Florida has one of the deadliest highways and six of the 10 most dangerous roadways in the country, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A car accident can leave you in shock, especially when you’ve been injured. No two accidents are the same, meaning no two accident victims are the same, either. At Heintz Law, our car accident attorneys are dedicated to representing victims of negligence in Sarasota and the surrounding areas in southwest Florida. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, the best way to get the compensation you need is by working with a skilled car accident lawyer.

Call the personal injury attorneys at Heintz Law today at 941-238-0093 and schedule your free consultation or contact us online. 

Common Car Accident Injuries

There are countless injuries associated with car accidents, ranging from minor to life-threatening. Common injuries may include scrapes, cuts, abrasions, burns, bruises, and broken bones, while more serious injuries can include herniated discs and permanent disfigurement. 

Here are some of the most common car accident injuries:

Whiplash 

According to the Insurance Information Institute, 32 percent of all car accidents are rear-end collisions, making whiplash the most common car accident injury. Whiplash occurs when the sudden impact causes the head to accelerate forward, causing the muscles and tendons in your neck to stretch and tear.

Sometimes, the pain associated with whiplash is immediate. In other cases, it can take several hours or days before your neck hurts. Some people only need over-the-counter medication and at-home care. Others may need prescription medication, specialized pain treatment or physical therapy.

Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs)

Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are another common injury caused by car accidents. The jerking motion that occurs when someone is struck by another vehicle can seriously damage the spinal column.

SCIs can also result in herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, and temporary or permanent paralysis. Injuries to the spinal cord can be life-changing, resulting in thousands of dollars in medical bills, medication, and extensive therapy.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)

Traumatic brain injuries can cause immediate injuries and complications that cause long-term problems with brain function, as well as headaches and difficulty sleeping.

It may be difficult to recognize the symptoms of a brain injury, so make sure you visit a physician after an accident.

Internal Bleeding and Organ Damage

Internal bleeding can be dangerous, especially if it’s not treated quickly. It’s important that you seek medical attention immediately after your accident. If there’s any chance that you may have suffered internal bleeding, it’s crucial to find critical care to make sure that you don’t have life-threatening injuries or permanent organ damage.

Emotional Injuries 

After an accident, many people realize they’ve suffered emotional injuries as well as physical ones. If you experienced mental distress or trauma after a car accident, you may be able to recover compensation as a part of your overall pain and suffering damages.

Damages deemed as emotional distress are typically only awarded in cases of severe injuries. Some emotional injuries may include fear of driving, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and insomnia.  

Causes of Car Accidents

According to the NHTS, 93 percent of all car accidents are caused by human error in some form or another. Car accidents may be caused by another negligent driver or can even be caused by the vehicle’s manufacturer.

There are countless ways human error or negligence can cause an accident, but here are some of the more common causes:

• Dangerous roadways
• Debris on roads
• Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Failure to brake or stop at red lights, intersections, or stop signs
• Tailgating
• Failure to yield
• Failure to properly signal lane changes or turns
• Defective vehicle parts or products

If your accident was caused by a negligent driver, you can bring a personal injury case against them to seek compensation for your damages. Likewise, if your accident was caused by a vehicle or car parts manufacturer, you can bring a lawsuit against that entity to seek compensation.

Handling Insurance Adjusters

Within days after your accident, you’ll receive calls from insurance adjusters. They can be pushy, but don’t let them intimidate or pressure you into speaking to them without consulting your attorney first. Even if your accident appears to be minor, your claim may not be simple and straightforward.

A seemingly minor accident can result in physical, emotional, and financial difficulty lasting years after the crash. After a car accident, most people want to focus their time and energy on recovery—and rightly so—but there can be an overwhelming amount of paperwork to file including insurance forms, police reports, and medical documents.

A car accident attorney will be able to help you with this overwhelming and stressful process, making it much more manageable and possible for you to receive the compensation you deserve. 

When to Contact a Sarasota Car Accident Attorney

The financial, physical, and emotional impact of a car accident can last for years to come. If you were in an accident in Sarasota or the surrounding areas, you don’t have to go it alone.

The Sarasota car accident attorneys at Heintz Law have over 30 years of experience representing car accident victims in Southwest Florida. Contact us online to schedule your free consultation or call us at 941-238-0093.