WHAT TO DO AFTER AN ACCIDENT PART 3
Physical Therapy and Other Treatments
You’ve been discharged from the hospital. However, the pain has not gone away. In fact, in the days that follow, the pain has become worse, you have headaches, nausea, stiffness, aching, and you are limited in what you can do daily. Putting on a shirt, brushing your teeth, or simply getting out of bed after your car accident takes a major effort. What do you do?
Seek medical attention immediately from a qualified health care provider, such as your primary care physician. Your doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, or other health care provider will guide you thru what medical treatment you need.
Every case is different as far as whether and what medical attention is needed after a car accident. However, keep in mind that the most minor of collisions can result in serious injuries, so don’t assume that you’re not badly hurt simply because the vehicle damage does not look so bad to you. It takes a lot of force to bend, twist, and break the metals and plastics on a vehicle. It takes much less force to rupture spinal discs in the neck, mid-back, and low-back; tear ligaments and cartilage; break bones; or concuss (injure) the brain.
The research literature on low impact collisions
Below are passages from research literature that we have used to support our clients’ injury claims against those who injured them and insurance companies.
“Fifty percent of cervical spine injuries in car accidents occur as the result of rear-end collisions. Biomechanical studies demonstrated that cervical spine undergoes soft tissue injuries during the rear-end collisions.” Otomobil Kazalarında Boyun Yaralanmaları Biyomekaniği. Turk Neurosurg 2014, Vol: 24, No: 4, 466-470.
“A study was conducted to find out whether in a rear-impact motor vehicle accident, velocity changes in the impact vehicle of between 10 and 15 km/h [6.2 and 9.32 mph] can cause so called ‘whiplash injuries.’” “The biomechanical ‘limit of harmlessness’ in two car rear-end collisions lies at a velocity change due to collision (A V) of between 10 and 15 km/h. Morphologic and anatomic signs of injury to the cervical spine cannot be demonstrated up to this speed range.” W. H. M. Castro, M. Schilgen, S. Meyer, M. Weber, C. Peuker, K. Wörtler. Eur Spine J (1997) 6 : 366-375
Talk to a skilled Houston personal injury attorney
If you have been injured in an auto collision or any other scenario—whether low impact or major—or know someone who has, call the Houston personal injury attorneys at Livingston & Flowers today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your options moving forward.
