Car Accident Injuries and Medical Treatment

One of the most important things you can do after a car collision is to seek medical attention right away. Seeking medical attention immediately after an automobile accident helps ensure any injuries are promptly diagnosed and you get the medical treatment you need.

Car accident injuries can be as minor as bumps and bruises you can treat with over-the-counter pain medication or life-threatening injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury. When the collision resulted from the other driver’s careless behavior, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries. Contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. for a free consultation to discuss your options.

How Salvi Law Can Help with Car Accident Injuries and Medical Treatment

Getting treatment for motor vehicle accidents and the resulting injuries can be expensive and time-consuming. Coordinating your care can very quickly take over your life. It’s essential to prioritize doing everything you can to heal. Our dedicated legal team can help with all aspects of your car accident claim and can work with your insurance company to ensure you receive proper medical treatment. 

You might be wondering whether you can and should seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other consequences of the collision. Navigating the legal landscape can add another layer of complication to the challenges you’re going through.

Thankfully, you don’t have to do this alone. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. has helped Illinois motor vehicle accident victims seek fair compensation for their losses. Our compassionate car accident lawyers can help build a strong personal injury case against the at-fault driver. We’ve recovered over $2.5 billion in compensation for our clients, including more than 350 multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements. Receiving fair compensation is essential to ensuring you have the financial resources necessary to receive quality medical care. Contact us for a free consultation where we can help you figure out the best option to move forward.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Car accident injuries vary in their severity and long-term impact. Some of the most common injuries auto accident victims suffer include:

• Broken Bones and Fractures in Car Accidents — The physical trauma of a car crash can cause bones to break. Your body may be thrown into hard surfaces in the vehicle, such as the steering wheel, dashboard, or door, which can cause painful fractures.
• Burn Injuries in Car Accidents — Car accident victims may suffer burns from exposure to heat, fire, or chemicals following a crash.
• Spinal Injuries in Car Accidents — Sudden impact can cause injuries to the spinal cord and the tissues that surround it, potentially leading to severe, lifelong complications.
• Catastrophic Injuries — Car collisions can result in a variety of catastrophic injuries that cause permanent changes to a victim’s quality of life, mobility, ability to work, and intimate relationships.
• Fatalities in Car Accidents — A range of collision types can result in death, including high-speed, head-on, wrong-way, drunk driving, and distracted driving crashes.
• Whiplash — Whiplash injuries are especially common in rear-end collisions. The violent back-and-forth movement of the neck can result in severe pain, nerve damage, problems with vision and memory, and severe headaches.
• Seatbelt Injuries — Seatbelts save lives, but they don’t always effectively protect the head and neck from injury. The force of the seatbelt across the body can also cause injuries to the chest in a collision.
• Dashboard Knee Injuries — The impact of a collision can cause the knees to slam into the dashboard, potentially resulting in ligament and cartilage injuries, dislocation, or fracture.
• Airbag Injuries — Airbags offer critical protection in collisions, but the force of their deployment can cause facial injuries, burns, abrasions, and hand injuries. A malfunctioning or defective airbag that doesn’t deploy correctly is also dangerous.
• Steering Wheel Injuries — Injuries to the head and chest can result from impact with the steering wheel. Drivers may also grip the steering wheel very hard in bracing for impact, which can result in serious hand injuries.
• Glass Injuries — Windshield and window glass can injure victims in a variety of ways, including in cases of ejection, side impact, and attempting to exit the vehicle after a crash. Facial injuries, broken bones, lacerations, nerve damage, and other injuries can result.
• Facial Injuries — Facial injuries in car collisions result from impact with the steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield, as well as contact with broken glass.
• Passenger Injuries — Passenger injuries may vary based on their location in the vehicle, the type of collision, and the point of impact. 
• Brain Injuries — Brain injuries range in severity from mild to severe traumatic brain injuries. These result from the head being jolted or making contact with a hard surface, such as the steering wheel, window, or dashboard.

Many of the above are visible injuries. However, not all car accident injuries immediately present symptoms. You may be suffering from underlying injuries, such as back injuries, neck injuries, internal injuries, and soft tissue injuries. For this reason, it’s important to see a doctor promptly after a car crash.

Should I Go to the Doctor After a Minor Car Accident?

If you find yourself wondering, “Should I go to the doctor after a minor car accident?” the answer is usually yes. Some injuries are more serious than they may initially seem. Others barely display any noticeable symptoms but can have lasting consequences. It’s best to seek medical treatment out of an abundance of caution.

Help for Car Accident Injuries

Following a car crash, you likely have many questions and concerns. Is it normal to have a headache after a car accident? How long do I have to file a personal injury suit? What if I can never work again? What help can I expect from my own auto insurance company? Fortunately, collision injury victims have a number of resources they can turn to for help.

For top medical treatment from a skilled emergency room doctor, seek treatment at a Level I trauma center. Many of these hospitals are in the greater Chicago area, but options exist statewide. If you are badly injured, seek emergency services from the nearest hospital. Otherwise, you can visit an urgent care clinic or your primary care physician. However, it is important that you seek prompt medical attention after an accident so you can receive an accurate diagnosis. 

In addition to traditional medical care, you may also need other types of care, including physical therapy, massage therapy, and/or chiropractic care. Your well-being is our top priority.  We can help assemble a qualified team of medical professionals to assist you after the accident. We can also work with your health insurance and obtain medical records on your behalf. 

The Illinois Secretary of State’s office has some helpful resources for drivers, including the Rules of the Road book and a website devoted to driver services.

If you decide to pursue compensation from another party for your injuries and losses, your attorney will want a copy of your crash report. You can find out how to obtain one online here.

Your attorney can also point you toward valuable resources throughout your legal journey.

Contact a Chicago Car Accident Attorney Today

Car accident injuries can change your life in an instant. As you begin the process of navigating your future after a collision, it’s essential to have an attorney on your side. When you trust the team at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. with your injury claim, you can rest easier knowing our experienced attorneys are handling every aspect of your legal case with care. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your needs and learn more about how we can help.