Car Accidents

Abramson Labor Group – Car Accidents

Car accidents can happen to anyone at any time. When you get behind the wheel, you have no way to know if today will be the day you’re in a crash. You’re not safe if you just take short trips. A study published by the National Institutes of Health says that 77% of people treated for injuries following a car accident were within 10 miles of their home when the crash occurred.

Reasons Car Accidents Happen

Car accidents happen for so many reasons. Distractions are a leading cause. You or another driver may be talking on your cellphone, leaning over to reach something that dropped, changing a radio station, or taking another sip of water.

Drunk or impaired driving is another reason car accidents happen. When a driver gets behind the wheel after drinking, using recreational drugs, or taking a prescription medication that causes drowsiness or dizziness, judgment skills, vision, and reaction times are affected. It can lead to a crash.

A driver’s reckless behavior also leads to accidents. A driver is going too fast for the road conditions and loses traction on ice or snow. It could be that the driver ran a red light or stop sign. Speeding, passing on corners, or weaving in and out of traffic are other examples.

Defective equipment can lead to a car accident. Brakes may fail. A computer may malfunction and cause the instrument panel to go dark. A new tire may be defective and rupture while the car is in motion. For example, if a defective airbag deploys while the driver is driving, it could easily cause a crash.

Some accidents occur due to unexpected environmental issues. A driver may be driving on a windy day and have a tree branch fall onto the windshield. A sinkhole may form and cause a car to suddenly stop. A landslide or rockslide may suddenly block a lane on a highway.

Common Injuries Following a Car Crash

When a vehicle crashes, the momentum of that car spinning, rolling, or suddenly stopping impacts your body. Your head may whip forward and back to the headrest causing whiplash. The seat belt will hold you tight if you’re wearing it, but you will end up with brushing where the seat belt held you in place. Head injuries, such as a concussion, can occur if your head hits the windshield, window, framing, or sun visor.

The placement of your hands on the steering wheel can lead to fractured fingers, wrists, and forearms. People were taught to put their hands in the 10 and 2 position. If the airbag deploys and thumbs, fingers, or any part of the hand are over the airbag cover, it can lead to a fractured finger.

In a front-end collision, the force of the engine block into the dash can push the dash into your knees or legs causing fractures. A pelvis can fracture in a high-speed crash. Without a seat belt, your body will be tossed around the car and multiple fractures can occur.

Another injury people face after a crash are internal injuries. The force of the crash may cause internal bleeding. External cuts and abrasions from the twisted metal and broken glass are also common accident injuries.

Those are physical injuries that people face after a car crash. There are emotional ones too. Many people in serious accidents experience PTSD. The anxiety they face trying to get back behind the wheel or while driving in the location of the crash can be debilitating.

Seek Legal Advice After a Car Accident

If the equipment on your car fails through no fault of your own and there is a recall, the auto manufacturer may be liable for any injuries you sustained. If another driver causes your accident, that other driver’s insurance is responsible for the cost of replacing or repairing your vehicle, covering your medical expenses, and paying for pain and suffering and lost wages. If you don’t feel the insurance company’s settlement is fair, talk to a personal injury attorney who specializes in car accidents.

There is no law that forces you to accept the insurance company’s settlement offer. In fact, it’s advisable to talk to a car accident attorney to ensure the settlement offer is fair. Not every offer is. The personal injury attorneys at Abramson, Levin & Gindi specialize in traffic accidents and are happy to discuss your case. Talk to one of the attorneys about your car accident and make sure you’re getting treated fairly. Schedule your free consultation.