Car crashes can lead to several types of injuries. While some of these are minor, others are catastrophic. Victims who suffer catastrophic injuries usually have to deal with lifelong effects of that harm.
Understanding the basics of these injuries is important for anyone who’s been involved in a crash, as prompt medical care is critical when these injuries occur.
Traumatic brain injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can impact every area of a person’s life. While some of these are caused by a direct hit to the head, that’s not always the case. The force of the crash can cause the brain to slam against the interior of the skull, which can cause damage even if the hit isn’t hit during the crash. The symptoms of a TBI may not show up right away. It may take several days or even weeks to notice that something is amiss.
Spinal cord injury
A spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to paralysis and other effects. This occurs when the nerves that run in the spinal cord suffer damage. An SCI can be complete, which means the nerves are fully severed. Sometimes, it’s incomplete, which means that there are still some nerves connected at the site of the damage. Typically, a person who has an incomplete injury will have a better chance of recovery than someone with a complete injury.
Traumatic amputation
A traumatic amputation occurs when part of the body, typically an arm, leg or digit, is ripped off the rest of the body. It’s sometimes possible for the body part to be reattached, but that’s not always the case. Shock, blood loss and infection are some of the risks that come with a traumatic amputation.
Victims of car crashes who suffer catastrophic harm often need extensive medical care. This can be costly and there’s no reason for an innocent victim to have to cover these expenses. They can opt to pursue a compensation claim to shift the financial responsibility to the negligent party who caused the crash. This must be done within a specific amount of time in North Carolina, so swift action is critical.