Facial Trauma

While airbags are designed to protect you in serious auto accidents, they can sometimes be the cause of severe facial and head trauma. As a Seattle Car Accident Lawyer, I’ve seen that a great percentage of auto accidents result in some sort of facial trauma. While sometimes there is nothing one can do to avoid a negligent driver, it is important to reduce your risk of an accident and the resulting injuries by being aware of the road conditions and the other drivers on it.

The face is extremely complex, with 14 bones making up the jaw, nose, and skull. Usually, in an auto accident, the nose is the most vulnerable area and most likely to be injured. With the nose protruding from the face, it is very easily broken in a collision when either the airbag deploys or the face hits the dashboard. It is important to seek immediate medical attention in case the fracture involves obstruction of the nasal septum which will block the airway and can cause difficulty breathing. In some cases, the injury can result in disfiguration of the nose.

In high-speed auto accidents, there is more than just the nose at risk. Passengers may sustain severe personal injuries including the loss of teeth, cuts and bruises, trauma to the brain, broken jawbone and fractures in the facial structure.

Facial trauma is most commonly caused by blunt force to the head. This can happen as a result of sports and auto accidents in which the force of the accident makes the face smash into the dashboard, steering wheel or even the airbag. Those who undergo facial fractures will experience swelling to the injured area, pain, bruising, bleeding and numbness. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention right away. The various treatments that are recommended for facial fractures are hot and cold packs to reduce swelling and alleviate pain. For more severe fractures, surgery may be required.

If you have suffered facial trauma in motorcycle crash, car crash or other severe accident click on the above link to get your FREE copies of the legal resource guides: The Truth About Washington Auto Accidents, and the Truth About Washington Motorcycle Accidents. These books are provided as a service from Straight Talk Law and can help you understand the legal process for an accident claim and figure out whether you need a lawyer to handle your case.