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Car accidents can come with a host of injuries, depending on their severity. Whiplash is a common injury sustained in a car crash, but car accident victims can sustain many other types of injuries. Some injuries you can get from a car crash include:
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
For minor accidents, you may not know that you’re injured until you see a doctor. Some invisible injuries can be killers, especially when they show no initial symptoms. Always see a medical professional after any type of car accident.
Every accident is unique. The injuries you get from a car crash will ultimately depend on how your car crash occurred. If you suffer injuries in a car accident, you might be able to seek compensation to recover your injury-related losses.
Car Accident Injuries Are Costly
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that injuries from motor vehicle collisions in a single year accounted for $18 billion in costs in 2012. A car accident victim may find that their specific injuries resulted in significant personal costs of varying types.
Because of your accident, you might be burdened with costs for:
- Diagnosing your injuries, which may include X-rays and other imaging services
- Treating your injuries
- Rehabilitating your injuries
- Repairing or replacing your vehicle
- Replacing personal items that were damaged in the accident
- Treatment for psychological, accident-related trauma
- Being unable to work and losing income as a result
You may also experience several non-economic losses, which can be accounted for in an insurance claim or lawsuit. Some non-economic damages you may suffer because of a car crash include:
- Psychological trauma
- Emotional trauma
- Physical injury, which may result in general physical limitation
- Loss of your independence
- Changes in your personality
- Changes in your relationships with others, including your loved ones
- Scarring and disfigurement
The parties responsible for causing your accident may be held accountable for your accident-related damages regardless of whether they are economic or non-economic.
Proving Liability for Injuries You Can Get from a Car Accident
You will need to prove who is at fault for your accident to win compensation for your related injuries. A lawyer can help you by showing that one or more parties were negligent in causing your injuries. In the case of a car accident, negligence:
- Occurs when somebody does not intend to cause harm, but causes harm nonetheless
- Is present when somebody acts in a way that is considered either careless or reckless
- Is measured against the standard of duty of care
A duty of care generally means that somebody cannot put others at an unreasonable risk of suffering harm. In the context of a car crash, a violation of one’s duty of care may involve:
- Hiring a commercial driver who is unfit for the job
- Failing to maintain a roadworthy vehicle
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Driving in a generally erratic manner
- Driving while drunk
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Running a red light, stop sign, or yield sign
- Driving in any way that puts others at risk of injury or death
Your lawyer may examine your case to determine how you have been the victim of negligence.
Seeking Compensation from Responsible Parties
Your lawyer will help you pursue any compensation that you are entitled to collect. They may do this by helping you reach an insurance settlement or pursuing compensation through a lawsuit.
You may attempt to secure an insurance settlement through negotiations, but in some cases, both parties might not be able to come to an agreement. You may choose to pursue a lawsuit instead. If you pursue this route, your legal team may:
- Determine who is responsible for causing your accident and injuries
- Write and file your lawsuit
- Collect evidence showing that you were the victim of negligence
- Document the results of negligence, including your injuries
- Calculate the value of your accident-related losses
- Represent you in court when necessary
- Complete a trial
- Defend your rights
Your lawyer can handle the legal aspects of your case so that you do not have to. Having a lawyer may allow you to spend more time receiving treatment, resting, and engaging in other forms of recovery.
Call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers Today
You might be entitled to collect damages for injuries you got from a car crash. A lawyer can fight for your right to compensation, which may include reimbursement for both economic and non-economic damages.
Call George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers or fill out our online form today for more information about how a lawyer can help you after a car crash. We offer free case reviews for all prospective clients.