Trenton Car Accident Lawyers

What To Do After a Car Accident

If you’ve been in a car accident in Trenton, you need to first take stock of your injuries. Do you feel extreme pain anywhere? Do you see a lot of blood? Keep in mind that you will likely still be in shock, so it can take time to start noticing the various aches and pains the accident caused.

If it’s safe for you to move, get out of the car and call for help. Let paramedics know if anyone was injured. If there are injuries, deaths, or property damage over $500, you are required to report the accident.

Next, you should begin exchanging information with the other driver or drivers. Get their personal information, license number, and vehicle registration number. Remember not to talk about the accident at all, admit fault, or blame anyone else.

Start taking pictures of the damage. Get as many as you can, documenting any road markings, property damage, and injuries. It can also help to write down a description of the accident while it is still fresh in your mind.

Let your insurer know as soon as possible. You don’t want to wait too long because it can affect your claims later on.

It’s important to turn to Trenton car accident lawyers to know you have the guidance you need. They can advise you about all of the steps you need to take so that you have the best chance of getting the compensation you deserve.

Common Car Accident Injuries

The speed at which you or the other driver were traveling, the kind of accident you went through, and many other factors impact the type of injuries you receive. Some may be mild, like bruises, while others, like traumatic brain injuries, can be more severe.

Bruising

If you hit part of your body against the car, someone else, or any other surface, you can damage the blood vessels under your skin, forming bruises.

Most of the time, bruises resolve on their own, but in some instances, they may point to bigger issues, including internal bleeding. Before leaving the scene of the accident, have the paramedics check your condition.

Whiplash

Many drivers involved in car accidents experience whiplash, especially during rear-ended collisions. When hit with that kind of force from the back, your neck goes quickly and violently forward and backward, like a whip, putting strain on your ligaments, tendons, muscles, and more.

It can take some people weeks to recover from whiplash. Others may continue experiencing chronic pain. If your airbag fails to deploy, you are also more likely to get whiplash.

Sprains and Strains

These are two similar types of injuries. A strain occurs within the muscle or tissue that joins bone to muscle, while a sprain occurs between two bones in one joint.

Although sprains and strains are less severe than other injuries, you still need to get them checked out by medical professionals before leaving the scene.

Fractures and Dislocations

Broken bones are also common in car accidents, especially in the hands and feet. Many times, however, it’s not apparent right after the accident because the adrenaline and shock of the event mask the pain and other symptoms.

A dislocation occurs when two bones that meet at a joint pull apart. If you experience pain in a joint, it can point to a dislocation, even if the joint looks normal. Getting medical attention from the paramedics after the accident helps with knowing if you have a fracture or a dislocation.

Penetrating Injuries

Penetrating injuries occur when a foreign object penetrates the body. They can occur if there is debris like glass flying during a car accident.

It’s important not to remove the object if it’s still in your body, but instead, wait for the paramedics to arrive. Because not all penetrating injuries can be evaluated at the site of the accident, paramedics may take you to the hospital.  

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal injuries can be complete, which means you don’t have any feeling below the site of the injury, or incomplete, which means you have some feeling left. In some instances, paralysis may occur right away, but it can also be a progressive issue. These injuries are some of the most complex and dangerous, and they require immediate medical attention.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury is an injury that occurs to brain cells when the brainis jolted. This can happen if you hit your head against another surface during the accident or if your neck snapped forward on impact. Traumatic brain injuries can sometimes be treated at home, but most of the time, they require medical help.

Psychological Injuries

Although you can’t see psychological damage, it can impact your life significantly. If you’ve been in a car accident and get flashbacks or find yourself wanting to avoid the location where it happened, you may have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). People who live through those types of traumatic experiences are also more likely to develop anxiety and depression. All of these conditions require professional treatment.