In 2020, car accident victims sustained nearly five million injuries that required medical attention. Unfortunately, many of those injuries were life-changing, resulting in high medical bills, lost income, and more.
Many victims underestimate the extent of their injuries in the immediate aftermath. Car accidents are stressful experiences and it’s not uncommon to go into a state of shock, which can make it difficult to detect injuries.
Today, we’re going to talk about some of the most common auto accident injuries and what to do about them. If you have serious injuries after an accident, you may want to consider filing a personal injury claim.
Read on to learn more about five common auto accident injuries and when to file a personal injury claim.
Five Common Auto Accident Injuries
Some of the most common auto accident injuries are scrapes and bruises that tend to heal on their own. However, there are several serious injuries that result from auto accidents that should not be ignored. Let’s take a look at the five most common auto accident injuries that require medical attention.
Whiplash
Whiplash is an umbrella term that encompasses injuries that impact muscles, tendons, and ligaments, often in the neck and back. Whiplash occurs when your body is forced to move faster than it should, resulting in tears and strains that can impede movement and cause pain. Minor whiplash may resolve itself, but serious whiplash can cause long-term disabilities when not treated properly.
Head Injuries
Head injuries are some of the most serious injuries that are hard to spot because common symptoms may take a few hours or days to develop. Head injuries can also last for weeks, months, and even years. Some traumatic brain injuries result in permanent cognitive damage.
Broken Bones
Car accidents often cause broken ribs, arms, legs, and even shoulders or clavicles. Broken bones cause serious pain but can also limit your ability to work and function at your normal capacity for months at a time. While a well-treated broken bone shouldn’t result in a permanent disability, it can still impact your day-to-day life in a serious way while healing.
Internal Bleeding
Because of the way that the body is thrown into the steering wheel or struck by another vehicle in a car crash, internal bleeding is a common auto accident injury. Internal bleeding almost always requires critical care and can become life-threatening. Internal bleeding can also indicate serious organ damage which may result in permanent health conditions.
Spinal Injuries
The spine is both important to our body’s functioning and extremely delicate. Car accidents can cause temporary spinal injuries, like herniated discs. However, car accident victims may also sustain paralyzing spinal damage that lasts a lifetime.
Should You File a Personal Injury Claim?
Personal injury claims can’t take away the pain and trauma caused by a car accident. However, they can protect your financial stability. How do you know when to file a personal injury claim?
In order to file a personal injury claim, you must demonstrate three things:
- Another driver is at-fault for the accident.
- The accident caused serious, long-term, and/or permanent injuries.
- These injuries and other related damages have impacted your finances in a serious way.
Let’s look at an example from an eighteen wheeler accident lawsuit. A car was rear ended by an eighteen wheeler when the driver fell asleep at the wheel. Had the driver abided by the laws and regulations for long-haul driving, the accident could have been avoided.
Passengers in the car were left with serious injuries including spinal injuries, internal bleeding, and broken bones. They now have to pay for ongoing medical expenses while losing income due to their inability to work. In this case, all three qualifying factors of a personal injury lawsuit are fulfilled.
If you are the victim of an auto accident that fulfills all three qualifying factors, consider filing a personal injury claim.
Don’t File a Claim Without Legal Representation
If you’re considering filing a personal injury claim against another driver, make sure to hire the best accident lawyer in your area. Personal injury cases may seem cut and dry from the outside, but the discovery and settlement process are complex. Let’s take a quick look at why you shouldn’t file a claim without legal representation.
Legal Expertise
In order to win your case, you will need to establish the facts beyond the preponderance of the evidence. In other words, you must demonstrate that your claim has more than a 50% chance of being accurate.
This will require more than an understanding of what has occurred. It will also require an understanding of relevant laws, legal theories, and regional precedents. The best accident lawyer will come prepared with the legal expertise you need to win your case.
Leveling the Playing Field
When you file a personal injury claim, the defense doesn’t consist of the at-fault driver, alone. More accurately, you are filing a claim against the defendant’s insurance company. Insurance companies are armed with experienced lawyers whose only goal is to reduce your settlement.
Having a lawyer by your side lowers your risk of hurting your own case. When unchecked, insurance companies lawyers will resort to tactics that will cast doubt on your evidence. You deserve an experienced lawyer who can spot these tactics and counteract them to protect your interests.
Start Your Consultation With Experienced Houston Personal Injury Lawyers
If these or any other auto accident injuries sound familiar, you may have grounds to file a personal injury claim. The best place to start is with a legal consultation with an experienced accident lawyer.
Contact us to schedule your free case evaluation. We will discuss the facts of your case and help you to decide on the next best steps.
