When a bus crash occurs in Kansas, the injuries sustained can be more severe than in other motor vehicle accidents due to the size and force of impact. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bus crash in Kansas, it’s important to understand the types of injuries that commonly occur so you know what to expect in terms of medical treatment, recovery times, and potential legal claims.
Some of the most frequent injuries sustained in Kansas bus collisions include:
Whiplash
This neck injury occurs when the head is suddenly thrust backward and forward, stretching and straining the muscles, tendons, and ligaments beyond their normal limits. Whiplash injuries can range from mild to severe, with symptoms including neck pain and stiffness, headache, shoulder and back pain, dizziness, ringing in the ears, and blurred vision. More serious whiplash can result in disc, nerve, or vertebrae damage in the neck.
Head Injuries
Due to the strong forces involved in bus crashes, head trauma is extremely common. Contusions, concussions, abrasions, and lacerations are standard, while more serious injuries can include skull fractures, hemorrhages, and traumatic brain injuries such as bruising, bleeding, or swelling of the brain. Post-concussion syndrome with long-term effects is not uncommon following moderate to severe brain injuries.
Broken Bones
Fractures in the arms, legs, hands, feet, ribs, collarbone, and pelvis frequently occur during bus collisions as passengers are jolted and thrown about the bus interior. Compound or open fractures that tear through the skin are particularly severe. Crush injuries can happen when body parts are caught between bus seats or pinched by collapsing sections of the bus frame.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Direct blows to the spinal column or torso at high speeds can fracture, dislocate, or even sever the vertebrae and fragile spinal cord. This nerve damage results in varying degrees of paralysis and loss of function below the point of injury. Paraplegia affects the legs and lower body, while quadriplegia paralyzes all four limbs.
Internal Organ Damage
The intense inertial forces of a bus impact can lead to bruising, rupture, or bleeding of organs such as the brain, lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, and bowels. This massive internal trauma can quickly become life-threatening and requires emergency surgery.
Amputations
If limbs become crushed under the weight of the bus or trapped in the wreckage, the forceful pressure can cause severe soft tissue and bone damage. This can require the amputation of fingers, hands, arms, toes, feet, or legs if circulation is destroyed and cannot be restored.
Muscle, Tendon & Ligament Tears
The body being thrown about violently in a crash can lead to tears and avulsions of the muscles, tendons, and connective tissues, especially in the neck, back, shoulders, and knees. Surgical repair may be necessary for the most extensive tears.
Cuts and Lacerations
Shattering glass as well as torn and twisted metal in bus accident debris can result in deep, ragged cuts and puncture wounds. This raises the risk of infection and significant scarring without proper wound care and sutures.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Many bus crash survivors develop PTSD after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening traumatic event. Symptoms include anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, emotional distress, and hypervigilance. PTSD can significantly impact daily functioning and relationships.
Chronic Pain
Neck, back, joint, muscle, nerve, and headache pain lasting months or years after a serious bus injury is common. This persistent pain can be highly debilitating and difficult to treat.
The extent of injuries suffered in a Kansas bus crash will depend on variables like the size of the bus, number of passengers, whether passengers were wearing seat belts, speed at impact, and if protective airbags deployed. Many bus collisions result in a combination of injury types with both immediate and delayed symptoms. Some effects like chronic pain, PTSD, or permanent disability may linger long after the initial damage from the crash.
Proper medical documentation is critical to link injuries to the bus accident for insurance claims and lawsuits. An experienced personal injury attorney can help obtain medical records, accident reports, witness statements, video footage, and other evidence to verify the crash caused a victim’s injuries. They will determine all available options for compensation to cover medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
If you or someone you love has recently been injured in a preventable Kansas bus accident, contact the experienced bus accident attorneys at Monge & Associates today at (888) 477-0597 for a free case review and consultation. With 32 offices located in 19 states, including Kansas, Ohio, and Illinois, we have successfully helped many bus crash victims obtain justice and maximum compensation for their injuries, lost wages, and other damages. Our dedicated team will fight to hold any negligent parties fully accountable while you focus on your recovery. Don’t delay – call our office today to learn more about how we can help you.