Car accidents on West Virginia roads can range from mild to devastating. With the right level of impact during a collision, injuries often occur. Some of those can affect the nose. If you’ve been involved in a car accident and struck your nose, you should know the potential injuries you might have sustained.
Broken nose
A broken nose is one of the most common types of car accident injuries. It can produce myriad symptoms, including bleeding, difficulty breathing, and bruising around the eyes. Often, a broken nose can result in it suddenly becoming crooked, swollen, or misshaped.
Cartilage fracture
A cartilage fracture is another common injury from a car accident. While it’s less severe than a broken nose, a cartilage fracture can be painful and often requires surgery.
Deviated septum
Car accident injuries affecting the nose often result in a deviated septum. This injury causes the tissue inside the nose that separates either side of the nose to be shifted out of place. It often affects one side of the nose instead of the other and results in a blockage. You can treat it yourself by using antihistamines and decongestants, but the problem is still there and may require surgery.
Septal hematoma
A septal hematoma refers to blood clotting inside the nose after a break. When you experience significant impact during a car accident, you can suffer this injury. Typically, you will need surgery to drain the blood to prevent cartilage damage.
When should you seek treatment?
If you have a broken nose or another nose injury following a car accident, you should get immediate medical treatment. Nose injuries are not life-threatening, but you might have a more serious injury in addition to it like a concussion. If you have trouble breathing, steady bleeding, loss of consciousness, vomiting, or vision changes, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention.
Nose injuries can be painful and adversely affect your daily life. If you were injured in an accident that was not your fault, you should hold the at-fault driver accountable and file a personal injury claim.
