Often times, when a person is involved in some sort of serious accident or injury, they will experience certain feelings or symptoms that usually can be attributed to being frightened or shocked from the accident itself. Some of these symptoms often include shaking, unresponsiveness and even loss of breath. Luckily, many of these feelings will begin to fade as the reality and seriousness of the event sinks in, but it can still be a scary experience for anyone.

However, while many people will find that it is common to have the air knocked out of them, or become short of breath following a serious car crash, there are also several serious pulmonary injuries that could be responsible for trouble breathing following an automobile accident.

When you are involved in a car crash, there are many different ways in which a lung injury could occur―a harmful blow to your ribcage or lungs, the pressure of the accident itself or even the force from the seatbelt that is protecting you. In some cases, the cause of the lung injury may be apparent right away to doctors. However, other injuries may require a physical exam, listening to the lungs and heart, and checking skin and lip color.

To give you a better idea of what type of pulmonary injuries typically occur following an auto accident, we have put together some information on the two most common types of injuries―a pierced lung and a collapsed lung. Anyone who has been involved in a car accident and has experienced direct trauma to their chest should be closely examined to ensure they are free from these two serious pulmonary problems.

Punctured Lung

A traumatic punctured lung, or pneumothorax, injury occurs due to direct trauma to the chest, like a broken rib or a penetrating injury from an auto accident. Such penetrating injuries typically damage the thin lining around the lungs and the inside of the chest walls, known as the pleura. When the muscles of the chest and the diaphragm contract, they expand the chest, which causes the lungs to inflate. When you exhale, the muscles relax and the lungs spring back. However, if the air escapes from the lung, such as when you have a punctured lung, the lung can collapse inside of the chest.

Collapsed Lung

An untreated punctured lung or blocked airway can often lead to a collapsed lung (atelectasis). Symptoms of a collapsed lung are often very similar to those of a punctured lung and include sharp pain, shock, shallow or rapid breathing and cyanosis (your body begins to turn blue). However, unlike a punctured lung injury, the air does not escape into the chest when your lung collapses. Instead, the air sacs in the lung do not adequately expand when taking a breath.

In many cases, minor lung injuries are not life threatening and the rest of the lung can make up for the collapsed area, bringing in enough oxygen for the body to function. However, more serious injuries may require the removal of excess air through a syringe, needle or suction tube.

At Sall Myers Medical Associates, board certified pulmonary care specialists are available as needed to handle any pulmonary damage or injury you may have. Click here if you would like to read more about our staff of board certified pulmonologists. If you are in the New Jersey area and need pulmonary treatment from your personal injury accident, please call us at 866-609-4448 or fill out the quick contact form for FREE consultation.

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On some level, nearly every driver has experienced some sort of road range or aggression at one point in their life when driving from one place to another. Whether you were running late for work, in a rush to get to a specific location, or there was an emergency that you needed to get to quickly, nothing is worse than someone who is driving slow in front of you when you are in a hurry to get somewhere.

In situations such as these, it is easy to get hot-headed, slam on your horn and speed past the other person on the road who is slowing you down. However, aggressive driving, no matter how good your reason may be for doing so, is not only dangerous for the people who are around you, but also puts yourself and your passengers at danger for potential automobile accident injuries.

There are many different accounts of aggressive driving or “road range” that occur each and every day on public highways, and a lot of the problem may be due to the roads themselves. In this day and age, the roads are much more crowded. In fact, the number of vehicle miles driven each year is up 35% in the last ten years. However the number of miles in which the roadway has increased is only 1%. Add in the fact that people are busier nowadays, time is at a premium and the amount of frustration and anger that comes with road congestion and construction, and it is easy to see why anyone could lose their temper.

In order to help shed some light on just how hazardous aggressive driving can be, Sall Myers Medical Associates is honoring February’s Aggressive Driving Month by raising public awareness about the dangers and consequences of aggressive driving, with the ultimate goal of reducing roadside injury and death along the way.

What Is Aggressive Driving?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), aggressive driving is defined as “when individuals commit a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.” Some other communities also list aggressive driving as the operation of a motor vehicle which is likely to endanger any person or property as part of a single continuous sequence of driving acts.

Some behaviors and signs typically associated with an aggressive driver include: following cars too closely, erratic or unsafe lane changes and stops, exceeding the posted speed limit, improperly signaling lane changes, failure to obey traffic control devices, etc.

What Is The Best Way To Interact With An Aggressive Driver?

You always want to ensure that you are as save as possible whenever you are on the road. Therefore, if you see some of the warning signs that were mentioned above, it is best to keep your distance from the aggressive car. Do not pass the car unless it is necessary and be sure to change your lane only when you believe that it is safe.

It is also important to remember that you should put your pride aside when dealing with someone who is overly aggressive. Make every attempt to get out of the way and do not challenge them by speeding up. Also, try your best to ignore gestures and eye contact with the driver. If the situation grows more serious, you or a passenger may call the police.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an automobile accident as a result of an aggressive driver, be sure to contact Sall Myers Medical Associates today. We can help tend to injuries caused by your accident and help you get on the right path to fast, painless recovery.

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Sundays are a favorite day of the week for many people across the country. For some, it means a final day of quiet and relaxation before the hectic work week begins again. For others, it is a day of family get-togethers and delicious dinners surrounded by people that you truly care about. However, while every Sunday is a wonderful day to sit back and relax at home, there is one particular Sunday that is hyped up and looked forward to by millions of people each and every year―Super Bowl Sunday.

Whether you are a die-hard football fan who is betting on the outcome of the game, or you are a neutral fan who is more excited about all of the grand commercials, Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest, most entertaining national sporting events of the year. However, this popular day of touchdowns and tackles is not only a day to socialize and watch the big game, but it has also become one of the nation’s most dangerous days on the road due to impaired driving.

In order to help spread the importance of safe driving and sobriety, we have put together several ways in which you can help to keep yourself and your friends safe on the road this upcoming Super Bowl Sunday:

For The Host:

• Be sure that all of your guests have chosen a designated driver long before kick-off, or help to arrange ride-sharing with all of the sober drivers at your house.
• Find great ways to reward all of the people who will be acting as designated drivers at your Super Bowl party. For instance, give them a prime spot to watch the big game or let them have the first pass at the delicious buffet table.
• Serve lots of food at your party and be sure that you have included plenty of non-alcoholic beverages to choose from.
• Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game, and instead begin serving coffee and dessert.
• Keep the numbers for local cab companies handy and take the keys away from anyone who is thinking of driving impaired.

For The Guest / Bar Patron:

• Designate your sober driver before the party begins.
• Make sure you have a back-up ride prepared, just in case. This could be a cab or a sober friend or family member at home.
• If you cannot find a ride home, consider staying in a nearby hotel or at the home of your party host.
• Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast by pacing yourself―eat plenty of food, take breaks and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
• Always buckle up. It’s your best defense when on the road.

If you or someone you know has been injured as a result of a automobile accident, be sure to contact Sall Myer’s Medical Associates today to ensure that your injury will not severely affect your health and your future.

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Whenever you are involved in an automobile accident, your body is put at risk to a number of different injuries that could potentially affect your health and your day-to-day life―a broken hand that may prevent you from completing simple tasks, a spinal injury that could take you out of work for a few days, or even a concussion that could keep you in the hospital until it is fully healed. And while the majority of injuries that people will receive in a car crash will involve their back, their head or their joints, there are many other injuries that may also occur if you are involved in a much more serious accident.

One of the scariest, and often the most dangerous, types of injuries that people will experience during an auto accident is an injury to the heart. It is no secret that this single body part is one of the most important, if not the most important, organ in our bodies. It continuously circulates blood throughout our body and beats regularly to keep us alive. Therefore, when a car crash causes problems with your heart, it can be downright scary.

Impacting your chest against the steering wheel during an automobile accident is one of the main causes of heart injury. However, most heart problems caused during a crash often go overlooked because there is not usually any signs of external injury. It is also important to note that many of the symptoms of a heart injury will not begin to appear until a few weeks, or even months, after an auto accident.

Because of this, it is extremely important that heart problems as a result of an auto accident are diagnosed and treated by a trained cardiologist, such as the ones at Sall Myers Medical Associates. In the mean time, here is a brief overview of two of the most common types of heart injuries caused by a car crash:

Myocardial Contusion

A myocardial contusion is the bruising of the heart muscle. This bruising can often range from mild to severe, and it is generally caused when a driver’s chest hits the steering wheel during a crash. Symptoms of this heart problem often include a “racing heart” feeling, pain in the front of the ribs or sternum, chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, and nausea and/or vomiting.

Traumatic Aortic Disruption

Another dangerous heart problem that can occur as a result of an auto accident is a traumatic aortic rupture. This is a condition in which the aorta, the largest artery in the body, is torn or ruptured. Since the aorta branches directly from the heart to supply blood to the rest of the body, the pressure from this injury is very great and blood may pump out very rapidly. This injury is frequently fatal, due to the profuse bleeding that can result from the rupture, however if treated immediately, it can be kept under control.

To most people, there is little more frightening than a heart attack or heart disease. When your heart has been damaged because of an accident or injury, the board certified doctors and surgeons at Sall Myers Medical Associates are here to help you and heal the damage as much as possible.  Whether you need surgery, treatment, continued tests, or follow-up care, the cardiology unit at Sall Myers is top notch and will provide you the best treatment available.

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When it comes to automobile accident injuries, the type of injuries that many people receive typically will fall into a certain category, depending on the nature and the severity of the accident which they were involved in. For instance, accidents which cause severe head injuries or concussions will often need some type of neurological rehabilitation, while someone with a punctured lung or constricted airway will need pulmonary rehabilitation.

While any one of these categories can be expected in a car accident victim, there is one particular type of rehabilitation that is more common than others following an automobile accident: orthopedic rehabilitation.

An orthopedist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of several problems relating to the musculoskeletal system of the human body, including bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles. These orthopedic injuries can vary from an uncomfortable sprain or broken bone to a life threatening spinal cord injury. However, even when these injuries are not life threatening, they can still be frightening, painful and often debilitating.

Luckily, with the many tools that are at their disposal, an orthopedic surgeon can decide on the least invasive treatment to help treat an injury or medical condition. To give you an idea of what type of orthopedic injuries typically follow an automobile accident, we have put together two of the most common problems to the back and neck following a car crash.

Herniated Disk

When people say that they have a “slipped” or “ruptured” disk in their neck or lower back, what they are typically describing is actually a herniated disk. These disks are the soft, rubbery pads that are found between the hard bones, or vertebrae, that make up our spinal column. These disks allow our back to flex our bend, and often act as shock absorbers to our spine. A disk herniates or ruptures when part of the center nucleus pushes through the outer edge of the disk, back towards the spinal canal. This puts pressure on our nerves, which are extremely sensitive, even in slight amounts of pressure.

Neck Sprain

People who are involved in a car accident will often report a sharp pain in the neck following their crash. This pain often results from a ligament sprain or a muscle strain, usually in the back of the neck. The seven bones of the spinal column in our necks are called cervical vertebrae. These are connected to each other by ligaments, which are strong bands of tissue, like thick rubber bands. When these ligaments are stretched or torn, it can result in a tear which can cause significant pain.

With this exception of cervical fractures, many orthopedic injuries are mild and can be treated with the help of Sall Myer’s Medical Associates pain management doctors. Our orthopedic staff diagnoses these car accident injuries using our on-site x-ray and open MRI services. We can also help to eliminate some of the stress and worry from your life while alleviating your pain and suffering, and making sure your treatment and recovery are as quick and painless as possible.

If you have an auto accident injury and are looking for orthopedic surgeons in New Jersey, please call us at 866-609-4448 or fill out our quick contact form for FREE consultation.

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When it comes to injuries or fatalities that are caused on the road, there are a number of different factors that can lead up to that potentially devastating moment: icy roads, obscured views, dangers on the road, pedestrians, drowsiness, etc. However, while each one of these dangerous scenarios happens each and every day, nothing comes close to the number of accidents and injuries that are caused as a result of a driver under the influence.

Despite all of the warnings, educational programs and public awareness that is spread all across the country, and to people of all ages, many people will still get behind the wheel of their vehicles while intoxicated. In fact, even though alcohol-related traffic fatalities have been on the decline in the last few years, drivers who are under the influence of alcohol are so prevalent that an estimated 40% of all persons in the United States will be involved in a traffic mishap blamed on alcohol at some point in their lives.

However, that is not the only shocking statistic that has come out about drunk driving. According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol-impaired drivers are involved in about 1 in 3 crash deaths, resulting in nearly 11,000 deaths in 2009. That makes it even more scary to think about the fact that U.S. adults drank too much and got behind the wheel about 112 million times in 2012.

Given all of these horrifying facts, it’s easy to see why the certainty of highway injuries and death due to alcohol impaired drivers is just so predictable.

How Dangerous Is Drinking and Driving?

According to the CDC, a driver that has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10 or greater is seven times more likely to be involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash compared to a driver that has not consumed any alcoholic beverages, and a driver with an alcohol concentration of 0.15 or greater is about 25 times more likely. Basically, the more you drink, the more likely you are to have an accident, and a fatal one at that.

What Can You Do To Protect Yourself?

While society has done much to improve highway safety and spread the dangers that come with driving under the influence, there is still much that you can do as an individual to protect yourself against the threat of drunk drivers. One of the first, and most obvious, things you can do is to never get behind the wheel with someone who has too much to drink.

However, if you are driving by yourself, follow these defensive steps that may help you avoid a collision with someone who has had too much to drink:

- Always use a seat belt

- Use four-line highways, if possible

- Drive defensively

- Avoid rural roads

- Try not to travel after midnight (especially on hot weekend nights)

- Choose a vehicle with airbags

If you or someone you know has been injured as a result of someone who was driving under the influence, be sure to contact Sall Myers Medical Associates. Our experienced medical professionals will help to ensure that your injuries are taken care of and that you are off on the fast path to recovery.

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When  you are involved in an automobile accident, there are many different types of injury that you may sustain, either through the initial impact of the crash or from the aftermath of the accident. Many of these injuries, such as broken bones or fractures, have simple solutions in order to heal your wounds―surgery, using a cast, taking medication, etc. However, there are many other types of injuries that people are unsure of how to treat, and therefore, they often become an afterthought following the accident, or do not get treated at all.

One type of injury that can occur in an automobile accident is damage to the soft tissues of your face or body, either through a scar, a burn or a cut. If these types of injuries are not taken care of right away, accident victims are usually left with a scar once their injuries heal, which then never goes away.

However, what many people do not realize is that there are several different ways that you can treat and heal soft tissue damage following an automobile accident. Due to the many advances in technology, there are now many procedures used by specialists certified in dermatology that can help to take care of your needs. Some of these procedures may include light wound care, skin grafts, or even more complicated dermatological procedures. However, they can greatly help to reduce the chance of developing a scar in the aftermath of your accident.

To give you a better idea of what these groundbreaking dermatology procedures are and how they work, we have put together some information on two of the most popular types of treatment used for auto accident victims who have soft tissue damage:

Wound Care Light Therapy

Light therapy, or phototherapy, is used for a variety of different medical procedures, depending on the specific types of wavelengths of light that are being used. These lights are administered for a prescribed amount of time and, in some cases, at specific times of day to help with the treatment of skin disorders and injuries.

Many case studies have found that low-level laser light therapy can be a very helpful adjunctive treatment in accelerated wound healing and in pain management.

Skin Grafts

Skin grafting is a type of graft surgery that involves the transplantation of skin. Skin grafting is often used to treat extensive wounding, trauma or burns and is often employed after serious injuries, when some of the body’s skin is damaged. Skin grafting often serves two different purposes: to reduce the course of treatment needed (and time in the hospital), and improve the function and appearance of the area of the body which receives the skin graft.

If you are in need of dermatology treatment in New Jersey from your personal injury accident, please call us at 866-609-4448 or fill out the quick contact form for FREE consultation. Or, click here if you would like to read more about our staff of board certified dermatologists.

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There are few things in life that are scarier than getting into a serious car accident, especially one that results in injury to yourself or someone else. However, the truth is that every day, thousands of people around the world will find themselves in some kind of automobile-related crash, either due to reckless driving, traffic violations, poor weather or pedestrian accidents.

Not only can a car accident be frustrating and worrisome because of the situation itself, but depending on the type of accident which you were involved in, it can also result in severe injuries to yourself, your car and to anyone else who was involved in the accident. Some of these injuries may fade on their own over time, or may even require the help and assistance of a doctor to order to heal.

The most common types of automobile accident injuries that we see here at Sall Myers Medical Associate will usually involve some kind of trauma to the skeletal system and the soft tissue around it. These are the more delicate parts of the body, and therefore, they are the most susceptible to injury. That means that the neck, back and the brain are prime candidates for injury during any type of automobile accident.

Because of this, it is important that anyone who suffers from an auto accident injury seek medical attention to get any potential injuries diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. To help you get a better idea of what type of injuries you should look for following a car crash, we have put together four of the most common types of injuries that stem from an auto accident:

1. Back Pain

Any time that the spine and back muscles are moved abruptly or unnaturally, back pain can result. Therefore, in a car accident, back injury is often one of the most common types of injuries, specifically in the mid-back and the lumbar spine. Most minor back pain should go away in a few days. However, if you experience shooting pain, numbness or pain that lasts more than a couple of days, you should see a doctor right away.

2. Concussion

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that can be caused when the brain makes contact with the skill, usually due to a hard blow to the head or body, or an automobile accident that jars and shakes the brain inside of the skull. Most people will fully recover from a concussion within a few hours or days. However, because some severe concussions may require surgery or may even lead to complex problems with learning, speaking and movement, it is important that you get any kind of head injury checked by a doctor right away.

3. Joint Damage

Many people will often bang their knees against the bottom of the dashboard or steering wheel during a automobile collision, causing severe joint damage which may include swelling, soreness, sprains, fractures and dislocations. Other joints are also easily susceptible to injury during car crashes, particularly the hips, elbows and ankles.

4. Whiplash

The single most common injury in any kind of auto accident is whiplash. This type of injury occurs when the soft tissue in the neck is damaged by some kind of abrupt movement. The muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves can become stiff or swollen, causing restrictions on movement and soreness. These symptoms will typically fade over a few days. However, if they persist, it is important to see a medical professional.

If you are someone you know  has been injured as a result of an automobile accident, be sure to contact the trained medical professionals at Sall Myers Medical Associates. We can help to ensure that your injuries pass without seriously affecting your health and your life.

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When it comes to driving safety and obeying the rules of the road, many drivers count on roadside signs and lights in order to guide them safely to their destinations. A red light, whether on brake lights, traffic lights or stop signs, tells driver to come to a complete stop. Flashing yellow lights or road signs help to caution drivers of any roadside conditions ahead and make them alert to any potential slow downs, while green gives the okay to move ahead with your journey.

However, there is one other color, which is arguably one of the most important colors of the road, that many drivers will encounter on a daily basis, whether they are driving along one of America’s freeways, interstates, side streets or byways―construction orange.

Whenever you see that familiar color of orange, it should be obvious to any driver that there is construction ahead and that you should slow down for roadside safety. However, what many drivers do not realize is that these construction signs and safety precautions are not only set aside to protect the many construction workers on the side of the road―although this is important as well―but it is also meant to protect drivers from any dangers on the road.

Often times during roadside construction, the road is being seriously mended, repaved or widened, requiring extra precaution by all drivers. This is essential because it usually means that the road surfaces are not as safe as they usually are and drivers should approach them with caution in order to avoid any dangerous accidents.

In order to help your drive safely along the many roadside construction zones that line the U.S. highways, we have put together these simple steps for surviving the hassles and dangers of construction sites:

Be Aware Of Your Speed

Always slow down whenever you are approaching a work zone and follow any posted speed limit signs that you may see. These signs are designed to protect both construction crews and motorists, and signs will often indicate everything from traffic lane changes to speed limit reductions. Also, make sure that you do not your normal road speed until you see roadway signs saying that it is safe to do so.

Give Yourself Some Space

Make sure that you leave an adequate amount of braking room between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. Also, watch out for the many tailgaters that tend to build up throughout construction zones. Do not force them to back off by slamming on your brakes or significantly reducing your speed. This can increase your chance of a collision and road range from other drivers.

Stay Focused

It is easy to drift off or to become unfocused during stop-and-go traffic in construction zones. However, try your best to avoid cell phone or radio distractions, as well as anything else that may cause your eyes to wander away from the road. Also, while it can be tempting to avoid the construction altogether, do not pass on the shoulder or drive across the median. This can create a very dangerous situation for yourself, construction workers and other motorists.

If you or someone you know has been injured from an automobile accident in a construction zone, or any other time of motor vehicle crash, be sure to contact Sall Myers Medical Associates. We will look into the extent of your injuries and provide the best service we can to ensure a safe, healthy recovery from your accident.

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Whenever you sustain a serious injury to your body, whether it was through a minor fender bender or a serious automobile accident, there are certain precautionary measure that your doctor may take to ensure that they understand the extent of your injuries and have looked over any sort of breaks or factures that may have occurred. Many time, these injuries are not able to be seen from the eyes alone and other tests may be scheduled to look for injuries below the surface.

One piece of equipment that many doctors will use when looking for severe injuries is an x-ray machine. Before any type of medical treatment can begin, doctors will often schedule an x-ray, or some other sort of diagnostic imaging test, in order to provide you with a proper diagnosis, treatment and ongoing recovery plan following  your auto injury. In fact, for many people, x-rays are not just about locating the injury and coming up with a treatment plan, but they can also uncover life-threatening problems.

However, while x-rays are a very common medical treatment (seven out of ten Americans will receive some kind of x-ray every year), not every person fully understands just how an x-ray works and how they should prepare themselves before going in for their test. We have put together some basic facts about x-rays that you should know before scheduling your exam:

What Is An X-Ray?

An x-ray is a medical exam made up of electromagnetic radiation. These rays are similar to the light waves that our eyes can detect, expect with a much higher amount of energy. This electromagnetic radiation used in x-ray technology is able to make images, which is then recorded on a film, called a radiograph. However, because the soft tissue in the human body cannot absorb this type of high energy, the parts of your body will appear either dark or light on the x-ray image, depending on the different rates that your tissues absorb the x-rays.

Denser materials, such as the calcium in our bones, will absorb these high-energy rays and appear white on printed x-ray film. However, fat and other soft tissues absorb less, so they will have a tint of grey. And, because air absorbs least, your lungs will typically appear black in a radiograph.

What Should You Expect From Your X-Ray?

There are many different types of x-ray examinations that you can have done, therefore a lot of your preparation will depend on both your situation and your injuries. For example, before having an x-ray of your digestive tract, you may need to change your diet or fast completely. However, for an x-ray of a possible broken bone, you may not have to take any precautions whatsoever.

When you go in for your x-ray, you will be asked to remove all jewelry from the part of your body that is being examined, then you will be given a hospital gown to change into. You will also be given a flexible lead apron or other type of protective drape that will work to shield portions of your body from unnecessary x-ray exposure. There is no pain or severe side effects that come with being x-rays, and most tests will be over in a matter of minutes.

If you have been injured as a result of an automobile accident and think you may need x-rays, be sure to contact the medical experts at Sall Myers Medical Associates. At Sall Myers, our radiologists are professionally trained and work on-site. This allows for faster scheduling and quicker results. Also, our x-ray services staff and doctors are experienced in car accident injury diagnosis and care.

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