Each year, more than 6 million accidents occur on the roadways in the United States. Of those, there are more than 3 million injuries and nearly 40,000 fatalities. Additionally, nearly 2 million drivers experience permanent injuries after a car accident. Needless to say, car accidents and injuries are nearly synonymous. Though many accidents happen as a result of circumstances that are out of the control of any driver, the majority of them occur due to negligence. Car accidents can cause serious injuries, high medical bills, and a loss of income. If you have been injured in a car accident due to the negligence or recklessness of another driver, it is your right to seek fair compensation. While it is possible to file a personal injury claim or pursue a lawsuit on your own, it is recommended that you consult with an aggressive and proven personal injury attorney that will fight for you. You do not have to fight the high-powered attorneys of the insurance company alone. Give the law office of Jerome O. Fjeld, PLLC a call to schedule your free initial consultation today.
Causes of Accidents
Accidents can happen anywhere, anytime, and to anyone. They can occur for a number of reasons. However, most accidents are due to human error. Some cause relatively minor injuries, others have catastrophic results. Learn more about the leading causes of accidents below.
- Distracted Driving: With the advent of cellphones, distracted driving has become the number one cause of most accidents. Other causes of distracted driving include interacting with passengers, reaching for items while operating a vehicle, and any other action that takes the driver’s eyes off of the road.
- Drunk Driving: Though instances of drunk driving have seen a substantial decrease in the last 30 years, it is still a leading cause of car accidents in the U.S.
- Speeding: A close second to distracted driving, speeding contributes to a large number of car accidents each year.
- Reckless Driving: Driving recklessly includes any action that highlights a driver’s blatant disregard for the rules and/or well-being of other motorists on the road.
- Inclement Weather: Inclement weather does not absolve drivers of liability (in most cases). Motorists must adhere to safe driving practices that take into account weather conditions.
- Driving at Night: In many instances, drivers experience lessened visibility at night which can increase the number of hazardous driving maneuvers. Much like inclement weather, this is not an excuse for negligent actions by any driver.
Common Injury Types
Injuries occur in at least half of the accidents that happen nationwide. This is no different in Houston. Injuries that occur as a result of a collision can range from mild to severe. Unfortunately, a majority of injuries will have a permanent effect on the lives of victims. Learn more about the most common injury types below.
Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury(TBI) can be caused by a violent blow to the head. The effects of TBI can range from mild symptoms like a concussion to a more severe injury like permanent brain damage. In most cases, a brain injury is serious, expensive, and requires an extensive rehabilitation process.
Burn Injury
The four types of burn injuries include first degree, second degree, third degree, and fourth degree. Burn injuries can occur as a result of a vehicle exploding, catching on fire, or the driver/passenger being ejected from the vehicle and making contact with the pavement. A burn injury can lead to extensive surgery, disfigurement, and an overall decrease in the quality of your life.
Paralysis Injury
Any type of paralysis injury can devastate you and your family’s life. Some types of paralysis are temporary, others are permanent. The common injury types associated with paralysis include monoplegia, hemiplegia, paraplegia, and quadriplegia. In many cases, paralysis victims will need medical help for the rest of their lives. Medical bills that result from paralysis can be debilitating. Furthermore, victims are often not able to make an income or suffer a significant decrease in income.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Your spinal cord is one of the more sensitive parts of the body. It controls motor functions as well as sensations within your upper and lower extremities. Some spinal cord injury types can be rehabilitated with a lot of time, effort, and medical assistance. Others are cause permanent damage such as paralysis and/or a loss of sensation in all or parts of the body.
Fractures and Broken Bone Injury
Your body has 206 bones. They are vulnerable to being broken when involved in any type of accident. Common injury types associated with broken bones can range from mild injuries like hairline fractures to something more significant such as a complete fracture. Recovery can be long, painful, and uncomfortable.
Types of Damages That You Can Recover
Though car collisions are by far the most common types of accidents, they are not the only kind that can lead to the aforementioned common injury types. Other types of accidents can include slip and falls, premise liability, falling objects, workplace accidents. No matter the cause, if you have been injured due to the fault of another person or party, it is your right to seek fair compensation for your injuries. In general, the law allows victims to seek economic, non-economic, and punitive damages (in certain cases). If you have suffered an accident you may be able to recoup damages for a loss of income, medical bills, damaged property, pain and suffering, etc.
Connecting With a Personal Injury Attorney
You may know that you have suffered an injury due to the fault of another person or party. However, proving liability is not always easy. In many cases, it will take the experience and knowledge of an aggressive personal injury attorney to seek and obtain the fair compensation that you deserve. Insurance companies are most interested in saving money, not your well-being. Do not get bullied into accepting a settlement that does not cover all of your losses and expenses. Working with an experienced personal injury attorney allows you to come to the negotiating table on equal footing with the insurance company. If you have recently been injured in an accident, give the law office of Jerome O. Fjeld, PLLC a call to schedule your free initial consultation and discuss your case today.