Life-threatening injuries from car accidents can have devastating and long-lasting effects on victims and their families. Understanding your rights can help you take the necessary steps to protect your health and legal rights in the aftermath if you or a loved one sustain serious car accident injuries. In this blog, we’ll cover some of the most common car accident injuries, steps to take after a car accident, and more.
What Kind of Life-Threatening Injuries Can Result From a Car Accident?
Although not all car accidents result in life-threatening injuries, serious car accident injuries are often categorized as either impact injuries or penetrating injuries. Car accident injuries are considered impact injuries when a person’s body has come into contact with some part of the car. For example, a person’s head making contact with a side window. A penetrating injury is caused by something breaking the skin’s barrier, such as shattered glass becoming lodged in a person’s skin. Let’s review some of the more common life-threatening injuries from car accidents.
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Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is often something you hear when discussing sports, but it’s also a common serious car accident injury. While some brain injuries can turn out to be minor, all head injuries should be taken seriously as TBI can have long-lasting effects, such as memory loss and other cognitive problems, as well as executive functioning problems.
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Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries are serious car accident injuries that require immediate medical attention. However, you may not always notice a spinal cord injury right away. Some people with a spinal cord injury may notice paralysis right away, while paralysis may happen over time for others.
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Heart Attack
The stress of a car accident can lead to a heart attack, both immediately following the car accident and in the months after the accident. If you notice any signs of a heart attack, seek medical care right away.
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Loss of Limbs
Loss of limbs, either from trauma sustained in the car accident or from complications in the aftermath, are serious car accident injuries.
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Organ Damage
Life-threatening injuries to your organs can occur due to puncture wounds or blunt force trauma during a car accident. Organs most commonly injured in car accidents are the liver, spleen, and small intestine. Organ damage can cause internal bleeding, which may not be immediately noticeable and can lead to blood clots and blood loss in the days and weeks following the car accident.
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Emotional Distress
Not all life-threatening injuries from car accidents are physical. Car accidents can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can affect a person for the rest of their life.
The effects of a serious accident can be life-altering. Prompt medical care and legal guidance are crucial in navigating the complex aftermath of a car accident. If you or someone you know has suffered such injuries, don’t hesitate to seek professional help to ensure that all aspects of your recovery—both physical and emotional—are addressed, and your legal rights are fully upheld.
If My Loved One is Fatally Injured in a Car Accident, What Should I Do?
Dealing with near-fatal or fatal car accident injuries to a loved one can be a very stressful time. During stressful times like these, it can help to have a list of steps you should keep in mind.
That’s why we’ve taken our 9 Steps to Take After a Car Accident list, and modified it for those who have had loved ones in a near-fatal or fatal car accident.
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Seek Immediate Medical Help
Some injuries may not be immediately apparent, so it’s important to seek medical attention even if the injuries don’t seem severe at the time. It’s also important to seek medical care if you notice any changes in the days following the accident as well.
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Gather Evidence That Could Be Used to Establish Liability
It’s important to document as much as you can regarding the car accident, including the names and addresses of those involved, witnesses, and law enforcement and first responders. You’ll also want to collect driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, vehicle types, and insurance information. Take photos of the damage to the vehicles, the surrounding area, and injuries sustained.
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Keep a Record of All Accrued Expenses
Keep a record of all the expenses incurred during your loved one’s care and/or funeral and burial expenses. This includes, but is not limited to, emergency department expenses, in-home medical expenses, and mental health care. Many of these expenses may be able to be recovered as damages in a wrongful death claim.
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Seek Emotional Support
This is a difficult time for you and your loved ones. It’s important to take care of your mental health as you care for your loved one or lay them to rest. Friends, family, or a mental health professional can help.
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Find a Personal Injury Lawyer
A personal injury lawyer can help you determine whether you should make a claim following the car accident. If you choose to move forward with a claim, an expert car accident attorney can help you navigate this difficult time and fight for you to earn the compensation you’re entitled to.
When Should I Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Whether you choose to file a claim or not, a car accident lawyer in South Carolina can help you navigate the insurance claim process and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
If you are interested in filing a personal injury case or wrongful death claim, a personal injury lawyer will best know your state’s laws and can guide you through the process of determining if you want to file a case or claim. You may be able to file a personal injury case if you sustained life-threatening injuries or a wrongful death claim if you lost a loved one in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence.
The decision to hire a car accident lawyer should be made as soon as possible after a serious accident. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the complex legal landscape, ensuring that your rights are protected and that you receive fair compensation. Don’t hesitate to seek legal support to help secure the justice and compensation you deserve.
Our Experienced Car Accident Attorneys in Beaufort, SC
The aftermath of sustaining life-threatening injuries from car accidents can be a daunting and emotionally taxing experience. Beyond the immediate medical concerns, victims and their families must contend with the financial impact and potential long-term consequences of such injuries. By working with an experienced car accident attorney, you can ensure that your legal rights are upheld and that you have the best chance of securing compensation to support your recovery. Don’t hesitate to seek legal advice if you or a loved one has been involved in a serious accident.
Harvey and Battey is your full service law firm in Beaufort, SC with over 100 years of experience and a strong reputation. With Harvey and Battey, you get the personalized attention of a small firm combined with the knowledge and resources of a large firm. Our attorneys have years of experience in many practice areas such as personal injury, family law, real estate, estate planning, and more. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation with one of our car accident attorneys in Beaufort, SC and learn how we can be your law firm for life.