How a small crash can still lead to big injuries
Consider the following scenario:
You and your loved one are driving along Kennedy Boulevard on a Saturday afternoon, with your seat belts securely fastened, on your way to a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game. As you are approaching Dale Mabry, you start to slow your vehicle and come to a complete stop at a red traffic light. While stopped, you glance up to take a look out of your rearview mirror and notice that the vehicle behind you is not breaking. Before you can blink or turn to warn your loved one, the vehicle crashes into you! Your body instantly jerks forward and you hit your head on the steering wheel. After regaining your consciousness, you get out of your car to inspect the damage to your vehicle. To your surprise, your car looks something like this….
With little damage done, you call the police, fill out a report, and refuse to seek medical treatment. While leaving the scene of the accident, you start to feel a shooting pain in your neck and ask yourself “there is no way I could really be injured with a few minor scratches to my bumper, right?” WRONG!
Motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of injuries in the United States today. While the exact injury one may sustain from a motor vehicle accident is hard to predict, there are some injuries that are very common. These common injuries include:
Neck Injuries– pain within the neck may be a sign of muscle sprain/strain, disc bulge, or even a herniated disc within the cervical region. If injury to the neck is severe, it may cause damage to the spinal cord, which can result in shooting pain, numbness, and/or tingling within the upper extremities.
Back Injuries– pain within the mid to low back may be a sign of muscle sprain/strain, disc bulge, or even a herniated disc within the thoracic or lumbar region. If injury to the back is severe, it may cause damage to the spinal cord, which can result in shooting pain, numbness, and/or tingling within the lower extremities.
Head Injuries– head pain may be a sign of a mild concussion or worse, a traumatic brain injury. These type of injuries can cause one to experience a range of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, vision problems, and nausea.
Despite their commonality, many people remain skeptical as to how such injuries can be causally related to a minor fender-bender. However, the amount of property damage in a motor vehicle collision is only one of many factors to consider. The type of injury sustained and the severity of such injury resulting from a motor vehicle accident depends on a number of factors. These factors include but are not limited to:
Was the occupant of the vehicle wearing a seatbelt?
Where was the impact to the vehicle located?
How fast was the other vehicle traveling upon impact?
How was the occupant positioned within the vehicle?
Was the occupant braced for impact?
Did the air bags deploy?
Did any part of the occupant’s body hit the inside of the vehicle?
Did the occupant have any pre-existing injuries?
It is important to remember that not all injuries resulting from a motor vehicle accident may be immediately apparent. It could take weeks or possibly even months for certain symptoms to appear. So, even if you tell yourself “it’s just a little scratch,” you might want to consider seeking medical attention if you experience any unusual pain or discomfort after a motor vehicle accident.
If you or a loved one have been in an accident with injuries, please call us today at (855) LAW-DENNIS or learn more about Tampa Car Accident Attorney Dennis Hernandez at www.dennishernandez.com
