Have you or someone you love been injured in a car accident in Texas? Did you sustain a car accident injury and are unsure of how to navigate the legal process to recover the compensation you deserve? The Law Office of Beverly R. Caruthers in Houston, Texas is here for you. We have over three decades of experience helping our clients file a car accident claims and, when necessary, filing a personal injury lawsuit.
We can speak directly with insurance adjusters for you, offering the best legal representation in the Greater Houston area. We will work with you to recover compensation for lost wages, medical costs, pain and suffering, long term mental and physical effects, and more.
Most Common Types of Injuries
Unfortunately, thousands of drivers and passengers are injured in car wrecks every single day. Some of these injuries are acute, while other injuries can affect individuals for extended periods of time or even the rest of their lives. It is important to call the police and file a police report in cases that the fault is obviously not your own. Once this is done you should seek immediate medical treatment. Some injuries may not seem serious right away but will become increasingly more difficult to treat as time goes on.
Listed below are some of the most common types of injuries sustained in car accidents:
Most injuries caused by car accidents fall into two broad categories: (1) impact injuries, and (2) penetrating injuries. Impact injuries are typically caused when a person’s body hits some part of the interior of the car. For example, a knee hitting a dashboard or a head hitting the seat rest or the side window. Penetrating injuries are typically cuts and scrapes caused by shattering glass or loose objects flying inside the car.
Soft Tissue Injuries and Car Accidents
A soft tissue injury is damage to the body’s connective tissue (muscles, ligaments, and tendons). This is the most common type of injury resulting from a car accident. Soft tissue injuries can take many forms.
A “whiplash” type injury to the neck and upper back is a form of soft tissue injury. A whiplash injury occurs when muscles and ligaments are stretched due to sudden movements of the head and neck during a collision. The same forces can cause soft tissue injuries in other areas of the body such as the back. Car accidents often cause mid-back and low-back muscle sprains, and sometimes more serious back injuries because of the impact force against the spine.
Scrapes and Cuts
In a car accident, any loose objects inside the car immediately become projectiles thrown about the car’s interior. This includes things like cell phones, coffee mugs, eyeglasses, purses, books, and dash-mounted GPS systems. If any of these items hit your body, they can easily cut your skin or cause other injuries.
Most scrapes and cuts are relatively minor and require no medical treatment. More serious injuries might require stitches.
Airbags can also cause cuts and scrapes when they deploy in a collision.
Head Injuries and Car Accidents
Head injuries can take a range of forms from relatively minor to quite severe. A car’s unexpected stop or change in direction can cause the heads of drivers and passengers to move in sudden and unnatural ways. These movements can result in muscle strains and sprains in the neck and back (as discussed above). But the head itself can also be injured. A person’s head can be cut or bruised when it hits a side window or the steering wheel. A severe head collision can cause a closed head injury that results in bruising and tearing of the brain tissue and blood vessels. Most closed head injuries result in concussions, but more severe impacts can cause lasting brain damage.
Chest Injuries
Chest injuries are also common after car accidents. Chest injuries range from painful bruises to broken ribs and internal injuries. Drivers often experience chest injuries when they collide with the steering wheel. Seatbelts and dashboards can also cause chest injuries.
Arm and Leg Injuries
The same forces that unexpectedly move a person’s head in car collisions act similarly on arms and legs. If your car suffers a side impact, your arms and legs might be thrown against the door. Car accidents often cause passengers’ knees to hit the dashboard or the seats in front of them. Depending on the nature of the collision, your arms and legs might be bruised, scraped, sprained, or even broken in a car accident.
Keep in mind that some injuries might not show up right after a car accident. Depending on the nature of the injury, it might take days, weeks, or even months for symptoms to appear. So if you’re in a car accident, it is best to seek medical treatment right away if you feel any level of pain or discomfort.
What Is The Most Common Reason For Car Accidents?
Distracted Driving
The most common type of driver error is “distracted driving.” In theory, that could mean everything from talking to (or having an argument with) a passenger, to reading roadside billboards. But in reality, by far the most common cause of driver distraction is the use of phones and other devices.
According to the Chicago Tribune, in 2017, one in four drivers used a cell phone right before being involved in a car accident. Sending or reading a text reportedly takes a driver’s eyes off the road for a full five seconds.
Why is driver distraction so prevalent? Much of our decision-making while driving is a result of the “Myth of Multitasking,” as described in a recent study by the National Safety Council. Medical studies have shown that the human brain is physiologically incapable of performing two important tasks at the same time. Rather, the brain engages in “micro-tasking”—handling only one task at a time, but toggling back and forth between competing tasks.
Because the brain cannot adequately process all incoming information, it elects to process only a part of the information. The result? We fall victim to the assumption that we’re dealing with both tasks adequately, when in fact we’re not effectively accomplishing either one.
How does this attempt at multitasking affect our driving? As drivers, the likelihood of avoiding hazards depends largely on our ability to first perceive the hazard, and then take appropriate action to avoid it. The margin of error is often mere seconds. If a driver is texting or adjusting the radio, the brain is less likely to perceive road hazards in sufficient time to allow for a safe response. (Learn more about car accidents caused by cell phone use.)
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
According to statistics compiled by the NHTSA, alcohol is a factor in more than 40% of all automobile fatalities. A driver’s decision to consume alcohol and then get behind the wheel of a car results in decreased reaction time, poor vision, and poor decision-making. See a sample demand letter in a car accident case involving DUI.
Driver Fatigue
A fatigued driver represents many of the same dangers as one who is driving under the influence. Not only is a fatigued driver more likely to fall asleep while driving, but fatigue also slows reaction times in response to road hazards. An intoxicated driver or a fatigued driver is much more likely to miss a traffic signal or stop sign, compared with an alert driver. Learn more about car accidents caused by drowsy driving.
Poor Decision-Making
Other driver-based decisions also lead to car accidents. The decision to speed, tailgate, or make a risky pass can result in a crash before the driver has time to correct a bad choice. Poor decision-making also leads to unsafe speeds considering local conditions like weather and visibility.
Almost one in three crash deaths in the U.S. involves speeding, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Speeding is a particularly common cause of accidents among young drivers. The CDC says teen drivers are more likely to speed than adult drivers, and male teens are more likely to speed compared with their female counterparts. Those most likely to speed are also the least experienced drivers, and the least equipped to deal with a high-speed hazards encountered while driving.
Do Not Wait To Speak To An Attorney
Putting off speaking with a lawyer after your accident is one of the worst mistakes you can make when it comes to collecting fair compensation. Do not waste time after you have been injured, instead contact the Law Office of Beverly R. Caruthers right away. Our team can help you to explore your options and find out more about how our team of legal professionals can help you through this difficult time. Car accident cases are rarely simple and often require professional help for the best results.
Spanish Speaking Personal Injury Lawyer in Houston
Too often Spanish-speaking drivers are unable to find justice in their car accident cases, causing them to not take action against those who have left them with financial devastation and physical trauma. At the Law Office of Beverly R. Caruthers, our team refuses to let a language barrier affect your right to justice and compensation. If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident and is in need of Spanish-speaking legal advice, our team is here for you.
We make it easier than ever before for individuals injured in car accidents to navigate the legal system in order to get the results they need to continue on in their lives. Schedule your no-obligation car accident consultation with Attorney Caruthers today. Our team will work with you every step of the way to ensure your needs are being met and that you are getting the treatment you deserve in your car accident case. Don’t hesitate, the sooner you call the more we can do to get you results.
Houston Car Accident Attorney
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury, experienced loss of income, or are unable to work due to a car accident, you can benefit from the services of a Houston car accident expert in your personal injury case. Whether you missed work due to an injury or due to not having access to a vehicle, Attorney Beverly R. Caruthers can help you!
Our team works hard to bring the most efficient and practical solutions to your car accident case. Beverly R. Caruthers proudly serves and defends the Greater Houston area including but not limited to Baytown, Conroe, Crosby, Humble, Huntsville, Lake Jackson, Missouri City, Pasadena, Spring, Tomball.
Caruthers Law Firm
Address: 4141 Southwest Fwy, Suite 400
Houston, TX 77027
(713) 526-9557
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