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Car Accidents
What Is the Legal Definition of a Car Accident?
A car accident, sometimes legally called a “motor vehicle accident,” is associated with the maintenance or operation of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment that causes personal injury, death, or property damage, according to 49 USC § 30166(a).There are a few different types of car accidents, including:
- Head-on Collisions
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- These are the most dangerous types of car accidents, and they comprise a large portion of all fatal accidents.
- These collisions are often known as “Front-End Collisions” and are characterized by striking one vehicle’s front against another.
- The force generated by two vehicles moving quickly in opposite directions often results in extreme damage or injury.
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- Side-Impact Collisions
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- A T-bone accident occurs when the front of one car strikes the side of another.
- A Broadside accident happens when the sides of two cars impact each other.
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- Rear-End Collisions
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- These are the most common types of car collisions, and they occur when the front of one car impacts the back of another.
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- Rollover Accidents
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- Rollover accidents are commonly thought to occur due to the impact of another car. However, it’s important to note that most of these collisions actually involve only one vehicle.
- These accidents occur when the driver of a vehicle loses control and one end of the vehicle rolls over the other.
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Complications That Can Result from a Car Accident
The most common form of complication from a car accident is injury or even death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 3 million individuals are injured each year in vehicle accidents across the United States
Injuries resulting from a collision can vary from mild to severe or terminal, but there are a few common types of injuries that are most likely to occur after an accident, including:
- The orthopedic system in the body includes bones, ligaments, and muscles, so this injury type encompasses spinal cord injuries, strains and sprains, whiplash, and more.
- Orthopedic injuries fall into one of the following three categories:
- Upper extremities
- Including arm, wrist, or shoulder breakages
- Lower extremities
- Including hip, leg, or ankle breakages and torn ACL or MCL
- Soft Tissue injury
- Including ligament, tendon, or muscle injury
- Upper extremities
- Skeletal injuries include any broken bones or damage to an individual’s skeletal system.
- Common symptoms of broken bones after a car accident include swelling around the affected area, severe pain or inability to move, tenderness, and obvious deformity
- Doctors will often need to x-ray a patient to determine the precise location and nature of a breakage
- Both surgical and non-surgical methods of treatment can be used in the event of a broken bone
- There are two different types of soft tissue injuries: Acute and Chronic
- Acute soft tissue injuries happen immediately after an accident.
- Chronic soft tissue injuries are long-lasting and affect an individual’s life.
- The most common form of soft tissue injury after a collision is whiplash. Whiplash is a cervical sprain, strain, or hypertension injury caused by a sudden jerking of the body that accompanies an accident.
- These types of injuries can be difficult to spot right away since they’re not visible on an X-ray. A specialist often has to diagnose the injury and suggest treatment.
- The three types of nerve/neurological damage are Spinal, Sensory, and Digital Nerve Damage.
- Spinal Nerve Damage: These injuries affect movement within the body and can impair function.
- Sensory Nerve Damage: These injuries impact a body’s sensations and its ability to perceive them.
- Digital Nerve Damage: These injuries affect the hands and can range from cuts to severe trauma.
- Any injury that occurs after an accident and harms your internal organs is an internal injury. These types of injuries occur in the body’s abdominal, cranial, or thoracic cavities.
- Common symptoms of internal injuries include bruising under the skin, tenderness or pain throughout the body, limited mobility, blood in urine, and others.
- A TBI occurs from a violent blow or a strike to the head during a car accident. These injuries disrupt the normal functioning of the brain.
- TBIs can result in bruising, torn tissues, bleeding, loss of consciousness, and amnesia.
Post-Car Accident Checklist
After you’ve been in a car accident, you may not know what to do. We’ve provided a checklist for actions to take immediately after a collision so that you can act right away and protect yourself.
- Remain calm, stay on the scene, and call 911
- Do not admit fault
- Call an ambulance if you or another passenger are injured
- Write down the full legal name and phone number of all present parties (including witnesses)
- Record relevant license plate numbers
- Ask for and write down the names of insurance companies, their contact information, and policy numbers
- Give a statement only to the police on the scene, not to the insurance company or anyone else
- Call the offices of VAN LAW FIRM 24/7 at 725-900-9000 or 360-200-0000 or visit vanlawfirm.com
Victim Compensation
Compensation due to a car accident can vary depending on the circumstances of each case. A settlement may include payment for medical expenses, lost wages or income, pain and suffering, and other damages caused by the defendant’s vehicle. Our team will complete a thorough, detailed record of your damages.
If you have suffered an injury due to a vehicular collision, do not hesitate to call us today. Depending on the state, a victim of a car accident may have a limitation on the amount of punitive damages sought. We will be sure to walk you through all the information you need to know.
How the Attorneys at Van Law Firm Can Help
If you have been injured in a car collision, we can advise you on how to proceed with your report. The experienced attorneys at Van Law Firm will thoroughly explain your car accident case to you.
We understand that legal cases can be intimidating, especially financially. That’s why we handle cases on a contingency basis. You won’t have to pay upfront legal costs. Our fees are deducted from any successful settlement, allowing you to pursue justice without financial worries.
All of our consultations are free, so if you’ve been involved in a car accident, call us today!
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