Car accidents can cause a wide variety of injuries that are either noticeable or not noticeable. In Oklahoma, you have up to two years to make a personal injury claim. However, you should file as soon as possible to show that you took prompt action to treat your injuries.
Soft tissue injuries
Soft tissue injuries are common during car accidents because the body is suddenly jerked from the impact. This unnatural jolt to your muscles could cause strains, sprains or tears to your muscles, tendons, or ligaments. These tend to be painful injuries and could take several months to heal.
Burns
Burns don’t just happen from a car catching on fire. Fluids from the vehicle or another vehicle could splash onto your skin, leaving behind a burn. If a car exhaust lands near you, this could cause a burn as well.
Bruises, cuts and road rash
Bruises and cuts during car accidents usually result from objects inside the car becoming projectiles. To minimize your risk of injury, you should never store more items than necessary in your car. Ideally, you should keep anything essential stored away, and use the trunk to transfer items before putting anything inside the car’s cabin. Road rash occurs when your skin scrapes against something. It’s a common injury for motorcyclists.
Internal injuries
Injuries from a car accident aren’t always external. The resistance from your seat belt and airbag could injure your internal organs. Internal bleeding of your organs is an emergency situation, which is why professionals urge people to see a doctor as soon as possible after an accident. You might feel fine at the moment, only for severe symptoms to suddenly hit you later.
The sudden, unnatural movement your body experiences from an impact during a car accident could cause a variety of injuries. Broken glass, projectiles and car fluids pose additional hazards that could injure you. Regardless of how serious you think your injuries are, you should get a checkup right after a car accident.
