Perhaps you were merely running out to the store to pick up a few things the day you got behind the wheel to drive and wound up in the hospital. You may have never even seen signs of potential trouble on the road, especially if the car that hit you came barreling up from behind. Then again, if you noticed another vehicle veering toward the yellow line or randomly speeding up then slowing down, there just may not have been enough time or a safe way to avoid a collision.
If you’re like many Oregon accident victims, you might vividly recall the sound of crashing metal or breaking glass when you think back to the moment of impact. If rescue workers took you to the hospital by ambulance or helicopter, your injuries might have been severe. Perhaps you felt fairly well aside from some soreness or shaken nerves after the collision. Sometimes, however, symptoms of injury are not immediately apparent.
Signs to watch for if you were in a collision
If ER doctors release you the same day of your collision, it’s important to keep watch for any symptoms that develop. The following lists the most common types of car accident injuries:
- Fuel tanks often rupture or leak upon impact, thus creating a great risk of explosion. If there are flames or the wreckage heats up, you might suffer serious burns.
- Whiplash is a term that refers to any injury related to tissues, muscles, bones or tendons in or near the neck.
- You may have hit your head on the dashboard, steering wheel or side window. Hitting your head, as well as sudden jarring, can cause traumatic brain injury.
- If you are not feeling well after returning home following a car accident, it is critical that you seek further medical attention. You might have internal injuries that can be life-threatening.
- Bumps, bruises, lacerations and broken bones are also common injuries to those involved in motor vehicle collisions.
You might not realize you have a brain injury right away. If you feel dizzy, nauseous, confused or have head or facial pain, it’s definitely a sign that warrants additional medical examination. You’ll want to make sure you tell the doctor that you were in a recent collision so he or she knows what to look for or what to try to rule out as a possible source of your discomfort.
Beyond physical injuries
It’s also common to suffer serious emotional trauma after a car accident. You might have trouble sleeping or experience nightmares related to the collision. If a doctor diagnoses you with post-traumatic stress disorder, it can take weeks or months to fully recover.
Many Oregon accident victims are completely unprepared to meet the expenses associated with their collisions. The state understands this, which is why recovering victims have the right to seek financial recovery for their losses when another person’s negligence was a causal factor.