If you have sustained a skin injury after a car accident , read on for different types of skin injuries, treatment options and tips regarding your personal injury car accident case. The Bishop Law Firm represents car accident victims in North Carolina and we do not get paid unless we win your case.
After an accident, a victim may have symptoms of soreness, muscle pain, stiffness, headaches and visible skin damage, to name a few. What may appear to only affect the outer layer of skin (soft tissue) may actually be much deeper and more serious.
This post is not offered as medical advice. Please seek immediate medical treatment after being involved in a car accident. Serious injury needs to be ruled out. In addition, without proper wound care the possibility of serious skin complications can arise. Watch our video for ways to deal with medical bills after a car accident:
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Common types of skin injury after a car accident are:
**Please note that you should be photographing all your injuries immediately after the accident and as your healing progresses**.
Cuts, Scratches or Gashes (Laceration):
During a car accident, the skin can be cut by impact or debris. If the cut is deep or long enough, skin glue or stitches may be needed. If so, wound dressings should be changed properly and all medical advice followed. Some wounds may take longer to heal or are more prone to infection because of their location (hand, foot, leg, armpit, or groin) (Via Saint Luke’s ). Diabetics or those taking immunosuppressants have a higher chance of infection. If your cut changes color or starts to omit an odor, seek medical attention.
You may also have glass in your skin after a car accident from a broken windshield. Depending on the size of the shards, your skin may be able to rid itself of the glass with normal shedding. But, if you are having pain, you should consult a physician for removal.
Car Accident Bruises:
A bruise forms when trauma breaks blood vessels near your skin's surface, allowing a small amount of blood to leak into the tissues under your skin. The trapped blood may cause a bruise that at first looks like a black-and-blue mark and then changes color as it heals (Via Mayo Clinic ).
A chest contusion from seat belt injuries can look frightening and cause chest pain and soreness. Air bag injuries can also occur to the face and neck. Severe pain from bruising can result in prolonged soreness and limited range of motion.
A bruise is treated with RICE (rest, ice, compress and elevate). Most bruises are usually reabsorbed by the body but sometimes the bruise is so severe that you have a hematoma. A hematoma is a large collection of blood in the injured area which may need to be surgically drained. Also, other possible complications with the appearance of skin bruising are blood clots, brain injury, bone bruises, internal bleeding or damage to your internal organs.
Seeking medical treatment for bruising after car accidents is imperative to rule out more serious injuries.
Also read: Chronic Conditions from Car Accident Injuries
Burns:
While cars do not usually catch on fire after an car accident, sometimes a ruptured gas tank and a electrical spark can cause a fire. Burns are broken down into degrees: 1st (mild), 2nd (partial thickness burns) and 3rd (full thickness burns – the worst). 1st and 2nd degree burns are usually treated with topical creams but 3rd degree burns may require more intense treatment like a skin graft. Unfortunately, pain from a burn is one of the worst pains that a accident victim can feel. In addition, the itching from healing skin can be unbearable. Burns also have a high change of infection (Via WebMD ) and can result in long term neuropathy .
Your Car Accident Injury Claim
Skin Injury after a car accident should be examined by a physician immediately after the accident to rule out more serious injury. You should take photos of the accident scene, the vehicles and your injuries as soon as possible. You should also take photos of your recovery process (including healing bruises, bandaging, stitches, scars, etc) with dates. These photos will be helpful for your accident claim. In addition, you should keep track of where you receive medical treatment, your prescriptions, the cost of any medical supplies that you have purchased and your missed time from work.
A car accident victim should file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company as soon as possible. If the at-fault party’s insurance company refuses to accept liability or if they refuse to pay for medical treatment that your doctor has prescribed you should consider calling a NC Car Accident Lawyer for help with a personal injury claim.
The Bishop Law Firm represents car victims of auto accidents in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Rocky Mount, Wilson, Fayetteville, Smithfield, Louisburg, Chapel Hill, Roanoke Rapids and more! We look forward to working with you and wish you a speedy recovery.
Also read: NC Car Accident Lawyer
