Car crashes involve significant forces that often lead to catastrophic injuries and death. Even with seat belts and other safety measures, victims of car accidents are at risk of experiencing terrible injuries.
That’s why it’s crucial to pursue compensation for your injuries whenever possible. Even though no amount of money can turn back the hands of time, a settlement can help victims and their families when facing an uncertain future. Lost income, medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses are all compensable under Virginia law. And the more serious a person’s injuries, the more compensation they are likely to receive.
With this in mind, here are some car accident injuries in Virginia that drivers may encounter.
Common Car Accident Injuries in Virginia
Car accident injuries range from very mild to catastrophic. Some of them lead to death (even if treated), and others may go completely undetected. For this reason, it is important to consider medical treatment after a wreck, even if you don’t notice any injuries or think they’re minor.
Some of the most common car accident injuries in Virginia include:
Burns and Abrasions
Burns can occur in car accidents if your body comes in contact with extremely hot auto parts. Your vehicle may also suffer an explosion or fire, both of which carry a risk of burning you. Abrasions occur when a part of the body is scraped or worn away. These injuries are common with motorcycle riders and pedestrians due to the lack of protection from a vehicle.
Broken and Crushed Bones
Broken and crushed bones can occur from forceful impacts or from landing after being thrown. They can also occur when a vehicle lands on top of a victim.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Traumatic brain injuries happen when the brain strikes the inside of the skull. Whipping motions of the neck can produce this effect, as can a blow to the head. TBIs also occur when an object pierces the brain.
Neck and Back Injuries
Neck and back injuries — such as whiplash and injured discs — can result from various types of trauma, such as blunt force and piercing. They can lead to a lifetime of pain and limited motion.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries are among the most serious of harms. Minor spinal cord damage can lead to full paralysis. If the damage is serious, the victim’s life is in danger.
Facial Injuries
Facial injuries include injuries to the eyes, nose, mouth, and teeth. They can lead to permanent scarring, serious dental damage, and loss of vision.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries refer to damage inside the body that may or may not be readily apparent. These injuries can lead to dangerous, uncontrolled internal bleeding. If you suffer an internal injury, immediate medical attention is vital, especially if an organ is damaged.
Amputations
Loss of any member of your body is traumatic. Unfortunately, car accident victims may experience such a loss at the moment of impact. In some cases, they may also be forced to endure an amputation after the accident as a curative measure.
Death
In the worst cases, car accident victims may pass away, either at the scene or shortly thereafter. In some cases, an injury may escalate and eventually lead to death.
The death toll is lower for passengers and drivers who use seat belts. However, some crashes are so powerful that no amount of safety equipment can protect the occupants.
Common Causes of Car Crashes
What makes car accidents so tragic is that most of them are preventable. Carelessness and negligence underlie the majority of crashes. This means that drivers who choose to remain aware and safe while driving can avoid accidents.
Driving While Under the Influence
Whether it’s drugs or alcohol, intoxicants rob drivers of the basic abilities they need to drive safely on the highway.
Excessive Speeding
Speeding prevents drivers from reacting to dangerous situations in time. The faster they go, the less time they have to react.
Drowsy Driving
Even in the face of exhaustion, drivers often push themselves to get to their final destination. Sadly, drowsy driving is a major cause of car accidents. By pulling over to take a break and rest, a driver can save themselves a lifetime of pain and suffering.
Failure to Yield
When a driver fails to yield, they violate the right-of-way of other drivers and create a high risk for an accident.
Failure to Obey Traffic Signs and Signals
Those who run red lights and stop signs create an extreme risk of accidents. Drivers who fail to properly signal their next merges and turns significantly increase the risk of an accident.
Driving an Unsafe Vehicle
Unsafe vehicles prevent drivers from successfully maneuvering and executing safety measures. They can also prevent drivers from performing standard operations, such as braking and signaling.
Pull Over On a Highway
According to Virginia move over law was a reaction to the dreadful incidents that occasionally take place when individuals stop their vehicles on a highway and disembark. As stated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a considerable number of individuals lose their lives, and thousands sustain injuries each year due to accidents involving stationary cars all across the United States.
Compensation for Car Accident Injuries
Victims facing car accident injuries in Virginia can pursue compensation for both their financial and non-financial losses.
Financial Compensation
Some of the monetary setbacks victims and their families face include:
- Significant medical bills
- Lost income from numerous days off of work
- Expenses paid for homecare services, such as grocery and cleaning services
Car accident victims can also seek compensation for modifications they may have to make to their vehicles or homes to accommodate their injuries. In the event of a fatality, the family members of the car accident victims can seek to recover funeral and burial expenses as well.
Non-Monetary Compensation
Non-monetary compensation can include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
- Disfigurement
- Permanent disability
Since non-monetary damages don’t have discrete price tags, parties use various formulas to calculate their value. To sue for pain and suffering you can talk to a personal injury lawyer at Joel Bieber Law Firm.
Reach Out to an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Today
Are you suffering from car accident injuries in Virginia and need compensation? Let the team at The Joel Bieber Firm take your case and see what options are available. Connect us today for a free consultation and take the next step toward the justice you deserve.
Interesting Reads:
Why You Should Inform Your Insurer About a Crash You Caused
Distracted Driving: All the Ways It Can Happen