A high-speed traffic collision can put stress on almost all parts of the body. It’s a risk most families have to take as they head out to work on busy roads like Highway 99. Drivers may encounter risks as they take their kids to school along Yosemite Avenue.
A collision with a careless driver can bring a stop to a victim’s daily routine and can threaten changes to someone’s normal life forever. It’s why victims must be extremely cautious when accepting settlement offers from car insurance companies. The severity of the injury must determine how much support the victim needs to cover medical care now and the care that might be needed in the future.
The Most Concerning Car Accident Injuries
These are just some of the outcomes for people hurt in serious vehicle crashes along Madera County roads.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): The brain is extremely vulnerable to the force of a traffic collision. The Cleveland Clinic reports that TBIs are classified into two categories. A penetrating or open TBI means that an object, like a piece of metal, has entered the brain. A blunt TBI is when a powerful impact causes the brain to move inside the skull. This is the most common type of brain damage in a car collision.
Whiplash: Whiplash refers to the injury to the soft tissue of the neck that can occur in an impact of any speed. It leads to pain and restricted motion for victims.
Bone Fractures: The leg bones can be broken in a rear-end collision when the legs are shoved into the floorboard. The arms and wrists might suffer fractures while drivers are hanging onto the steering wheel.
Amputation: Limbs are sometimes severed in major collisions or may have to be removed surgically in the hospital. Victims will have to learn to live with a permanent physical disability. Patients may need changes to their home life and careers to allow for as much freedom as possible.
Spinal Cord Injuries/Paralysis: A vertebra in the spinal column that protects the spine could be crushed in the force of a crash, leading to years of pain, reduced flexibility, and mobility. Damage to the spinal cord can result in long-term disability or even lead to paralysis below the level of the injury, impacting an individual for life.
Internal Organ Damage: Damage to the heart and lungs might occur. A collapsed lung can be life-threatening. The Mayo Clinic explains that trauma can allow air to leak into the space between the lungs and chest wall. This air forces the lung to collapse. The force of an accident can cause other organs, like the kidneys, to suffer lacerations or rupture.
Burns: Some collisions may set a car ablaze. Occupants inside may struggle to escape and could suffer 3rd Degree burns. Victims might need restorative surgery and skin grafts to help get their appearance back to what it once was.
Disfiguring Scars: Scars, especially those to the face, are prevalent in many car accidents and could require surgery to correct them.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Patients may struggle with mental flashbacks to the moment of impact and the shock of a devastating crash and injury. Mental health care may be needed. This therapy is something an at-fault driver’s insurer should pay for.
Medical Bills That Frequently Arise After a Car Accident
The physical pain and emotional challenge of these and other injuries will be hard enough. But car accident victims don’t need to stress about how their medical bills will get paid. They just need to focus on getting the best care available and on the healing process.
Your Madera car accident lawyer would gather all medical bills, get accurate totals, and back up these costs with documentation. Your lawyer must also work with medical experts to determine what type of care may be needed in the future, e.g., future surgeries, physical therapy, and home care.
A fair car accident settlement from an at-fault driver’s insurance provider should cover these medical expenses and more:
- Emergency response and ambulance fees
- Emergency room bills and hospital stays
- Surgical procedures
- Follow-up care with doctors and specialists
- Rehabilitation services, including physical therapy
- In-home nursing agency services
- Medical equipment required
- Renovations to homes so that patients can recover at home
- Mental health services for the emotional trauma caused
- Prescription medications
On top of the medical bills, many individuals will not be able to return to work for some time due to their injuries. Any car accident settlement should cover all paychecks and benefits victims must miss out on. The cost of repairs or replacement to a vehicle must be included.
Families who lose a loved one who doesn’t survive a major injury can also demand justice. A Madera wrongful death lawyer can help family members seek support for the family, including money to pay funeral costs and leftover medical bills. The family should also expect help with supporting loved ones after someone who provided income for the family has passed on.
Connect with a Madera Car Accident Lawyer to Find Out About Your Options
Our team at Maison Law is dedicated to every aspect of your personal injury claim after a Madera car accident. We understand that you are facing many difficulties on both a physical and financial level after an accident and a major injury. We want to support you through your recovery and the entire legal process. Your well-being is a top priority to us. Contact us for a free and confidential case consultation today.
There’s no obligation, but if we can help you earn more, there’s no worry about how you’ll pay us. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement money a car insurance company is forced to turn over to you and your family.
