A car accident can cause damage to your body that lasts a lifetime. Serious trauma happens to car accident victims every day. Worse, if you don’t see a doctor, that trauma can worsen. Do you know which common injuries to ask your doctor about after a Phoenix car accident?

Zanes Law sees car accident victims all the time in our practice, and we’ve seen a wide range of injuries from our clients. Several of them pop up again and again in car accidents. Here are the ones you need to ask your doctor about when you get diagnosed after your accident.

Whiplash

Whiplash happens when the cervical spine is forced beyond the normal range of motion. Car crashes are the most common cause. This can cause chronic headaches and neck pain, and can make it hard to concentrate. In worse cases, it can cause serious damage to your nerves, ligaments, and neck discs.

Back Injuries

Back injuries can affect muscles, nerves, spinal discs, and more. Almost all the range of motion we have goes through the back muscles. If you’ve ever had low back pain, you know how much it can hurt to do anything!

Car accidents can aggravate existing back issues or create brand new ones that cause tremendous suffering. Sometimes, you can even get a spinal cord injury. This can cause paralysis or scrambled nerve function that can affect the rest of your life.

Head Injuries

Concussions are common in Phoenix car accidents because of the force of impact. You could end up with serious brain damage. Even mild concussions can cause problems for weeks after your accident, to say nothing of more serious blows.

Also, depending on how your head was struck, you could suffer damage to the eyes, the jaw and teeth, and more. These can affect your ability to eat or sense the world around you, which can ruin your quality of life.

Broken Bones

A broken bone is also a common car accident injury in Phoenix. Your legs could be crushed in a side impact. Your head could knock the steering wheel. A flipped vehicle could break many bones. Even your airbag, while saving your head, can crack your ribs and sternum if the shock is large enough.

Joint Injuries

If the bones are at risk, so are the joints. Repairing joint injuries can require a lot of painful rehabilitation to regain lost range of motion. For some people, losing a joint can mean losing a job. A construction worker won’t get far with a busted knee or elbow!

Internal Bleeding

Internal bleeding can happen in rougher accidents, especially ones with broken bones. This needs to be treated at a hospital to avoid serious complications.

There are many other car accident injuries that could harm you besides these. We also can’t forget that car accidents kill people every day because of trauma. Filing a car accident claim starts with a diagnosis of your injuries.

Why You Need a Doctor ASAP After a Car Accident

Some people can shrug off a lot of pain and hate seeing doctors, but avoiding the doctor is the worst thing you can do after your car accident in Phoenix. You should see one as soon as possible after your accident. This gives you several advantages:

  • It proves that the accident, and not something else, caused your injuries
  • Your doctor can find hidden injuries that shock or adrenaline might hide and start treatment early
  • Early treatment improves your prognosis and you could get pain relief sooner
  • You may get access to employee benefits like FMLA only if you see a doctor as soon as possible

Tell your doctor that you’ve been in an accident so that they know what to look for in their tests. They’ll look for signs of common car accident injuries and make sure you’re not suffering from hidden injuries.

Can I Get Compensation for a Pre-Existing Condition?

If you already had an injury, a car crash will probably make it worse. It is possible to get compensation for it, but you will need to prove that the accident trauma was the cause and not the progression of your disease.

This is another reason why seeing a doctor after your accident can protect you. They can compare the damage in your records over time and give a professional opinion about how your car accident made your existing injury worse.

When Should I Call a Lawyer?

If you’ve been diagnosed with an injury after your accident, that’s the time to call a car accident lawyer. You’ll have an official medical record of what you’re experiencing. Your lawyer can use that information to estimate the value of your case.

To get a free estimate of your car accident case in Phoenix, contact Zanes Law for a free consultation. We can even talk to you if you’re in the hospital. Learn how we can help you find an insurance claim or lawsuit so that you can pay for your car accident treatments.