Florida
Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Many people who survive a car accident experience whiplash. Unfortunately, there are many challenges with this type of personal injury which prevents many patients from getting the help they need. One of the biggest challenges is that many people falsely assume that whiplash is not a serious or somehow not a “real” injury. Even patients with whiplash sometimes forgo medical treatment, assuming their injury is not serious. Of course, this causes some insurance providers to downplay the seriousness of whiplash as an injury. The truth is that whiplash is a serious injury causing much pain.

The other challenge with whiplash is that the medical community knows very little about this type of injury. Although it is a very type of injury, research has yielded few clues about it. Since research about the injury is scanty, some doctors have a hard time diagnosing the injury and treating it. Whiplash causes a wide range of symptoms and usually does not appear visibly on x-rays, making it hard to quantify and diagnose.

What is known about whiplash is that it affects the neck area and seems to be caused by a sudden trauma to that area. Slip and fall accidents, car accidents, sport injuries, and assault are the most common causes of whiplash, although this injury can occur from a long list of causes. Each person seems to react to whiplash differently and it is even difficult to provide a recovery timetable. Some patients recover quickly while others remain afflicted for an extended period of time. Some patients experience symptoms at once while others develop symptoms gradually. Symptoms can include:

* Neck pain or swelling (can extend to the jaw area)
* Spasms of the neck, back, or other muscles of the body
* Dizziness and nausea
* Stiffness in the neck or difficult moving the neck
* Headaches
* Shooting pain in the neck, head, arm, or shoulder areas
* Tingling or sensations of numbness in the extremities or limbs
* Irritability and Unsteadiness
* Fatigue
* Ringing sensation in the ears
* Pain in the general facial area

Whiplash is hard to quantify and hard to predict. Some patients respond well to pain treatment and a brace for the neck (to prevent further neck trauma). Others require long-term treatment or must turn to alternative treatments – which are not covered by medical insurance – for relief. Most patients must miss at least some work and therefore lose some income.

Neck injuries are one of the most common and challenging personal injuries to result from car accidents. Car accident survivors are very susceptible to neck injuries because those passengers wearing seatbelts have their bodies secured. In a collision, the head and neck are in violent motion while the body is restrained. Even where an airbag is present, the head can be pushed forward into the airbag with great force, making passengers vulnerable to neck injury.

The neck is a crucial and complex part of the body. Doctors and surgeons have limited access to much of the neck area, so many neck injuries tend to be permanent or complex. As well, since the neck area is constantly moving and supporting the head, any injury to this area can be extremely severe. In the most extreme injuries, neck injuries lead to fatalities. Survivors of such injuries often have severe, permanent injuries.

The most common types of neck injuries arising from car accidents include:

1) Pinched nerves. Nerves can become pinched due to broken bones or ruptured disks. When damage to the nerves occurs, the result is usually extreme pain. Also, many nerves in the neck area tend to be linked to the spinal cord and arms. This means that patients with pinched nerves sometimes find that an arm is in extreme pain or experiences numbness or weakness due to a neck injury. Pinched nerves also inhibit mobility due to the pain they cause.

2) Neck sprain. Ligaments connect the bones in the neck. When these ligaments tear, stretch, or otherwise are damaged, the result is a neck sprain. Neck sprains result in severe pain as well as stiffness in the neck area which can extend into the back as well.

3) Herniated discs in the neck. The vertebrae in the neck are protected by soft tissue, which also protects the discs in the neck. When the tissue is damaged or torn, part of the disc the tissue is meant to protect protrudes into the spinal column, putting pressure on muscles and nerves. A herniated disc results in extreme pain. Most people with a herniated disc experience stiffness and difficulty with regular motion.

Of all the possible personal injuries it is possible to sustain in a car accident, the possibility of a broken bone may initially not seem so bad. After all, many car accidents cause permanent injuries such as brain injuries or even fatalities. However, broken bones can be serious. In some cases, they can lead to a permanent lack of mobility or even death.

Bone fractures and broken bones are among the most common injuries experienced by car accident victims. In a car collision, passengers of a car can be thrown about quite violently inside the interior of the car. If the passenger comes into contact with a solid surface – such as a dashboard, this impact can cause a bone to break. As well, if part of the car is crushed in a trucking accident or serious car accident, a passenger may fracture a bone if part of their body becomes trapped in the crushed part of the vehicle, where a great deal of force is exerted.

The most common types of bone fractures experienced in car accidents include:

1) Broken necks. The neck is vulnerable in a car accident because the head is often whipped around by the impact of the collision. While other parts of the body may be protected if a passenger is wearing a seat belt, the head can still move more. Air bags can help reduce the risk, but the force of having one’s head whipped around can cause a broken neck. This sort of broken bone is the most serious. It can cause fatalities or permanent injury and paralysis. If the head is thrown about, brain injury as well as neck injury can also result.

2) Broken jawbones. Again, because the head is not as secured as the rest of the body, bones in the head area are especially vulnerable in a car accident. Passengers in the front seat are especially vulnerable, since the passenger can be forcefully pushed against the hard dashboard surface in an accident, especially in cases where the airbag fails to inflate.

3) Broken limbs. Broken limbs are among the most common broken bones in an accident. This is because arms can be in motion while a car is in motion. If someone is doing something with their hands, their hands may fly up in an accident and a fracture can take place. If a passenger has their arm outside of a window at the time of impact, amputation or fracture are very likely. As well, passengers tend to instructively throw their arms in front of their faces at the moment of impact. While this protects the head, it can also lead to broken bones along the arm area. Broken legs are also quite common for passengers in the front seat because legs are under the dashboard, which is a very vulnerable area in a car accident, especially in some smaller economy cars.

In the most severe cases, broken bones can kill and paralyze. However, even car accident survivors who sustain only a broken arm or leg may experience severe discomfort and lost income due to their injury.

Knees are a major part of our mobility, yet they are one of the most common areas of the body to sustain personal injury in a car accident. This is because in a collision, passengers and drivers are often thrown forward, crashing knees against the dashboard or the seat in front of them. Knee injuries are often very painful and require extensive treatment. The most common knee injuries sustained in car accidents include:

1) The ACL tear. The ACL is the ligament holding the knee joint in place. It is located closest to the joint. This type of personal injury requires a long recovery time and long-term pain. Some patients do not initially know they have sustained a knee injury when they have an ACL tear, because this injury does not present a lot of initial pain. The ACL tear is one of the more severe knee injuries one can sustain in a car accident.

2) The PCL tear. The PCL ligament is located towards the back of the knee. The PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) helps to maintain a knee’s stability and when injured in an accident the result is swelling and pain. Patients with this type of injury require long-term treatment and may have trouble walking for an extended period of time.

3) Torn meniscus. This injury essentially refers to a torn cartilage. Cartilage is a softer type of substance which is linked to the ligaments and helps to prevent friction in the knee joint. When the cartilage tears in an accident, patients may not be able to move easily, their knee joint may pop or snap, and they may suffer from pain.

4) The MCL (medial collateral ligament) tear – The MCL ligament helps promote the flexibility of the knee. When it is torn or damaged in an accident, a patient may feel a great deal of pain. A patient with a torn MCL will also generally have trouble walking and trouble with everyday activities.

Knee injuries are a difficult personal injury to experience because patients with these types of injuries often have trouble with basic mobility for extended periods of time. In car accidents, as well, it is common for multiple ligaments to tear, and this of course delays the recovery proves. Many patients who have sustained knee injuries in a car accident require multiple surgeries and physiotherapy.

Car accidents often result in spinal cord injuries. Pedestrian accidents and other accidents also often result in this injury, which can affect your mobility and therefore your ability to drive. If you have sustained a spinal cord injury, you will want to take these steps before getting back behind the wheel:

1) Have a professional evaluate your ability to drive. There are driving instructors, doctors, and occupational therapists who can evaluate your vision, strength, movement, and reaction time to determine whether you can safely drive after your accident. These professionals may give you the go-ahead to drive or may suggest specific therapies or other suggestions to make you capable of driving.

2) Learn to drive a vehicle with the equipment you need. If you have sustained a spinal cord injury, you may need special adaptive equipment in a car to drive safely again. You will need to train yourself to drive in this type of equipped vehicle. Rehabilitation centers offer special rehabilitation classes that can teach you this skill.

3) Get your car ready. After a spinal cord injury, you may need to equip your car with special equipment that will make it easier for you to reach controls, get in and out of the car, see the road, and buckle up. Your car may be specially adapted or you may want to buy a car with lowered floors, higher roof, and other special features. Your specific injuries will determine what changes – if any – you need to make. Speak with your doctor and physical therapist about the changes you will need to make. However, make as few changes as you need to. It will be easier to adapt to a car with fewer alterations.

4) Get your licensing ready. If you have sustained a serious spinal cord injury, you may need a note from your doctor or retesting. You may also need license plates that allow you to park in special blue zones to make it easier for you to get to your destination.

5) Get your insurance ready. As a result of your injury, your insurance coverage may have changed. You may need to pay different premiums. You may also need more coverage, as your car may cost more to replace with the new adaptive equipment.

After a car accident that has resulted in personal injury or damage to property, you will need to deal with car insurance. While you may be considering the other driver’s car insurance, remember to also look at your insurance provider. Your insurance carrier may also provide coverage that is important to you. Here are the types of coverage which can be important after an accident:

1) Medical Coverage. If you have this coverage, the medical bills of yourself and some of your passengers may be covered. This is very important if you have sustained head injuries, spinal cord injuries, or other injuries as a result of the crash. This coverage is often for $1,000 to $2,000. However, you may be covered for a different amount, depending on your coverage.

2) Property damage. If you have this type of insurance, your insurance company will pay for repairs to your car, as long as your car can still be repaired. Some insurance providers also offer a rental car while your car is in the shop.

3) Uninsured Motorist Coverage and Underinsured Motorist Coverage. If you are in an accident with a driver who has no insurance or very little insurance, having this type of coverage is important. It ensures that you are covered for a specific amount for your injury and property damage.

4) Health Coverage. In addition to your car insurance, do not forget to take a look at your health insurance. You may be able to use this insurance to pay for medical costs. If you do not have health coverage or do not have adequate health coverage, you will want to hire a good Florida personal injury attorney if you have sustained an injury. Your attorney can seek out a settlement for you in the event that someone’s negligence or recklessness has caused the crash. Your attorney can also send a “letter of protection” to doctors and clinics, assuring them that medical costs will be paid after your settlement. This letter will ensure your credit rating does not suffer.

5) Compensation for Lost Wages, Pain and Suffering, Medical Bills, Mental Anguish, Disfiguring Scars and Permanent Physical Injury. Most insurance companies cover for these losses. If you have sustained a serious injury, such as a burn injury or spinal cord injury, you will want to seek compensation for these items. However, you will need to ensure that these losses are well documented. Visiting a doctor regularly and keeping evidence of your injuries in the form of photos and journals can be useful.

The National Safety Council reports that in any given year, one in eight drivers will be in a car accident and will need to file an insurance claim. Over the course of fifteen years, the average driver is very likely to be in a car accident. In fact, according to the National Safety Council, the average driver has a 99.3% chance of being in an accident during a fifteen year period.

Many drivers feel that they are adequately covered by the car insurance that they spend considerable amounts of money on, but this is not always the case. Not every driver on the road is adequately insured, so you may have a hard time making a claim against another driver. Even your own insurance company can beset you with questions and forms to ensure that you are honest in your claim. Here are some tips for making your claim process easier:

1) Have the right insurance. Go over your insurance regularly and know what is covered and what is not covered. Make sure that you have adequate insurance in the event that you are in an accident.

2) If you are in an accident, start gathering information as soon as you can. Always exchange insurance information, names, license plate numbers, contact information, and more. Take photos at the scene if at all possible, and keep a journal of any personal injuries or expenses you incur as a result of the accident.

3) Contact your insurance company right away. File a claim as soon as you can after an accident. Cooperate with the insurance provider and keep lines of communication open so that you understand how your claim is progressing. If you need help filling out forms, ask for it. Insurance forms are sometimes rather complex.

4) Hire a good Florida personal injury attorney if an accident has resulted in a serious personal injury or a fatality. You will likely need some legal advice and help. If you have been the victim of a loss or injury, you will need a good negotiator on your side to ensure that you get all the resources you need to handle your injury. Many insurance carriers only recompense you for immediate medical costs and income loss, but your injury may cost you a great deal over time. A good attorney can determine the total costs of your injury and negotiate to ensure that as much of these costs are covered as possible.

Highway departments across North America have been using an optical illusion to help prevent speeding and the accidents that it can cause. Optical speed bars use painted dividing bars to trick drivers into slowing down. Designers of the bars use specific distance between dividing bars to make drivers slow down. Designers slowly make the distance of stripes smaller over a specific distance. This makes drivers instinctively slow down, according to research.

Across North America, optical speed bars are used on construction zones and other areas where slow speed is vital for safety. The bars work by making drivers more conscious of their speed, even if the drivers do not glance at their speedometer. The way the brain processes the bars makes the driver think they are going faster than they actually are, which actually encourages the driver to drive slower than they intend to.

The optical speed bars work by making drivers feel that the painted yellow highway dividers are whooshing past at a faster rate. This illusion seems to work at slowing drivers down, according to research studies. Researchers have found that on highways, in rural areas, and around construction sites, optical speed bars do seem to reduce driver speed.

One study at the University of Kansas found that drivers reduced speeds by up to 29.8% when driving by optical speed bars. Researchers found that optical speed bars yield the most significant results on the morning drive 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. This may be because drivers are more tired and more receptive to the illusion at this time. Further, studies have found that drivers maintained a lower speed even after leaving optical speed bar areas.

Some municipalities are adding optical speed bars to areas where a high incident rate has occurred. Others are adding them on curved roads or high speed limit areas, where driving conditions are more dangerous. They are also very common in construction areas, where despite posted speed limits, some drivers tend to drive too fast for safety. Hopefully, these optical illusions will help prevent accidents and the personal injuries they cause. Currently, there is no research as to whether these bars prevent pedestrian accidents or bicycle accidents, but slowing down drivers is of course key to preventing most types of accidents involving vehicles.