Car accidents generate a large amount of force. As a result, you can sustain serious and sometimes life-threatening injuries in these collisions. The aftermath of the accident can impact you for years; depending on the nature and extent of your injuries, you may need long-term medical care and be unable to return to work, or they could be fatal.
If you are involved in an Oregon car accident, you may sustain one or more of the following types of injuries.
During a collision, the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your neck and back can move in unnatural ways. As a result, you can develop a soft tissue injury known as whiplash, which can cause severe pain for weeks or even months following the accident.
The brain is responsible for controlling some of our most important bodily functions. During a car accident, you can hit your head on a hard surface or foreign object, or an object can penetrate the skull. As a result, you can develop a traumatic brain injury. Any damage to the brain can cause long-term complications, including frequent headaches, sleeping problems, and cognitive difficulties.
Car accidents place unnatural amounts of force on the body that can easily break a bone. Broken arms, legs, hips, and collarbones are common after a collision. You may also sustain a broken rib, which can potentially puncture your lungs and cause internal bleeding. Broken bones can take months to heal and severely limit your mobility.
Some of the most common injuries in a car accident are cuts and bruises. Flying objects, broken glass, and other debris can cause severe harm during a car accident. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your accident, these lacerations can be very deep, leading to life-threatening bleeding. Severe abrasions can cause severe pain and may result in permanent scarring.
During a car accident, you may suffer damage to your spinal cord that can lead to long-term complications. A herniated disc occurs when one or more of the vertebrae in your spine rupture or shift out of place, leading to severe pain and limited mobility. In very severe cases, you may sustain a spinal cord injury that leads to a loss of sensation and function below the impacted vertebrae.
When one car collides with another, the impact can crush the people inside of the vehicle. These crushing injuries can damage your organs, leading to internal bleeding that can be life-threatening without immediate treatment. Damage to the kidneys, spleen, lungs, and liver is common after a collision.
Not all car accident injuries are visible. In many cases, collision victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after an accident. This mental health condition is characterized by nightmares, flashbacks, and a strong aversion to situations that remind you of your crash. You may be unable to drive for a period of time after the collision, which can impact your quality of life.
Many of the injuries that you can sustain in a car accident can lead to physical, emotional, and financial hardship. If someone else is responsible for your collision, you could hold him or her accountable through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
In these situations, you need an accident lawyer in Portland who can advocate for your rights and help you secure the compensation you deserve. Contact an Oregon car accident lawyer as soon as possible following your accident to discuss your path to recovery.
If you were injured in an accident in Portland, OR, please contact our Portland car accident lawyers at Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
Tillmann Law Personal Injury Lawyers
101 SW Main St. #1905
Portland, OR, 97204
(503) 773-3333
Open 24/7