Have you been injured in a car accident in the San Francisco area that was not your fault? Are you struggling to pay medical bills, have lost income due to taking time off work, and are wondering how you’ll regain your health and your productivity? 

If so, you need to talk to a San Francisco car accident lawyer about your situation and see if you are due compensation. Working with an attorney is the best way to ensure you get what you deserve so you can move on with your life.

Here are the common types of car accident injuries and how a San Francisco car accident lawyer can help represent your legal rights. 

Back Injuries 

If your car accident involved a heavy impact, you may have sustained a back injury. Even if your back does not feel overly sore or injured directly after the accident, pain and stiffness can show up hours or even days after your accident. Many back injuries can be difficult to treat and can cause pain and suffering for a lifetime, so it’s important to get treated and find out how to best manage your back injury to prevent future issues.

Broken Bones and Fractures 

Car accident victims often suffer from broken or fractured legs, arms, wrists, ribs, ankles, and pelvises. Some may require only a cast in order to heal while others could require surgery to repair if they are serious or compounded. Unlike other injuries, you will likely know if you have suffered from a broken bone after an accident and should therefore seek immediate medical attention.

Whiplash and Other Neck Injuries 

Whiplash and neck injuries are very common—especially if you are rear-ended. Whiplash can occur even at slow speeds and you may not be aware that you’ve suffered whiplash for hours or even days after the accident. While whiplash is usually relatively minor and heals within a few weeks or months, other serious neck injuries like cervical dislocation or severe disc injury can also occur and these can cause lifelong health issues.

Lacerations and Bruises 

Torn metal, flying objects, and broken glass can cause cuts and other lacerations while the impact of vehicle parts or other objects can cause bruising. Most bruises are relatively minor unless they are compounded by internal injuries but lacerations can be life-threatening depending on how deep they are and where they occur on the body. 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Car accidents can be very frightening and lead to emotional disorders such as PTSD. PTSD can be difficult to identify and treat and it may not be obvious that mental or emotional problems you are having in the future are due to your car accident. If you think you’ve been emotionally harmed by your car accident, it’s important to seek out the opinion of a therapist or other expert in the mental health field to document your injury and to get the treatment you need. 

How a San Francisco Car Accident Lawyer Can Help Protect Your Legal Rights 

If you have one of these injuries—or another that is not listed—you have the right to get compensated for your medical bills and to cover lost wages while you get back on your feet. Your attorney can help you by reviewing your case and determining how much compensation you deserve. He or she can then proceed with filing a claim and negotiating with insurance companies or filing a lawsuit and attempting to get a verdict in your favor in court. If you’ve been involved in a car accident and have sustained an injury, it’s imperative that you reach out to an experienced San Francisco car accident lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you legal rights are upheld.