There are many common types of Arizona car accident injuries that can be experienced by crash victims. Each type of injury requires special types of treatments. Some types of injuries aren’t detachable unless you get examined by a doctor. Some car accidents entail more severe injuries but no vehicle accident is without injuries.
Head-on crashes tend to have more severe or even fatal injuries. Rear-end collisions often have more whiplash-type of injuries. No matter the type of car accident and the injuries that follow, you are entitled to compensation!
Traumatic Brain Injuries & Spinal Cord Damage
Depending on the severity of the brain injury, the symptoms can last for the rest of your life or can be temporary. In motor vehicle accidents, brain injuries can be internal bleeding, bruising, or swelling. These injuries are difficult to diagnose externally. It is recommended by our Arizona car accident attorneys to seek medical attention after every car crash. Without proper diagnosis, this injury can lead to permanent disabilities with lifelong care required.
Spinal cord injuries occur when the tissue gets torn or the back suffers an extreme impact. Damage to the spinal cord can lead to permanent impairments. Other than torn tissue, spinal cord damage can be displaced bone fragments and direct trauma to nerves or bones surrounding the spinal cord.
Facial Injuries, Abrasions & Blood Loss
Facial bones are very fragile. With high-impact car accidents and the vehicle halting to a stop, your body can be flung around. The deployment of airbags can cause broken noses or other facial bones to be broken.
However, if the airbags were not there, your head would be tossed into the steering wheel, dashboard, or the back of a chair. This would cause severe damage to your face. Seatbelts help to reduce the risk of facial injuries as well. Broken glass from high-impact car accidents in Arizona can cause superficial cuts and lead to blood loss if the skin is pierced.
Whiplash
Rear-end collisions often result in whiplash injuries. WebMD defines whiplash as a neck sprain injury when there is an abrupt backward/forward jerking motion of the head. When whiplash occurs, the joints in the neck, discs, ligaments, and nerve roots may become damaged. After the first few days following an Arizona car accident, whiplash symptoms start to show up. Car accident victims can experience neck stiffness, headaches, dizziness, pain in the shoulder, fatigue, or difficulty concentrating.
Burns
Arizona vehicle accident victims can experience first-degree, second-degree, third-degree, and fourth-degree burns.
- First-Degree
- This type of burn only affects the outer layer of the skin and can occur from the airbag deploying or seatbelt rubbing on the skin.
- Second-Degree
- These burns are caused by hot metal and can take weeks to heal.
- Sometimes they can require skin grafting if the burn is severe enough.
- Third-Degree
- This type of burn destroys the layers of skin down to the innermost layer of skin and can affect the nerve tissues. Skin surgery is always required in order to recover from these types of burns.
- Fourth-Degree
- These burns go all the way down to the nerve and muscle tissue. They can be fatal and if the victim survives these burns, they have to endure extensive treatments.
Broken Bones & Internal Injuries
In crashes, broken bones are always likely to occur especially in T-Bone types of accidents. Broken ribs, collarbone, and broken legs/arms definitely need to be assessed by doctors. Unlike broken legs/arms, broken ribs, and collarbones cannot just be put into a cast. They do need to be set back in place so they can fix themselves. Internal broken bones can be difficult to notice if they are not protruding from the skin.
Apart from internal broken bones, internal organs can suffer from injuries too. Organs like the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys can experience internal bleeding. It is difficult for a car accident victim to assess these kinds of injuries since they are internal. Our Arizona personal injury attorneys recommend that you get assessed for these internal injuries as they can be fatal.
Emotional Trauma
Physical injuries are the only type of sustained injuries victims can experience in crashes. When car accidents occur it can be a very traumatizing experience. Emotional trauma like stress, anxiety, PTSD, depression, and even mood swings are all considered injuries when you are seeking compensation. They are all categorized under the phrase ‘pain and suffering’ and are treated similarly to physical injuries.
The Arizona Department of Transportation describes these types of injuries as ‘intangible costs’ as they vary from victim to victim. It is difficult to quantify the feeling of depression and anxiety if someone loses a loved one due to a car accident. Our Arizona car accident lawyers make sure you are compensated fairly for your pain and suffering.
What is Considered a Serious Injury in a Car Accident in Arizona?
In Arizona, serious injuries from vehicle crashes often include physical harm that significantly impacts your ability to work, perform daily activities, or enjoy life as you once did. Legally, these injuries are often referred to as “catastrophic” or “life-altering” and may include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, severe burns, amputations, or multiple fractures. Arizona law recognizes these injuries as qualifying for higher compensation because of the extensive medical care, rehabilitation, and ongoing challenges they impose.
For example, a spinal cord injury that causes partial or complete paralysis is not just a medical condition—it’s a life-changing event that often requires modifications to your home, expensive medical equipment, and possibly lifelong care. Similarly, a traumatic brain injury that affects memory, cognition, or motor skills can lead to permanent disabilities, impacting not only your employment but your personal relationships and independence.
The severity of the injury also determines the type of compensation you can seek. Serious injuries often qualify for both economic damages and non-economic damages, including pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life. In Arizona, the courts and insurance companies may also take into account whether the injury permanently disfigures you or diminishes your ability to participate in activities you previously enjoyed.
How Injuries Might Be Compensated in Arizona
In Arizona, compensation for auto accident injuries includes both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover medical expenses, future care, lost wages, property damage, and reduced earning potential. Non-economic damages address the emotional toll, such as pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
For instance, if a spinal cord injury requires lifelong care or prevents you from working, compensation may include medical costs, lost income, and the value of future earnings. Arizona’s comparative negligence rule (A.R.S. §12-2506) reduces compensation if you’re partially at fault, so building strong evidence is critical. Severe cases involving drunk driving or reckless conduct may also qualify for punitive damages.
What to Do After Getting Injured in an Accident in Arizona
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, taking immediate action can protect your health and strengthen your claim for compensation. Start by seeking medical attention, even if you think your injuries are minor. Some injuries, like internal bleeding or whiplash, might not show symptoms right away but can worsen without treatment. Medical records from this visit will also serve as crucial evidence in your case.
If you’re physically able, gather evidence at the scene. Take photographs of the vehicles, your injuries, road conditions, and anything else that might explain what happened. Get contact information from witnesses, as their accounts can corroborate your version of events. Request a copy of the police report, which will detail important facts and assign preliminary fault.
Keep a record of everything related to the accident, including medical bills, repair estimates, and any communication with insurance companies.
Consulting with an experienced personal injury lawyer early on ensures your rights are protected. They can guide you through complex legal processes, handle negotiations with insurers, and help you secure the compensation you need to recover fully. Acting promptly is essential, as Arizona’s two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims leaves little room for delay.
Contact us, Esquire Law, a trusted Phoenix personal injury law firm, for a free consultation on your case. Our personal injury lawyers make sure you are compensated fairly for your pain and suffering. Let us handle the entire claims process so you can focus on your recovery and find peace of mind during this challenging time.