Most of us get into our cars and commute to work or the grocery store without a second thought. Driving has become such a normal part of our everyday routine that we sometimes forget the gravity of the situation. Steering metal machines weighing thousands of pounds at high speeds has an inherent risk of danger, especially in the crowded streets of a city like Los Angeles.
We all need to drive to get to work, and this commute shouldn’t be filled with worries and anxieties about the potential for an accident. However, it’s important to be aware of the risks and potential injuries from a car accident so you can feel better prepared in case you ever find yourself in this unfortunate situation.
Car Accidents Statistics
- Los Angeles County has the highest rate of car accidents in the state of California.
- The leading cause of car accidents in Los Angeles is speeding.
- 35% of car accident injury victims were not behind the wheel, such as Uber passengers.
- In 2022, there were over 40,000 deaths from car accidents in the United States.
What Are the Common Injuries Resulting From Car Accidents?
Car crash injuries can range in severity based on the accident’s severity. Minor accidents can lead to minor injuries, while severe accidents can cause catastrophic injuries with long-term repercussions. No matter how serious your injuries are, you deserve financial compensation for the damages. While car accident injuries can vary, below are a few of the most common injuries you could sustain.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Car accidents involve a level of force that can jostle your head and lead to a traumatic brain injury. Any damage to the brain is serious and has the potential to leave you with long-term side effects. These injuries can include brain bleeds, hematomas, and brain bruises.
Concussion
One of the most common types of brain injury is a concussion. The impact of a car crash can cause your brain to bounce around in your skull, leading to a concussion. Concussions can range in severity based on the force of the impact, but common symptoms include dizziness, nausea, dilated pupils, and confusion. If you have symptoms of a concussion, seek immediate medical attention.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries range from bruising of the spine to a complete sever or break. Damage to your spinal cord can cause partial or complete paralysis of parts of your body, nerve damage, and permanent disabilities.
Bruises and Crush Injuries
Any serious impact leads to bruising in the area, and this includes crush injuries. When a part of the body is crushed with force, it can cause serious bone fractures and damage to muscles and internal organs.
Chest Injuries
Blunt force to the chest from a car accident can damage the ribs and internal organs like the heart and lungs. Broken ribs risk bone fragments traveling to these organs and causing serious complications, which is why chest injuries need immediate medical attention.
Whiplash
A sudden stop or impact from high speeds can cause your head and neck to whip around from the force. The damage can range from a bruised and stiff neck to serious spinal injuries and paralysis.
Burns
Car accidents can cause sudden fires, resulting in burn injuries. Burns can range from first-degree damage to the top layer of skin to fourth-degree damage that goes all the way down to the bones. Burns cause permanent scarring and can be difficult to heal, which is why they need to be treated as soon as possible.
Facet Joint Injuries
The facet joints are the joints in the spine that allow for bending, twisting, and turning. Damage to these joints leads to limited mobility, pain, and even long-term disabilities.
Broken or Bruised Ribs
As mentioned previously, bruised or broken ribs can impact the vital organs underneath such as the heart and lungs. Not only are broken ribs excruciating, but they can lead to bone fragments puncturing the heart or lungs, leading to serious complications.
Disfiguring Facial Injuries and Scars
Car accidents involve a lot of force, leading to broken glass and head injuries. Serious damage can cause permanent disfigurement of the face and scarring throughout the body.
Limb Loss and Amputation
Severe damage to a limb may require amputation to effectively treat it. The loss of a limb will change your life forever and impact how you do day-to-day tasks and activities.
Heart Attack
The stress and strain on your body from a car accident can wear down your heart and lead to a heart attack. If you feel any chest pain after a car accident, seek immediate medical attention as it could be a sign of a life-threatening heart attack.
Sprains and Strains
Joints bent in the wrong direction or jostled during a car accident can become sprained or strained. While there is no damage to the bones, the ligaments and tendons in the joint can become inflamed or stretched, leading to pain and swelling.
Organ Damage
Accident-related injuries are not limited to obvious cuts and scrapes. Internal damage to your organs may appear on the outside as simple bruising, but it can quickly become fatal if not treated swiftly.
PTSD
Car accidents are traumatic events that cause more than physical damage. This trauma can linger for years after the accident and lead to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Knee Injuries
Knee injuries from a car accident include dislocation of the knee cap, dislocation of the whole knee joint, bone fractures, and torn ligaments and tendons such as the ACL.
Foot and Ankle Injuries
Propping your feet up on the front dash of the car may feel comfortable, but it can cause severe damage to your feet and ankles in the event of an accident. From breaks to dislocations, foot and ankle injuries can leave you on crutches or unable to walk.
Injured in a Los Angeles car accident?
Broken and Dislocated Hips
The force of a car accident can cause your hip to dislocate from the socket or the bones in the area to break. These injuries can make walking difficult and cause long-term pain.
Compensation for Common Car Accident Injuries in Los Angeles
No matter the extent of your injuries, you deserve financial compensation for the damages that come from the accident. These damages can include financial hardships such as medical bills as well as emotional damages such as trauma and the development of PTSD.
The types of damages you can recover after a car accident include:
- Economic Damages: Medical bills, rehabilitation, physical therapy, medications, loss of income, and property damage.
- Non-Economic Damages: Emotional damage, loss of quality of life, pain and suffering, and psychological traumas such as PTSD.
How Compensation Is Determined for Car Accident Injuries
If you have been injured in a car accident in Los Angeles, how do you know how much compensation you will earn if you pursue legal action? While there is no magic formula to give you an exact number, compensation is determined by the extent of the damages from the accident.
Compensation is meant to cover the expenses that come with a car accident, such as medical bills and property damage. The more severe your injuries are, the more costly medical bills you will rack up, and the more compensation you can earn to cover those expenses.
How To Get Compensation for Your Car Accident Injury
If you are looking to file for compensation, there are two paths you can take: agree on a settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurance, or take the matter to court in front of a judge. Many insurance companies want to settle outside of court to avoid the scandal and fees that come with a court case, so a lot of these cases are handled without stepping foot in a courtroom.
The other thing to keep in mind is the statute of limitations for filing your claim. In Los Angeles, you have up to 2 years from the date of the accident to file a legal claim. If you wait longer than 2 years, you can no longer earn compensation for the accident.
How Compass Law Group Can Help Get You Maximum Compensation
Compass Law Group, LLP, knows it can feel overwhelming to try and fight with an insurance company on top of dealing with health issues and medical bills. We will do the heavy lifting of filing your legal claim, including communicating with the other insurance company and collecting evidence to build your case. We will fight for your rights and make sure you earn the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With a Top-Rated Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer
Are you looking for a reliable car accident lawyer in Los Angeles? Compass Law Group, LLP will point you in the right direction and make sure you earn the maximum compensation available for your injuries. We are your local personal injury law firm, ready to join you in the fight and bring the right people to justice.
Contact Compass Law Group, LLP today or give us a call at (310) 289-7126 to schedule a free consultation or get in touch with one of our expert lawyers.
