Vehicle Accidents

Steps to Take if You Suffer a Vehicle Accident Injury

If you suffer a vehicle accident injury, seek medical help right away. It’s best to receive care at the scene of an accident. However, sometimes physical symptoms don’t present until hours or days later. Visit an Emergency Room, urgent care center, or primary care physician for an exam as soon as possible. Then, follow these steps.

Step One: Take Action On-Scene

If you can, call the police and assess the scene immediately. If you’re incapacitated, focus only on ensuring your safety. If you can, take photos of the accident, vehicle damage, and any visible injuries. Gather contact information from witnesses and involved parties when possible.

Step Two: Don’t Admit Fault

Remember, vehicle accidents are complex events, and the cause of an accident is not always readily identifiable. Even if you believe you’re at fault in the accident, reserving these admissions for another time is best. Right now, focus on ensuring your safety and getting the proper documentation and medical care. An admission of guilt can harm your legal case later.

Step Three: Notify Your Insurance Company

It’s crucial to make your insurance company aware of the accident as soon as possible. Timely reporting helps substantiate your claim and shows causation for your injuries. However, be careful not to reveal too much detail during your correspondence. Remember that communication with your insurance carrier is always officially documented by their representatives, and they may use these words against you later.

Instead, stick to the facts of the incident. Some prefer to consult a vehicle accident lawyer before speaking with the insurance company. It is your right to do so.

Step Four: Keep Meticulous Records

We recommend that you keep a log that details a timeline of events. It’s a good idea to start a folder, where you have all information pertaining to the accident in one place. This helps you quickly access pertinent documents when you need them and helps keep things organized.

Keep records of medical bills, treatment, lost wages, and other expenses related to the accident. Keep all your receipts, explanation of benefits, and official correspondence in this file.

Step Five: Follow Medical Advice

Following an accident, your doctor will likely have a list of recommendations for you to abide by. These include noted time off work or bed rest, appointments with specialists or rehabilitation providers, prescription medication regimens, and more. It’s vital that you follow all of these instructions precisely. Any stray from the recommendations can be used against you later by insurance companies.

Step Six: Avoid Social Media and Public Discourse

We understand that a vehicle accident can be life-changing, and often, people want to let their loved ones know how they’re doing and how recovery is going. Be careful who you share information with regarding your claim, and always keep the discussion off social media. Remember–if online friends can see your posts, it’s likely that insurance companies can, too.

During a vehicle accident case, stating less to the public is more. Even well-meaning posts can backfire on the best-intentioned patients.

Step Seven: Seek Legal Counsel

While many accident victims call an attorney immediately following an accident, it’s okay if you take some time to recoup first. The statute of limitations in most states ranges from one to five years to file a claim. However, the faster you take legal action, the better.

The sooner we get working on your case, collect evidence, and start negotiations, the better your settlement outcome will likely be. Contact us today to schedule a FREE case evaluation.

Common Injuries in Vehicle Accidents

There are millions of vehicle accidents in America each year. From cars, trucks, bikes, planes, and trains, the toll of victims continues to climb. Injuries are far too common, and victims deserve justice.

Here are the five most common injuries we see from vehicle accidents.

1) Whiplash and Spinal Cord Injury

According to the Mayo Clinic, more than three million adults suffer a whiplash injury each year. While the majority result from rear-end auto collisions, any vehicle accident can cause damage to the neck and spinal cord. Approximately 1.5 million Americans experience chronic pain from whiplash annually.

The result can be a significant loss of enjoyment of life, time-consuming and extensive physical rehabilitation costs, and sometimes, surgery.

2) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

A TBI is an injury to the brain caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head. Sometimes, the cause is a penetrating injury from an object. TBIs can range from mild concussions to severe brain damage, potentially leading to long-term physical, cognitive, and emotional effects.

There are 2.5 million cases of TBI in the U.S. each year. 80,000 individuals suffer permanent disability as a result. According to the CDC, 20% of all TBI injuries result from vehicle accidents.

3) Soft Tissue Injury

A soft tissue injury refers to damage to the body’s muscles, ligaments, tendons, or other connective tissues. Oftentimes, these injuries result from trauma (such as from a vehicle accident). Examples of soft tissue injuries include sprains, strains, bruises, or contusions.

The result can be loss of movement or mobility, swelling, pain, weakness, and more. Severe cases may require surgical intervention.

4) Internal Injury

Organ damage is a serious risk when it comes to vehicle accidents. This is due to the extreme force and blunt trauma that victims often experience. You may experience a ruptured spleen, internal bleeding, and life-threatening conditions. Usually, emergency treatment is necessary.

According to the National Library of Medicine, approximately 75% of all blunt abdominal trauma injuries reported annually are caused by motor vehicle accidents.

5) Broken Bones

According to the National Library of Medicine, the most commonly reported broken bones associated with vehicle accidents are the femur (thigh), humerus (upper arm), ribs, pelvis, spine, and facial bones.

These breaks can require reconstructive surgery, lots of time in recovery, and can even pose potential damage to internal organs.

Why Choose Kanner & Pintaluga: Vehicle Accident Lawyers

Choosing Kanner & Pintaluga means having a dedicated team of experienced vehicle accident attorneys fighting for your rights. Our vehicle accident lawyers are committed to securing the maximum compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We provide personalized attention, expert legal guidance, and aggressive representation to ensure the best outcome for your case. Trust us to handle the complexities of your claim so you can focus on recovery.

Our team of experts is ready and standing by to take your case. Complete our contact form and a representative from our team will reach out shortly. Case evaluations are always FREE and confidential.

With more than twenty years of experience representing individual victims, a team of nearly 100 attorneys, and a vast network of resources, including private investigators, case managers, medical experts, and more, we have what it takes to help you win your claim.