Car Accidents
An alarming 37,000 fatalities and around 2.35 million injuries are estimated to result from car accidents annually. A significant portion of these, particularly in Northwest Indiana, are the consequences of other drivers’ negligence. If you’re involved in an accident, it’s crucial to consult a personal injury attorney promptly to ascertain your eligibility for compensation to help cover medical bills, lost income, and anguish.
CAUSES OF CAR ACCIDENTS
Car accidents occur on a daily basis, and many of them are caused by:
Distracted Driving
A driver becomes distracted when he takes his focus off of the road to pay attention to another passenger in the car, the radio, a phone, or any other form of distraction. Even if the driver’s eyes are only off of the road for a few seconds, this negligent behavior can lead to serious accidents. In fact, distracted driving is currently the number one cause of traffic accidents in the United States.
Speeding
Speed limits are put in place for a reason—to keep everyone on the road safe. When a driver decides to ignore the speed limit, he puts everyone else on the road at risk. The faster someone is driving, the less time he will have to react to a car suddenly braking or changing lanes in front of him.
Drunk Driving
Every sip of alcohol a person takes will impair his judgment more and more. If he decides to get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol, he may not be able to focus on the cars and road in front of him. Drunk drivers often swerve into other lanes or drive in the wrong direction. Because their judgment is so impaired, they may not be able to brake in time to avoid hitting your car at a stop sign or a red light. All of these behaviors can cause car accidents and severe injuries to all drivers and passengers involved.
COMMON CAR ACCIDENT INJURIES
Every car accident is unique, so injuries can vary greatly from one case to the next. However, there are a number of injuries that are very common in car accidents, including:
Whiplash
Whiplash occurs when the impact of the collision forces your head to suddenly jerk forward and then backward. This sudden movement damages the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your neck and can lead to serious lingering pain following a car accident.
Head Injuries
During an accident, you may hit your head against the steering wheel, dashboard, or car window. This could cause anything from a minor concussion to a traumatic brain injury or skull fracture.
Back Injuries
Many people involved in car accidents suffer back injuries, which can range in severity from minor temporary muscle pain in the lower back to a herniated vertebral disc or spinal cord injury.
Broken Bones
Anything can happen in an accident. Sometimes people are thrown against the steering wheel causing fractured ribs and vertebrae, other times they break their wrist or leg due to bracing for impact.
AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT
If you have been injured in a car accident, it’s important to document as much evidence as possible. Most importantly, if you aren’t too injured, take photos of the vehicles and scene of the crash. This will be helpful to determine fault and speed of impact. It’s also important to take photos of any injuries sustained and to document the progress made so you can show the insurance company what you had to go through.
Keep all of your medical records, bills, lab reports, X-rays, and any other relevant documents, so you have proof of the injuries you sustained and the expenses you had to pay. If your injuries are visible, take pictures of them immediately following the accident before they begin to heal and continue to take photos as they heal so you can show the insurance company what you had to go through. The more proof you have to support your personal injury claim, the better.
SEEK LEGAL ADVICE NOW
No one should bear the consequences of another’s recklessness on the road. If an NWI car accident affects you or a loved one, contact Schafer & Schafer now for a complimentary consultation.