What Does it Mean if My Jaw Hurts After Being in a Crash?

Car crashes involve a lot of force at impact and can cause serious harm to the occupants. Some injuries, such as fractures or deep gashes, are pretty obvious. However, what if your jaw hurts after a crash? Could it mean something serious?

Anytime you have pain you cannot identify it is natural to feel anxious. If you have jaw or facial pain, you may also wonder whether it was caused by the crash, or if it is unrelated.

Learn more about the types of jaw and facial injuries you may experience after a car crash.

Need help seeking compensation for a jaw injury or other damages after a car crash? Jay Trucks is an experienced law firm with a history of proven results. Our auto accident lawyers in Flint are knowledgeable and ready to help.

Request a FREE no-risk case review to get started. 9892546113

What Could Cause My Jaw to Hurt After a Crash?

Jaw injuries often happen in traffic accidents, particularly rear-end collisions. The sudden back-and-forth movement could cause a whiplash injury, jaw damage or both. An airbag deploying during a collision could also injure your jaw and face.

After any crash, it is a bad idea to try to guess about your injuries. Your body may be in a state of shock, so you may not even feel any pain until hours or days later. This is why we say strongly recommend seeking medical attention at a nearby hospital immediately after a crash. Not only does this protect your health, but it also creates official documentation you can use to link your injuries to the crash.

What Jaw Injuries Could I Have After a Car Crash?

You could suffer any number of injuries in a car crash. How badly you are hurt depends often on the severity of the crash and whether your face or head hit something. Injuries that could be causing your jaw to hurt may include:

Bruised Jaw

During your collision, you may have struck your face on something in the car. While a bruise sounds mild, sometimes the symptoms are severe. Crash victims with a bruised jaw may also have swelling in the joint. Others may be unable to fully close their teeth together. Often this type of injury could lead to a misaligned jaw. Getting your jaw X-rayed can help doctors to determine the severity of your jaw injury.

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)

If the car crash you were in caused you to sustain a TMJ injury, you could be experiencing pain and many other symptoms, such as:

• Jaw, ear and facial pain
• Pain or difficulties when chewing or eating
• Ringing in the ears
• Hearing loss
• Dizziness
• Audible popping or grating when you open, close or move your jaw
• Pain or issues with chewing – the jaw may sometimes lock up
• Your teeth no longer close together properly
• Jaw stiffness
• Radiating pain to the face or neck

There are treatments available that can help to alleviate your pain. Initially, resting the jaw and eating a diet of soft foods can help. However, you can also apply heat or cold packs to the area. Over-the-counter drugs, like ibuprofen or Tylenol, may also help with pain management. However, before you self-diagnose or start any treatment, you should see a doctor.

Fractured Jaw

Unfortunately, this is an extremely painful injury. Victims may suffer from many of the same symptoms as for TMJ initially, such as dizziness or ringing in the ears. If you cannot open or close your mouth or chew without pain, however, your jaw may be broken. You will need diagnostic testing to determine the extent and severity of your fracture. You may also need surgery.

Can I Seek Compensation for a Jaw Injury After a Car Crash?

If you are a Michigan resident, your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance will help to cover your medical costs, lost wages and other expenses. Medical costs could quickly add up for a jaw injury, especially if you need to get orthodontic treatment or surgery to aid your recovery.

Once you exhaust your PIP insurance, you may be eligible to seek excess damages through a third-party lawsuit. Before bringing a third-party lawsuit, however, investigators need to first determine the cause of the crash and who was at fault. Additionally, your injuries need to meet the state’s injury threshold.

It is important to consult with an experienced attorney to learn more about your legal options. Waiting too late could result in you getting less than the full value of your claim.

Do You Have Jaw Pain After a Car Crash? Call About Your Legal Options Today

Jaw pain and the injuries that cause it are treatable. Delaying seeking medical care, however, could reduce your ability to recover fully.

Waiting to get help from an attorney could also be risky. Crash victims are often not fully aware of their rights and could get tricked into saying something to the insurance company that could hurt their claim.

Call our law offices today to set up a free case review. There is no cost for this meeting and no obligation to file a claim. If you do choose to hire our firm, there is nothing to pay up front. Since we work on contingency, we do not get paid unless we win your case.

Millions Recovered. Call 9892546113

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