the victim’s quality of life.
What to Do if You Have Long-Term Injuries From a Car Accident in Arizona
If you or a loved one has suffered catastrophic injuries with long-term consequences from a car accident in Arizona, seek legal advice from an attorney at The Law Offices of John Phebus Glendale Criminal and Personal Injury Lawyer. You may be eligible for significant compensation for a life-changing injury, including a settlement for a lifetime of future foreseeable medical care and lost capacity to earn income. You may also qualify for compensation for physical pain and emotional suffering caused by a car accident or serious injuries. Our attorneys can help you hold a wrongdoer accountable for the full value of your case.