Types of Injuries

Types of Personal Injuries

Just as the human body is made up of many different parts and components that work together to sustain human life and enable people to carry out the tasks and duties they must perform on a daily basis, so too there are a seemingly-infinite number of ways and circumstances under which the human body can be injured. Some injuries may be minor and enable the person to go about his or her life with only a minimal amount of discomfort or limitation, while other injuries are devastating and can completely alter the manner in which the injury victim lives, works, and plays.

Different Injury Types Common in Personal Injury Cases

No two personal injury cases are quite the same. Two individuals involved in the same car accident (for instance) may suffer different types of injuries and injuries of varying degrees. Nonetheless, there are “types” of injuries that seem to occur with some regularity in personal injury cases:

• Back and Neck Injuries: The spine runs from the neck down through the back of the human body and encapsulates the delicate spinal cord. When the back or neck is injured, however, in a fall, overexertion injury, or other type of injury accident, the victim may suffer excruciating pain and/or loss of functioning in certain parts of the body.
• Burns: Fire is not the only substance that can cause burns. Those who work around acids or other dangerous chemicals, radiation, or bright lights (such as welders) are at risk of experiencing burns to their skin and/or eyes. Serious burns can penetrate to muscle and bone, requiring extensive medical treatment and surgeries to minimize the burn’s impact.
• Crush Injuries: Crushing injuries occur when the injured body part is trapped between two surfaces and then squeezed. Not only are these injuries extremely painful, but a crushing injury to a limb or appendage can result in the permanent loss of use of that body part and the necessity of amputation. If the crushing injury occurs to the torso with sufficient force, organs can be damaged and death can result.
• Eye Injuries: The eyes are such a small part of the body, but even a temporary or partial loss of vision in one eye can cause the victim to experience serious changes to his or her daily routine. The victim may not be able to drive and may not be able to perform the job he or she is accustomed to performing.
• Broken Bones: Broken bones may take months to heal, significantly limiting the ability of the victim to continue performing his or her work or familial obligations. When a bone “shatters” (as opposed to a clean break), surgeries may be necessary to place rods and screws to help stabilize the bone and assist it in healing.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: The spinal cord is responsible for sending signals from the brain to the muscles of the body. A spinal cord injury disrupts the flow of these signals and can cause temporary or permanent paralysis. Spinal cord injuries often result from falls or car accident-related injuries.
• Scarring: Scars are visible reminders of an injury that occurred at some time in the past and that has not completely or properly healed. The larger the scar, the more of an impact that scar may have on the victim. A scar may cause the victim embarrassment or shame, resulting in a loss of enjoyment of life.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries: Whenever the injury victim’s head suffers blunt force trauma, a piercing blow, or “whiplash”-type trauma, the victim’s brain may be negatively affected. While mild traumatic brain injuries may not leave any lasting impact or limitation, moderate or severe traumatic brain injuries can result in a near-complete loss of functioning, requiring the victim to receive round-the-clock care and medical attention for the rest of his or her life.

Personal injury cases commonly involve multiple types of injuries to the victim, which only compounds the victim’s suffering, pain, and limitations. The sooner an injury victim is able to receive medical attention and treatment, the better the outcome the victim can generally expect to receive.

Seeking Assistance from a Personal Injury Attorney

When your injury or injuries of any type are the result of another person’s careless or reckless behavior, you can file a personal injury lawsuit and seek monetary damages from this person. Hiring a knowledgeable personal injury law firm like Stern Law, PLLC will help ensure that you take the necessary steps following a personal injury accident to safeguard your health and protect your legal rights. Even if you believe you have been partly to blame for your injuries or believe you may have worsened your injuries by failing to seek prompt treatment, your personal injury attorney may yet be able to obtain some compensation for you that represents the other negligent party’s responsibility. Call Stern Law, PLLC at (844) 808-7529 and discuss your personal injuries with attorney Ken Stern.