You may be a cautious and defensive driver, but you cannot always control the actions of those around you. When the negligence or recklessness of other drivers leaves you with injuries, you may have many questions about what your future will look like. Many car accidents result in fatalities, but far more end with life-changing injuries. Not only do certain injuries reduce your quality of life, they may create extreme hardships for your Kentucky family, perhaps for the rest of your life.
Every motor vehicle crash is different, and certain variables, such as speed and the size of the vehicles, can affect the outcome. Nevertheless, there are some injuries that first responders and emergency room doctors see all too frequently when tending to car accident victims.
A bad outcome
Perhaps the most devastating injuries you or a loved one may suffer in a motor vehicle crash are head and spinal cord injuries. Not only are these injuries difficult to treat, but they often result in life-long complications and drastic changes to the victim’s quality of life.
Doctors are only beginning to learn of the devastating effects of head trauma. Brain injuries can leave you with severe cognitive deficits, physical impairments and even changes in your personality. Some effects of a brain trauma may not manifest for years after the injury, and the outcome is quite different from patient to patient.
Spinal cord injuries may leave you with partial or complete paralysis, depending on where the injury occurs on your spine. At this point, there is no way to reverse an injury to the spinal cord, and treatment to recover mobility and independence can be devastatingly expensive.
Other common injuries
While spinal and brain injuries are often considered the most severe non-fatal injuries resulting from a car accident, other injuries can create struggles of their own, including:
- Internal injuries that may require numerous surgeries, lead to infection or result in the removal of an organ
- Fractures and breaks that may reduce your mobility or require surgery to repair
- Trauma to your neck and back, which often results in lifelong pain
- Post-traumatic stress disorder and other psychological issues, which are common after a traumatic event and can affect every area of your life
When the actions of another driver result in injury to your or your loved ones, you may feel it is unfair. You are the ones left to suffer and struggle to get your lives back on track, and you are the ones trying to figure out how to afford the care you need to recover. For many, seeking compensation through the civil courts is one option, and you may wish to reach out to an attorney for an evaluation of your situation.