Manhattan Neurologist: When To See One After A Car Accident

Manhattan’s Busy Streets and Accident Rates

In NYC, 110,000 “black cars” operate under the Taxi and Limousine Commission. That’s only part of the 3% of rental vehicles that occupy the city’s streets on a regular basis. On top of that are the buses and cars used by 40% of New Yorkers.

Being NYC’s administrative, cultural, and economic center, Manhattan sees most of these vehicles. However, it’s also because of this that The City is a top hotspot for car accidents.

If you check the NYC Open Data platform, you’ll see that at least 26,592 crashes happened in the borough in 2019 alone. Those are only the reported figures, so it’s even higher if you add unreported fender benders.

Most Common Injuries Resulting From Car Crashes

In 2014, 8.6 million people in the US suffered from sports-related injuries. 41.4 per 1,000 of these injured sustained sprains and strains. Fractures, open wounds, bruises, and brain injuries were also very common.

Now, if sports alone result in these millions of injuries, imagine how much worse it is with car crashes. Auto accidents often result in the same injuries, but at a greater, more severe extent. Even fender benders can lead to whiplash, an injury that affects two million folks in the US each year.

What Does A Neurologist Do

Neurologists are medical doctors who specialize in all things nervous system. The nervous system consists of the brain, the spinal cord, and all the nerves attached to both.

The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system. Their nerves, which connect to the rest of the human body, make up the peripheral nervous system.

Neurologists take care of, diagnose, and treat injuries and disorders affecting these parts.

Accident-Related Injuries That Can Affect Your Nervous System

If you’ve been in a car accident in Manhattan, you should see a neurologist as soon as you can. You may not be feeling any symptoms at the moment, but your brain or spinal cord may have taken a hit.

Here are a few neurological injuries that auto accidents usually cause.

Head Injury

A vehicle crash can jolt the body forward with extreme force. This can lead to the head hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, side window, or windshield. This can then result in a head injury, which may either be a “closed” or an “open” type.

A closed head injury means that the skull didn’t break. With enough force, however, it can develop an open head injury.

Also called penetrating head injury, an open head injury means that the skull broke. That broken part (or the object that hit the head itself) may have entered the brain.

Extreme sleepiness, abnormal behavior, and severe headaches are common signs. Fainting and vomiting can also follow. Open head injuries can also make an arm or leg become immobile.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) / Concussion

The most recent CDC report showed that TBIs affected 2.87 million people in the US in 2014. TBIs result from a sudden jolt or blow to the head. The skull may not break, but the force may be enough to injure the brain.

Concussions are the most common type of TBIs. Some auto accident concussion injuries are minor, healing on their own after a while. However, many other cases require surgery.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Auto accidents can also injure the spinal cord and the surrounding soft tissues. A blow to the spinal cord may be enough to break the vertebrae, crush the soft tissues, or dislocate them. It’s also possible for some injuries to bleed internally.

Any spinal cord injury can lead to problems with motor function. Back pain after a crash may also be due to spinal cord or nerve injuries.

How a Manhattan Neurologist Can Help You Recover After a Car Accident

If you hit your head during the accident, don’t delay seeing a neurologist in Manhattan. The same goes if you feel any muscle weakness, loss of sensation, or unexplained pain. All these are symptoms of injury to your nervous system.

In fact, you should start Googling “neurologist near me” even if you don’t exhibit any symptoms yet. Do this as soon as you can following a crash where you hit your head or took a blow to your neck or back.

A neurologist can help you by first determining if you have neurological injuries. Your doctor will run a physical exam and most likely order some diagnostic and imaging tests. These may include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nerve conduction tests like EMG/NCV, and angiography.

These are crucial tests that will help the doctor look for issues with your brain, spinal cord, and nerves. From there, the neurologist will create a treatment program to address your injuries.

Keep in mind that not all injuries to the nervous system require surgery. However, delaying treatment can make your injuries worse. Prompt diagnosis and treatment will help you prevent permanent impairments.

Get Help Now, Make An Appointment With An Experienced Neurologist Near You

There you have it, your complete guide to how a Manhattan neurologist can help you after a car crash. Now that you know how valuable their medical services are, it’s best to see one ASAP.

This way, you can find out if there’s something wrong with your brain, back, and nerves. If there is, a no-fault neurologist will help keep mobility impairments at bay.

Call 1-800-897-8440 to schedule an appointment with an experienced New York car accident neurologist near you. Same-Day Appointments may be available. Don’t delay, call now.