Over 67,000 people were injured in car accidents across Pennsylvania in 2022. As the state’s most-populated county, Philadelphia ranks high among the counties with the highest number of car accident reports. That means that car accident injuries are unfortunately common in Philadelphia. If you were injured in an accident, you aren’t alone; keep reading to learn more about the most common types of injuries, how they’re treated, and how you can be compensated.
Most Common Car Accident Injuries in Philadelphia
Some people walk away from a car accident with bumps and bruises, while others aren’t so lucky. Many drivers and passengers suffer from serious injuries that can have long-term effects like pain and trauma, affecting them for years. Some of the most common types of injuries are also the most severe.
Head Injuries
Head injuries are among the most commonly-reported car accident injuries. Airbags, loose objects flying around the vehicle, and other factors all lead to various types of head injuries.
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Concussion
- Facial Injuries
- Diffuse Axonal Injuries
While all head injuries are serious, they can vary in severity. Treatment can range from extra rest to surgery, medications, and rehabilitation therapy. As with all types of car accident injuries, you should seek immediate medical attention and follow a doctor’s orders for ongoing treatment. When considering calculating compensation for a car accident injury, you should consider all current and future costs associated with the injury. Average compensation amounts vary greatly depending on the nature of the injury, but can range from the thousands to tens of millions.
Neck Injuries
The sudden change of direction that occurs in collisions puts an incredible amount of strain on the neck. Whiplash, one of the most well-known and dangerous neck injuries, is also one of the most common types of injuries suffered by car accident victims. Immediate treatment for minor whiplash often includes wearing a neck collar, icing the area, or over-the-counter medicine. However, the symptoms of whiplash may last weeks, months, or even years, requiring treatment such as medications, physical therapy, and pain management.
Broken Bones
Impact from a car accident puts an incredible amount of strain on the body, leading to bone fractures. Ribs and limbs are some of the most frequently reported and damaging, although broken noses or facial bones can also be common. Broken bones often take months to heal and have lasting impacts like nerve damage and loss of strength.
Mental and Emotional Trauma
Physical injuries aren’t the only conditions that car accident victims can suffer from; mental and emotional trauma, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are also a factor after many car accidents. Some victims suffer for the rest of their life with the trauma, affecting all areas of the victim’s life. Others have to suffer from pain due to their injuries, which can also have an impact on mental health. Mental anguish falls under non-economic damages, which means that it’s difficult to assign a monetary value. An attorney can help you prove how your involvement in the accident has affected your life and put a dollar amount on your suffering.
If you sustained any of these or other injuries in a Philadelphia car accident, you deserve to be compensated while you focus on receiving the proper treatments. Before you accept a settlement offer from an insurance company, contact The Law Office of Jason Javie to discuss your case. Our law team can go over your case to make sure you receive the compensation that you deserve. Schedule a consultation online or by phone to learn more about your options.