Every day, an average of 7,000 people in the U.S. are injured in a car accident. Perhaps you yourself were injured not long ago in Washington and suffered greatly because of a driver’s negligence. Before you can pursue a case, you will need to know the scope of your injuries. The following are some of the most basic types of injuries that crash victims may incur.
Whiplash and traumatic brain injuries
Whiplash is perhaps the most common car crash injury. When the neck is rapidly snapped forward and backward, it strains and sometimes tears the muscles and ligaments there, causing stiffness, shooting pains and headaches. In serious cases where the neck vertebrae become dislocated, a person may need to undergo surgery.
Traumatic brain injuries can also vary in their severity with victims needing surgery if the trauma to their head causes blood to pool under their skull. Another thing to remember is that brain injury symptoms may not manifest themselves until days or weeks after an accident.
Spinal cord injuries
Crash victims may become weak in their extremities or be paralyzed because of a spinal cord injury. The shifting of the car’s position can cause the occupant’s spinal discs to be pushed or twisted. These injuries, along with backbone fractures and back muscle tears, will need the attention of a surgeon.
Internal and psychological injuries
Internal injuries are possible, too, largely because of the seat belt. The lap belt in particular, if worn incorrectly, can injure the muscles in the torso as well as the heart, lungs, liver and spleen. Last but not least, many crash victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder or a general anxiety about driving.
A lawyer for personal attention
To see if you have a valid personal injury case under Washington’s pure comparative negligence rule, you may want to talk to a lawyer. If you hire the lawyer, he or she may help gather evidence and work to negotiate on your behalf for a settlement. A successful claim might cover your medical expenses, lost wages, vehicle repair costs, pain and suffering and emotional trauma.
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