Millions of Americans drive cars to and from where they are going every day. Unfortunately, some number of those vehicles will be involved in car accidents. NHTSA estimates that roughly 42,795 people died in car accidents in 2022, which means that the number of total accidents is probably much higher than that. A car accident is incredibly inconvenient for all parties involved. In the short term, any plans for the day have probably been completely derailed, and there is a good chance that at least someone involved was seriously injured. Then there is medical treatment and recovery as well as the associated costs. On top of all that, the cost of vehicle repair or replacement can also balloon to quite high amounts. Finally, the mental toll of dealing with injuries sustained in a car accident can be quite severe.
With so much going on, many victims of car accidents do not know what to do or where to turn. Luckily, our attorneys can help you get on track after a car accident. We can make sure you sue the right parties, gather evidence about your case, and fight hard for you in court so that you can get the compensation you deserve and need.
For a free, no-obligation discussion of your case, call our car accident attorneys with Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
Injuries from Cookeville, TN Car Accidents
While some people may get lucky and walk away from a car accident with minimal injuries, the reality is that injuries sustained in car accidents can be very serious and require intensive medical care to make a full recovery. In many cases, a victim may not be able to make a full recovery, and they will require lifelong medical care. In the context of a car accident lawsuit, your injuries directly relate to what you ask for in damages in your initial complaint.
Whiplash
Whiplash happens when someone’s head suddenly moves back and then rapidly forward. Such movement puts a lot of stress on the spinal column and can lead to injuries ranging from minor soreness and discomfort in the neck to spinal/nerve damage. This can lead to surprisingly high damages that our car accident lawyers can help you seek compensation for.
Whiplash is somewhat common in high-speed car accidents and rear-end crashes, but it may not be apparent right away. It can take a couple of days for symptoms to manifest. Therefore, it is important to monitor your condition and get medical attention in the days after an accident – even if you think you are otherwise fine.
Broken Bones
Car accidents can easily impart enough force on a person to break bones, even with the presence of modern safety features. All broken bones will likely require a cast, sling, or other immobilizing device in order to heal. More serious breaks, such as compound fractures, where a bone breaks through the skin, will likely require surgery as well as a cast or sling.
Additionally, after the affected area heals, you will likely need to regain muscle strength in that area through diet, physical therapy, or other means.
Cuts and Puncture Wounds
Car crashes can cause the metal bits of motor vehicles to warp and bend. For this reason, it is not uncommon for car accident victims to get nasty cutting wounds. Cuts sustained in a car accident will likely require stitching to heal fully and may lead to disfigurement, either in the form of permanent scarring or the loss of digits like fingers and toes.
Puncture wounds are much more dangerous than cuts. This is because they are harder to sew shut than cuts. Moreover, it only takes a few inches of penetration into the body to hit vital organs, resulting in serious injury and requiring immediate trauma care.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by hard blows to the head which injure the brain or puncture the skull. TBIs are very serious injuries, and even a mild TBI can cause memory loss, irritability and other mood swings, and sensitivity to light and sound. More severe TBS can result in the loss of basic functions like walking, speaking, or fine motor skills, or even death.
Burns
There are a couple of ways that burns can happen in a car accident. Perhaps most obviously, if the contents of a gas tank combust and catch fire, they can burn the occupants of any vehicle involved in the accident.
Another type of burn is a friction burn. These happen when an individual rubs against another surface at high speed. This can cause abrasions and other unpleasant injuries. For example, if an occupant of a vehicle is thrown out of their car and skids across the ground, they may receive friction burns as they slide across the road.
Damages in Car Accident Lawsuits in Cookeville, TN
When you file a car accident lawsuit, one of the things you do is ask the court for what you want in damages. Damages are the legal system’s way of having the defendant bring the plaintiff back to where they were before they got injured. Since this cannot literally happen in many cases, financial compensation often is used instead.
You can ask for damages based off of your condition because of the car accident. For example, you can ask for damages that cover your medical bills as well as time missed from work when you could have been getting paid. Additionally, you are also able to get damages based on your mental condition and the pain you felt from your injuries. For example, if you have constant nightmares re-living your car accident, you can get damages for that, even though it is technically not a physical injury.
Speak to Our Cookeville, TN Car Accident Attorneys
Howe Law’s car accident attorneys can help you with your case when you call us at (844) 876-4357.
