Columbus, GA Car Accident Lawyer
Every year, thousands of people are injured in car accidents across the country. The injuries sustained in these accidents can take an extreme financial, emotional, and physical toll on victims and their families. Fortunately, injured parties who can establish that another person’s negligence was responsible for their accident may be able to collect compensation for their losses.
However, the process of filing a claim against an at-fault party can be difficult, so if you or a loved one was recently involved in a car crash and suffered property damage or an injury, it is critical to contact an experienced Columbus, GA car accident attorney who can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Types of Accidents
The types of injuries that a car accident victim suffers depends on a number of factors, such as the age and health of the victim, the number of vehicles involved, and the speed at which the parties were traveling prior to impact. However, there are certain types of car crashes that are more likely to result in serious injuries. This list includes:
- Rear-end collisions
- Rollovers
- Sideswipes
- Side-impact crashes (T-bone crashes)
- Head-on collisions
- Multi-car pileups
All of these types of accidents can result in serious, and even deadly, injuries. For instance, multi-vehicle crashes and head-on collisions tend to have especially devastating consequences and are often fatal. Crashes in which one party is rear-ended, on the other hand, are more likely to result in whiplash and other neck and spine-related injuries.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to link an injury to someone else’s negligent or reckless act, which makes it especially important for injured parties to seek the advice of an experienced car accident attorney who can represent their interests, whether in negotiations or the courtroom.
Common Injuries
Although the severity of the injuries sustained in an accident is dependent upon a number of variables, there are some types of injuries that occur at a relatively high rate in car crashes, including:
Head trauma: These injuries can range in severity from mild concussions to skull fractures and traumatic brain injury and usually occur when a person’s head comes into contact with the steering wheel, dashboard, or window. These types of sudden blows can cause damage to brain tissue, which can lead to memory loss, chronic pain, and even permanent brain damage.
Chest injuries: Chest injuries often occur as a result of the torso and chest striking the steering wheel or seat belt. The damage usually manifests as fractured ribs, punctured lungs, organ damage, or even internal bleeding. In some cases, the stress of being involved in a car crash can exacerbate pre-existing health problems like heart conditions, which can lead to cardiac arrest.
Spinal cord injuries: Damage to the spinal cord is one of the most serious injuries that a person can sustain. This is because the spinal cord plays a critical role in allowing the brain to send messages to the rest of the body. For this reason, spinal cord damage can result in the loss of mobility and feeling throughout the body.
Neck injuries: Sudden impacts can cause the head to snap forward and backward, which, in turn, can lead to stretched muscles and ligaments. One of the most common neck injuries sustained by car accident victims is whiplash, which can make movement extremely painful. In some cases, car accident victims may even suffer nerve damage, which can lead to vocal cord paralysis.
Superficial injuries: Even superficial injuries, such as abrasions and lacerations, can have serious consequences. For instance, lacerations often require stitches, and surgery and can cause permanent damage to underlying muscles.
Psychological injuries: Accident victims who were involved in especially traumatic crashes may suffer from emotional distress, which can manifest as anxiety, depression, mood swings, and insomnia. In severe cases, injured parties may require prescription medications and ongoing therapy. While these are some of the most common injuries suffered by car accident victims, they are by no means the only ones. For instance, some car accident victims suffer hearing loss and broken bones in addition to other injuries.
Collecting Compensation
Treating these types of severe injuries can be prohibitively expensive and can quickly drive an injured party into debt. For instance, car accident victims may be required to undergo numerous surgeries, pay for prescription medications, attend months of physical therapy, and foot the bill for multiple doctor’s appointments.
Fortunately, injured parties may be able to collect compensation for these, and other costs, such as:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of future income
- Property damage
- Noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering
Noneconomic damages are more difficult to calculate than economic damages, such as medical expenses. When making these calculations, courts generally take into consideration a variety of factors, such as
- The severity of the injury
- The time required to make a complete recovery
- The impact of the injuries on the victim’s daily life
- The percentage of fault that can be attributed to the other party
In order to collect damages, the injured party must be able to demonstrate that another person or entity was responsible for the crash. Furthermore, plaintiffs must file a claim with the court within two years of the date of the accident, or they risk having the case barred.
Contact Us Today to Speak With an Experienced Columbus, GA Car Accident Attorney
Although collecting compensation may not be able to return an injured party to his or her pre-accident state of health, it can be instrumental in helping him or her begin the long road to recovery.
Unfortunately, filing a claim against an at-fault party can be time-consuming and difficult, so if you recently suffered an injury in a car accident, it is critical to have the support and advice of an experienced car accident attorney. Please contact us at Hasner Law by calling 1-855-888-4878 to speak with a member of our dedicated legal team.
