Experienced Auto Accident Lawyers in Columbus & Cincinnati, Ohio

Auto accidents can result in various injuries to almost any part of the body. These unfortunate incidents often involve three unique impacts. 

• The first impact occurs when the vehicle strikes another object, absorbing kinetic energy to protect the passengers. 
• The second collision, or the human collision, happens when passengers come into contact with interior parts like the seatbelt, airbag, or steering column, frequently resulting in injuries like fractures, lacerations, and broken bones.
• The third impact, known as the internal collision, involves internal organs moving towards the point of impact, potentially colliding with other organs or bones. This internal collision can cause severe organ damage, such as to the brain, heart, and lungs, even without visible exterior injuries.

These impacts are often the cause of traumatic brain injuries, with the brain striking the inside of the skull, leading to bleeding or swelling. Below we provide an overview of the most common injuries sustained in Ohio car accidents:

• Head and brain injuries: Skull fractures from the human collision may not result in brain damage, but injuries like concussions, blunt force trauma, and penetrating injuries can affect the brain. Hematomas (bleeding in the brain) and swelling can occur, leading to temporary or permanent brain damage.
• Back injuries: The delicate spinal cord can sustain serious damage in an accident, resulting in lifelong back pain or even paralysis. An incomplete spinal cord injury could cause partial loss of movement and feeling, while a complete spinal cord injury can lead to paralysis below the injury level.
• Neck injuries: Whiplash, a common neck injury in rear-end collisions, occurs when an accident causes the neck’s muscles, nerves, tendons, and discs to bend forcibly forward and backward. Fractures of the top two spinal cord vertebrae, C1 and C2, can result in the most severe type of spinal cord injury, full paralysis, which is often fatal.
• Chest injuries: Significant impacts to the chest can result in broken ribs and a life-threatening condition known as flail chest. This condition occurs when a portion of the rib cage separates from the rest of the chest wall. Victims can also suffer traumatic cardiac arrest or collapsed lungs from an accident.

Other common car accident injuries include broken bones and ligament damage. These injuries can cause temporary disability, missed work, and sometimes lifelong effects. Torn ligaments or slipped discs can result in chronic pain and might necessitate surgery. Many car accident injuries are fatal, resulting in wrongful death. If a loved one passes away in a car accident, consult with one of our Columbus car accident attorneys. We care about our clients and seek to help them pursue justice for a life tragically cut short.