Secondary Injuries from Vehicle Accidents

After a motor vehicle accident, you may have suffered various injuries. Some of these injuries may have been apparent right after the accident, while others could have taken hours, days, or even weeks to show up. The injuries that take longer to notice usually arise from other injuries, and are referred to as secondary injuries.

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we know the injuries, including secondary injuries, that may occur from a vehicle accident. Call our firm in Newark, Wilmington, and Seaford to begin learning about your legal rights and how we can assist you in recovering compensation for your injuries today.

What is a secondary injury?

Secondary injuries are usually the result of another injury. It can take as little as a few hours or as long as several months for secondary injuries to emerge. When you are diagnosed with a secondary injury, the doctor may also describe it as an effect, consequence, or complication of your initial injury. You may be able to prevent these injuries from occurring if you can get your primary injury treated quickly enough.

Examples of secondary injuries from a Delaware vehicle accident

When an individual has been in a motorcycle accident, car accident, truck accident, or any other type of vehicle accident, they are at risk of developing secondary injuries. It usually depends how serious the accident was, how it happened, the types of primary injuries you suffered, and what type of medical attention you have received. Here are some examples of secondary injuries that may develop from a vehicle accident:

• Chronic pain: When you break or fracture a bone, you may develop chronic pain. Chronic pain is ongoing and persistent, which can negatively affect your daily life in tremendous ways. For example, if you break your arm in a car accident, you may have chronic pain for many months, causing you to miss out on the activities you enjoyed participating in before the accident.
• Ligament, tendon, and tissue damage: You may suffer a shoulder injury in a vehicle accident. As a result, you learn that the ligaments, tendons, and tissues around your shoulder are damaged. It is crucial you follow your doctor’s advice and treatment plan to prevent this type of damage from becoming worse. If not, you may never make a full recovery or regain mobility in the damaged areas.
• Mental health problems: Individuals who suffer from severe injuries, such as spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries, may learn their mobility or quality of life might never be the same as before the accident. This can lead to mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. Depending on the severity of the accident, it is also not uncommon for individuals to develop post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Blood clots: The risk of blood clots emerges after a variety of different injuries, such as traumatic brain injury, blunt force trauma, and broken bones. In order to prevent blood clots from forming, it is crucial that you tell your doctor about all primary injuries. They will routinely monitor your injuries to prevent blood clots.
• Stroke: If you are diagnosed with a head injury, such as a skull fracture, traumatic brain injury, or a brain bleed, you may be at risk of stroke. A head injury can cause your brain’s blood vessels to become weak or damaged, which can cause them to eventually rupture. When this happens, there is a very high chance of a stroke.
• Oxygen deprivation: Spinal cord injuries typically cause swelling near the injury site. Unfortunately, this swelling can place intense pressure on your spinal cord, which may affect how much oxygen can move around in the body. As a result, you may experience oxygen deprivation.
• Secondary brain injuries: A secondary brain injury is very serious and often deadly. These injuries occur within hours or days after the primary brain injury. Therefore, it is extremely important for your doctor to keep an eye on your primary brain injury symptoms to ensure that further complications won’t arise. If you develop a secondary brain injury, the blood vessels, tissues, and cells in your brain may become permanently damaged.

Can you get compensation for a secondary injury?

If you were involved in a crash that caused your secondary injuries, you may be eligible to file a claim and seek compensation. However, you must be able to show proof that your primary injuries caused your secondary injuries.

It is critical to report any symptoms, complications, or additional injuries that arise after the accident, including the ones that develop weeks or months later. The following are a few important pieces of evidence that can help you prove that your secondary injuries are related to your vehicle accident:

• Medical records
• Doctor reports
• Photos and videos
• Journal entries
• Psychological or counseling reports

Proving secondary injuries can be difficult and complex. However, it is not impossible with the help and guidance of an experienced Delaware personal injury lawyer by your side. The Delaware car accident attorneys at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman are ready and available to help you gather the necessary evidence, build a strong case, and pursue the best outcome possible for your needs. Please call our office or submit our contact form to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation at one of our offices in Wilmington, Seaford, or Newark at your earliest convenience.