Car accidents can be as simple as a low-speed, minor fender bender in a parking lot. They can also be as damaging as a high-speed head-on crash. In any car accident, there is a very real possibility that the drivers and passengers will suffer injuries.
Car accident injuries can include everything from scrapes and cuts to spinal cord injuries and paralysis. If you are in a car crash, it is always a good idea to get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible after the accident. Doing so can be important when it comes to insurance coverage and getting top dollar for your claim.
At Gould Cooksey Fennell, our Vero Beach car accident attorneys represent clients who have suffered all types of injuries in auto accidents. We work hard to help our clients get the compensation that they deserve for their injuries. Contact our law offices today to schedule a free initial consultation with a Treasure Coast personal injury lawyer.
Different Types of Car Accident Injuries
Every car accident is different and can result in a wide range of injuries. The extent of injuries depends on several factors, such as the speed of the impact, where the car was struck, whether the occupants were wearing seat belts, and whether the airbags deployed.
As experienced Vero Beach car accident lawyers, we have represented clients who have suffered all types of injuries in motor vehicle crashes. Because of Florida’s no-fault rules, we typically represent clients who have been diagnosed with significant injuries after a collision. This includes injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI): A TBI is a serious injury to the brain that is caused by a blow, impact, or piercing injury to the head. Car accidents are a leading cause of TBIs. This type of brain injury is often associated with long-term disability and can also be fatal.
- Spinal cord injuries: Any type of damage to the spinal cord can result in permanent disability, including paralysis.
- Back injuries: an impact to the spine can cause a host of issues, even if the spinal cord itself isn’t affected. This includes problems like herniated disks, which can cause significant pain and loss of function over time.Â
- Neck injuries/whiplash: When a car is struck in an accident, it may cause a person’s head to move back and forth rapidly. This can cause neck injuries, including whiplash and cervical dislocation.
- Burn injuries: Chemicals, fires, and other issues can cause burn injuries to car accident victims. This may lead to a need for surgery and skin grafts, along with permanent scars.
- Internal injuries: damage to the internal organs can result when a person’s body is thrown forward into an object or is struck by an object. This can cause internal bleeding and other problems that may require intensive medical treatment.
- Fractures/broken bones: Broken legs, arms, wrists, and ankles are common after motor vehicle accidents. A broken bone can be relatively simple or a compound fracture that requires surgery to repair it.
- Disfiguring scars: Many car accident victims suffer cuts due to broken glass or the impact of an object (such as the dashboard). These scars can often be disfiguring, particularly when in a visible area of the body like the face.
- Limb loss/amputation: In some car accidents, an arm, leg, finger, or toe can be severed or damaged severely enough to require amputation.Â
- Knee and foot injuries: Drivers and front seat passengers are at particular risk of having their knees and feet damaged in a car accident when they are smashed against the dashboard or other forward car components.Â
- Wrist, hand, and shoulder injuries: Certain steps that you may take to protect yourself in an accident, such as wearing a seatbelt, bracing yourself against the dashboard, or driving a car with airbags, can cause injuries to your shoulders, wrists, and hands. These injuries may require surgery and long-term medical treatment.
- Soft tissue injuries: Strains and sprains can result from car accidents. While these injuries may seem minor, it can take a significant length of time to recover from a soft tissue injury.
- Cuts and bruises: Broken glass, metal, and plastic can cause lacerations and contusions when they go flying in a car accident. A person may also have road rash from landing on pavement.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety: Not every car accident injury is physical. Car accidents can be incredibly traumatic, leading to conditions like PTSD. A car accident victim may also deal with mental health issues like depression and anxiety due to the effects of the accident and dealing with pain and suffering following a physical injury.
Our law firm also represents families whose loved ones have died in fatal car accidents in wrongful death claims.
In many cases, the extent of your injuries may be masked by the rush of adrenaline that you experience due to shock. That is one reason why it is so important to get medical attention immediately after a car accident. Even if you don’t think you were hurt, it is always a good idea to get checked out by a doctor after a crash.
Going to the doctor will help you get the right diagnosis and treatment for your injuries. It will also establish a connection between the accident and your injuries. This can be incredibly important if the insurance company tries to argue that your injuries were pre-existing or caused by something else entirely.
Our law firm will work with you to prove that your injuries were caused by the car crash. Our goal is to help you get maximum compensation for your losses. As seasoned Vero Beach car accident attorneys, we will stand by your side to help you get justice, no matter what type of injury you suffered.
What Type of Injury Is Required to File a Car Accident Claim in Florida?
In Florida, car accident claims are a bit different. That is because Florida is a “no-fault” state. This means that after a car accident, your own car accident insurance will pay for your medical bills and certain other financial losses, regardless of who caused the accident.
Under these laws, all drivers in Florida are required to carry $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP). For the policyholder, their household members, and passengers, PIP will pay for:
- 80% of reasonably incurred medical expenses related to car accident injuries
- 60% of lost income related to the accident and injuries
- $5,000 in death benefits
PIP does not pay for vehicle damage, pain and suffering, future medical treatment, emotional distress, and other types of losses. There are also strict rules related to PIP, including the requirement to seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident.
It is possible to file a personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim for a Florida car accident. Doing so will allow you to seek compensation for your other losses, including non-economic damages such as reduced quality of life, scarring, and disfigurement. To pursue a claim, your injuries must be considered serious.
In Florida, a car accident injury qualifies as serious if it results in at least one of the following:
- A significant and permanent loss of an important bodily function;
- A permanent injury, within a reasonable degree of medical probability;
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement; or
- Death.
If your injury does not meet this definition, you are limited to PIP coverage (plus seeking compensation for the damage to your car from the at-fault driver’s insurance policy). If your injury is deemed serious, then you can pursue compensation for all of your losses.
Of course, insurance companies prefer for injuries to not be classified as serious so that they can avoid paying out for things like pain and suffering. Insurance adjusters will often work hard to try to find evidence that your injuries weren’t that severe. Our goal as experienced Vero Beach car accident attorneys is to prove that your injuries are serious so that we can get you justice for your losses.
There are many different types of injuries that could be considered serious in Florida. This includes many of the injuries listed above, like traumatic brain injury, serious broken bones, neck and back injuries, burns, and internal organ injuries.
The question of whether an injury is serious is based on the specific facts of the case. For example, a broken bone might heal relatively quickly for a young person in overall good health, but could lead to a permanent disability for an older adult or someone with other medical conditions.Â
You do not simply have to accept the insurance company’s decision about the seriousness of your car accident injuries. It is possible to challenge its assessment, presenting your own evidence of your injuries and how they have and will impact your life.
Our law firm will gather evidence to demonstrate exactly how your car accident injuries have affected your life so far, and how they are anticipated to affect you in the future. Working with expert witnesses, we will prove that your injuries are serious under Florida law and that you are entitled to financial compensation for your losses.
The best way to get maximum compensation for your car accident injuries is by working with an experienced Vero Beach personal injury lawyer. We will fight to get you the compensation that you deserve, working hard to prove the extent of your injuries and help you get every penny that you are entitled to under Florida law.
Reach Out Today to Talk to a Florida Car Accident Attorney
Car accident injuries range from relatively minor to catastrophic. If you have suffered a serious injury in a car crash, you may be able to pursue a lawsuit against the at-fault driver and their insurance company. Our law firm can help.
Based in Vero Beach, Gould Cooksey Fennell fights for the rights of car accident victims acrossÂ
Florida’s Treasure Coast. We offer free initial consultations and handle all car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a Vero Beach car accident attorney, call us today at 772-231-1100 or fill out our online contact form.
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