Facial Injuries After a Sacramento Car Crash – What You Need to Know

Facial injuries can easily occur during a car crash, even after minor fender benders. The unexpected impact causes a back-and-forth motion that could cause the driver or passengers to hit something in the vehicle. Flying debris during a crash could also hit someone’s face during a collision. If you suffer a facial injury in a crash, prompt medical attention can help prevent severe complications.

In this article from Arnold Law Firm, we discuss some of the facial injuries that can occur in car crashes. We also explain facial injuries that could be severe or life-threatening and why you should seek legal help.

Did you suffer facial injuries in a crash? If so, we may be able to help you recover compensation. We know that compensation cannot undo your injuries, but it can help pay for your medical costs and other ongoing treatments you may need.

Request a FREE consultation today. Arnold Law Firm is here to help you. (916) 777-7777

How Do Facial Injuries Happen in a Car Crash?

Anyone riding in a car is highly vulnerable to suffering facial injuries in a crash. Drivers may hit the steering wheel or get hit in the face by an exploding airbag. Front seat passengers may hit the dashboard or car door. Severe facial lacerations are often the result of flying glass or other vehicle debris during the collision.

Airbags are designed to protect vehicle occupants from serious harm, but the impact can sometimes cause injuries such as mild bruising to severe facial fractures.

What Are the Most Common Facial Injuries in Car Crashes?

Facial injuries are frequent in car crashes due to the sudden and unexpected force at impact. Understanding the most common facial injuries is vital and can help you better explain to your doctor where you may be hurt.

Some of the most common facial injuries in car crashes include:

• Lacerations and Cuts: Sharp objects or broken glass often cause deep cuts, leading to significant bleeding and a risk of infection.
• Nasal Fractures: The nose is especially vulnerable and can result in pain, swelling and breathing difficulties.
• Orbital Fractures: Breaks around the eye socket can cause vision problems and long-term cosmetic concerns.
• Jaw (Mandible) Fractures: Fractures in the lower jaw make it difficult for crash victims to eat, speak or make any movement that involves their jaw. Jaw fractures may often require surgery.
• Dental Injuries: Victims who hit their mouth area on a hard surface during a car crash may end up with chipped, broken or knocked-out teeth. Victims may suffer pain or disfigurement and need extensive dental work.
• Soft-Tissue Injuries: Bruising and abrasions can result from trauma, causing swelling, pain and potential scarring.
• Eye Injuries: In a car crash, you can sustain various eye injuries due to the impact and debris. Common eye injuries include corneal abrasions (scratches on the eye’s surface), lacerations and contusions. More severe injuries involve retinal detachment and traumatic optic neuropathy, which can lead to vision loss. Airbag deployment and shattered glass are frequent causes of such injuries. Eye injuries need immediate medical attention to reduce the risk of long-term damage.
• Scalp and Forehead Injuries: Victims who are not wearing seatbelts may hit the windshield or dashboard. This impact could cause severe cuts, bruising and serious skull fractures.

Facial injuries can have immediate and long-term health consequences, making prompt medical attention and proper legal action essential.

Can Facial Injuries Create a Serious Health Risk?

Facial injuries can pose these and other serious health risks if left untreated.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Crash victims who sustain a traumatic brain injury may experience a variety of medical issues. TBIs can lead to cognitive impairment or memory loss. Depending on the severity of the TBI, brain injury victims may need ongoing medical care. Some victims with a TBI may be at risk for life-threatening complications.

Vision Loss

Facial injuries that damage the eyes may result in partial or full vision loss. Losing your vision could severely impact your career choices and also your overall quality of life.

Airway Obstruction

Swelling or bleeding from damaged facial arteries could block a victim’s airway, making it difficult to breathe. Without immediate treatment, victims could asphyxiate.

Hemorrhage

Damage to facial injuries could cause hypovolemic shock. Without prompt medical attention, this injury could quickly become a life-threatening situation.

Nerve Damage

Injuries to facial nerves could leave crash victims with chronic pain issues or a loss of feeling in the injured area. Other victims may experience paralysis in parts of their faces, leaving them disfigured.

Infections

Open wounds on the face are susceptible to bacterial infections, including cellulitis and abscesses. Potentially life-threatening systemic infections, like sepsis, are possible, especially when victims fail to seek medical care.

Additional health risks may include:

• Permanent scarring or disfigurement
• Dental trauma
• Jaw misalignment
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Prompt treatment is crucial for facial injuries. Ignoring them can result in long-term issues. Seeking medical care quickly helps prevent severe complications and ensures proper healing.

How Do I Know if I Have Facial Injuries After a Crash?

After any crash, it is important to seek immediate medical attention at a nearby hospital. If you hit your head or face on anything during the impact, be sure to mention it to the treating physician. Typically, these injuries are diagnosed through a CT scan, as this type of imaging shows both bone and soft-tissue damage.

What Symptoms May Indicate a Facial Injury?

Facial injuries often have clear signs. Pain is usually the first symptom people notice. Swelling and bruising are also common. These can appear quickly after an injury.

Visual changes, such as floaters or blurry vision may occur. People might have trouble opening their eyes or mouths. Numbness or tingling in the face can indicate nerve damage. You might have external bleeding, such as from cuts, or bleeding from the inside of the mouth. Some crash victims may feel like their teeth are loose or misaligned when they try to close their mouths.

Other key symptoms of facial injuries include:

• Severe pain or tenderness
• Visible deformity or asymmetry
• Difficulty moving jaw or facial muscles
• Changes in vision or hearing
• Nosebleeds or blood in the mouth
• Bruising around the eyes or cheeks
• Cuts or lacerations on the face
• Numbness or loss of sensation

If any of these symptoms appear after a car crash, medical attention is crucial.

Why Call Arnold Law Firm for Facial Injuries After a Car Crash?

At Arnold Law Firm, our Sacramento-area car crash lawyers have been helping victims injured in car crashes for decades. This experience includes victims with facial injuries. Insurance companies often push back against claims with facial injuries or try to reduce them as being “just” cosmetic. You need someone who understands the law and who is willing to fight diligently to recover the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Call today to learn if you may have legal options. If we represent you, there are no upfront costs or fees to pay. We only get paid if you do.

Experienced Lawyers. Justice for You. (916) 777-7777