After an auto accident, Hudson Valley residents could experience a number of injuries. The overall severity ranges greatly, so it is important to be aware of what to expect. Not all people in an accident are injured, but if you are, you need to take the right steps immediately following your accident to ensure adequate protection.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Brain injuries can be life-altering if they are severe enough, so all suspected brain injuries must be evaluated right away. Even a minor concussion can cause problems, such as drowsiness, nausea, headache and dizziness. You want to get a CT scan to determine the extent of your brain injury. In more severe cases, there is the potential for losing consciousness, seizures, slurred speech and even spinal fluid leakage from your nose or ears.
Internal Bleeding
The blunt force that can occur when you are in an accident could result in internal bleeding. For example, if you are hit and your abdomen strikes your steering wheel, this could cause an injury like a lacerated spleen which could bleed internally. If you are bleeding internally, emergency medical treatment is necessary. The symptoms could include consciousness changes, shortness of breath, clammy and pale skin, reduced blood pressure and increased heart rate.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a common car accident injury, especially when you are hit from behind. It can cause a stiff and painful neck. Dizziness, fatigue and headache are also possible when you experience this injury.
Bone Break or Fracture
The blunt force that could occur with a car accident might cause broken or fractured bones in some cases. This type of injury needs to be immediately treated to reduce the risk of complications. When a fracture is minor, there might not be any outward signs letting you know you have one. Because of this, if a certain area of your body is painful, it is important to have immediate X-rays done to determine if a break or a fracture is present.
Cuts and Lacerations
Cuts and lacerations are very common and vary significantly in terms of severity. It is important that all are evaluated by a healthcare professional. This is because when they are cleaned and bandaged properly, this helps to reduce the risk of infection. If your cuts and lacerations are more significant, you might require more invasive intervention, such as stitches or staples, to close them.
You can see that an auto accident can cause very serious injuries for some people. Knowing what to do following an auto accident in Hudson Valley is critical, especially if you are injured because you want to know that the associated costs will be covered.
