Des Moines Car Accident Injury Attorneys

Even minor car accidents can cause significant back injuries. During a collision, the human body can be jarred, twisted, and impacted with substantial force, even if the vehicle damage seems minor. Symptoms of back injuries may not appear immediately and can take days or weeks to manifest. Therefore, seeking medical attention even if you don’t initially feel hurt is crucial. One seemingly minor injury that might occur in an accident is a thoracic strain.

What is a Thoracic Strain Injury?

Thoracic injuries affect the mid-back region of the body. Strains are injuries to muscles or tendons, which attach muscles to bones. Thus, a thoracic strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon in the mid-back area. These injuries can range from a simple muscle pull to a more severe rupture, where the muscle or tendon tears.

Seeking Medical Treatment for Thoracic Injuries

Treatment for a thoracic strain injury generally includes rest to allow the damaged muscle or tendon to heal. Recovery can take from a week for a pulled muscle to several weeks or months for a torn muscle or tendon. A doctor may order an X-ray or other diagnostic tests to assess the injury’s severity. 

In severe cases, surgery might be necessary to repair the muscle or tendon. Most cases, however, involve rest and avoiding certain activities. Physical therapy may be recommended to improve mobility during recovery. Over-the-counter or prescribed medications might be used to manage pain. 

Keep copies of all medical bills, prescription costs, and other relevant medical information to support your auto insurance claim or lawsuit.

Filing a Bodily Injury Claim for a Thoracic Strain

Iowa is a at fault state for auto insurance claims, meaning the at-fault party is liable for bodily injury and property damage. If you were at fault, you must file your bodily injury claim with your own insurance company, provided you have appropriate coverage. Health insurance may also be used if you caused the accident.

If the other driver was at fault, you could file an insurance claim with their insurer to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering related to the thoracic strain. Your own coverage may also be used, but the other driver is ultimately responsible for your damages.

If you have concerns about fault assignment in your claim, seek assistance from an auto accident lawyer.

Broken Nose Treatment after an Accident in Iowa

An accident can cause severe facial injuries, including a broken nose, often resulting from car accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, sports injuries, falls, or fights. Here's what you need to know about broken nose injuries and necessary treatments.

Symptoms of a Broken Nose

A broken nose may be obvious due to extreme swelling or a crooked appearance, but it can also be less apparent. Seek medical attention if you have difficulty breathing, mucus discharge, blocked nasal passages, bruising around the nose or eyes, tenderness, bleeding, swelling, or a misshapen nose.

When to Go to the Emergency Room

Get immediate medical help if you experience unstoppable bleeding, clear or watery fluid from the nostrils, loss of consciousness, nausea or vomiting, difficulty breathing, or a clearly twisted or disfigured nose. A doctor will examine your nose, possibly ordering X-rays or CT scans to diagnose all potential injuries.

Treatment for a Broken Nose

Minor fractures might require self-care at home, like applying ice and taking over-the-counter pain medications. Follow-up appointments may be necessary to monitor progress.

More serious breaks could need medical treatments such as:

- Manual realignment: For displaced bones and cartilage, a doctor may use local anesthesia and tools to realign the nose. Packing and splinting may keep the bones in place.
- Surgery: Severe cases with multiple breaks or delayed treatment might need surgery, including reconstructive surgery if the nasal septum is damaged.

Social Media and Car Accident Claims: What You Need to Know

For those who are social media savvy, posting updates, photos, and videos is second nature. However, after a car accident, social media activity can harm your claim. Here’s what you should know about social media and car accident claims.

Refrain from Talking about Your Accident

Avoid discussing your accident on social media. Insurance adjusters may look at your account, and anything you say can be used against you. Iowa’s fault-based insurance system means admitting fault online can impair your claim.

Avoid Posting Pictures and Videos

If you’re filing an injury claim, avoid posting pictures or videos. Images of you engaging in activities might discredit your injury claim, even if they are old photos. Insurance adjusters could use these to question the validity of your injuries.

Don’t Post Location Check-ins & Status Updates

Location check-ins and status updates can also harm your claim. Updates about being active or having fun may lead adjusters to question the severity of your injuries.

The Best Social Media Policy

The best policy is to avoid social media altogether during your claim process. Consider temporarily suspending your accounts or, at the very least, setting profiles to private and not adding new contacts.

Seeking Legal Assistance

Seeking legal counsel from experienced Iowa car accident attorneys such as those at Walker, Billingsley & Bair can provide invaluable support in filing insurance claims or pursuing personal injury lawsuits. With a comprehensive understanding of Iowa law, their team can help gather evidence, establish liability, and secure the compensation deserved by accident victims.

Suffering from the aftermath of a car accident shouldn't impede your pursuit of justice and fair compensation. The Iowa injury lawyers at Walker, Billingsley & Bair work hard to level the field between injured Iowans and insurance companies.

That's why we provide this FREE book; The Legal Insider's Guide to Iowa Car Accidents: 7 Secrets to Not Wreck Your Case. To learn more about what our legal team will do to help you protect your Iowa injury claim, contact Walker, Billingsley & Bair to schedule a no-cost consultation. Call 641-792-3595 to order your free accident book today.