Injuries resulting from car accidents vary in scope and severity, with some common injuries including concussions, whiplash, and cuts or bruises. Medical complications from these injuries can be permanently life-altering in some cases. More serious injuries from car accidents can include spinal cord injuries, internal bleeding, and traumatic brain injuries. According to Mayo Clinic, automobile and motorcycle accidents are the most common causes of spinal cord injuries, leading to half of all new cases every year in the United States. If you believe another driver may be responsible for the injuries you got from a car crash, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury claim.
What Leads to Injuries in Car Accidents?
Injuries from car accidents may occur if a vehicle collision leads to a violent impact for anyone inside the vehicle. In some accidents, injuries result from forceful contact between a driver or passenger and the vehicle’s interior components, such as the steering wheel, dashboard, airbags, windows, or doors.
However, not all injuries caused by car accidents involve bodily impact. In the case of whiplash, for example, a collision may throw a passenger’s neck and spine back and forth violently even if they never comes into contact with the vehicle. Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, stiffness, muscle injuries, headaches, diziness, or burning sensations according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
Several factors may lead to injuries in a car accident. Unsafe driving conditions may increase the odds of an accident. If other drivers are involved, negligent behavior such as distracted driving, drunk driving, and driving under the influence of drugs may be responsible for crashes and resulting injuries. A lawyer can assist you in determining what led to your accident, constructing your claim, and negotiating for a settlement. If settlement negotiations fail, they could also help take your case to trial.
Data shows that the area you are driving in may also have an impact on the likelihood of an accident, as well as the severity of the damage caused. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), accidents are more common at intersections in urban areas. In 2018, 72 percent of accidents in rural areas occurred on roads with speed limits of 55 mph or higher. Other factors may also increase the prevalence of car accidents in any given area, including speed limits, unsafe turns, vehicle types, the density of the traffic, and more.
The more dangerous the driving conditions are, the more likely drivers and passengers could sustain injuries in the event of an accident. If you were injured in a car accident through no fault of your own, a lawyer who focuses on car accidents can help you build your case while you focus on your recovery.
For a free legal consultation, call (201) 585-9111
Seeking Medical Treatment and Compensation for Injuries Caused by a Car Accident
Injuries resulting from a car accident may require extensive medical treatment. If injuries are severe then hospitalization, surgeries, and physical therapy may be needed to restore health and wellness. According to 2014 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans spend more than one million days in the hospital each year, and crash injuries from 2012 alone totaled $18 billion.
However, the full cost of some injuries may not be immediately apparent. Some injuries only present minor symptoms following a car accident, then worsen as time goes on. For this reason, it is important to seek out medical treatment for your injuries regardless of whether you feel injured. Doing so can also be beneficial as a way to document your injuries for a potential personal injury claim.
There are other forms of recoverable damages beyond medical bills that you may be entitled to if you have sustained injuries from a car accident. For example, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, loss of the ability to enjoy life, past and future suffering, and property damage if your car was totaled in the accident.
Contact the Team from Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C. to Learn More
If you would like to learn more about what injuries you can get from a car crash and how to proceed if you’ve been in an accident, consider hiring a lawyer to offer his or her assistance as you navigate the legal process. To speak with a member of the team from Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi P.C., call (201) 585-9111 if you live in New Jersey or (212) 543-1600 if you live in New York. We offer a free initial consultation, and work on a contingency-fee basis.
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