Everyone is at risk of sustaining an injury in an accident—whether it’s a car crash, slip and fall, or something else. Minor injuries don’t require medical attention and usually don’t force you to miss any work. However, when injuries are serious or catastrophic, they can affect a person’s life on multiple levels. In addition to physical pain and stress, injury victims often amass thousands of dollars in medical expenses, and they may need to miss months of work.
If you have incurred financial and emotional losses due to an injury that someone else caused, you may be eligible to seek compensation. Call the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of George Salinas, located in Austin, Texas, at (512) 851-1004 today.
What Injuries Are Most Common in Personal Injury Cases?
Numerous types of accidents can result in serious injury, including car crashes, motorcycle accidents, slip and falls, and more. Locations can also differ; victims may sustain their injury while at work, at a neighbor’s house, while shopping at the mall, or at home while using a defective product. The types of injuries in personal injury cases vary just as much as the cause and location. Here are some of the most common injuries:
- Broken bones can be serious in nature, depending on the location and severity of the break. In motor vehicle accidents that occur at high speed—including pedestrian, bicycle, and construction accidents—victims may suffer crushed bones and require multiple reconstructive surgeries.
- Whiplash remains one of the most common neck injuries, especially in motor vehicle accidents. The impact of a collision can cause trauma that damages the soft tissue that supports the neck. The pain and discomfort associated with whiplash often doesn’t show up for a few days after an accident, which is why it is so important to seek medical attention immediately following any accident, even if you don’t think you are injured.
- Lacerations may occur in auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, or truck accidents, and they can occur while using heavy equipment or in a wide array of other scenarios. While many cuts heal, the deepest and most painful lacerations can result in scarring or disfigurement, and they may require cosmetic surgery.
- Burn injuries may occur in fires or explosions that are the result of motor vehicle accidents, industrial accidents, or spills of dangerous substances. Many minor burns heal completely and may not leave any scars. However, serious burns can cause permanent damage to skin, nerves, internal organs, and bones. Major burns often include scarring and disfigurement, which may require multiple skin grafting surgeries.
- Brain injuries include concussions of all severity, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that can have lifelong effects. Individuals who sustain a concussion usually recover quickly. Unfortunately, those who sustain a TBI are at risk for a wide variety of short-term and long-term issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TBI victims may have problems with memory, logical reasoning, vision, hearing, and communication. Additionally, TBI victims often experience personality changes, like increased aggression, and mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
- Spinal cord injuries fall under the umbrella of back injuries, but the seriousness of spinal cord injuries warrants extra attention. The spinal cord, in conjunction with the brain, composes the largest organ of the central nervous system. Serious injuries that pinch, sever, or otherwise injure the spinal cord can cause partial or complete paralysis, numbness in the limbs and other areas of the body, and loss of control of bodily functions. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke warn that individuals who sustain spinal cord injuries also face a higher risk of lung and heart problems.
- Back injuries remain some of the most common motor vehicle injuries, but victims might also experience a back injury in a construction accident, pedestrian accident, motorcycle accident, or after falling on a wet surface. Minor back injuries typically involve soft tissue damage in the middle or lower back; the most severe back injuries involve bulged or herniated discs and broken or fractured vertebrae, all of which may require multiple surgeries to repair.
- Internal bleeding may occur as a result of very serious accidents. Broken ribs, pieces of metal or glass, or falling debris can puncture organs and result in internal and external blood loss. Victims who internally bleed need immediate medical treatment to avoid permanent damage and death.
What Types of Damages Might Be Recovered in a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
The particulars of your accident and resulting injury—such as the extent of your injuries and financial loss that you incurred—will determine the specific amount and types of damages that a court might award you. The most common damages recovered in a settlement or verdict include:
- Medical expenses, including ambulance and emergency medical treatment, hospital stays, radiology, surgeries, prescription medications, physical therapy, and more
- Reasonable future medical costs if you sustain a permanent injury or a chronic condition, or if the defense wants to settle before you have recovered from your injuries
- Lost wages for time away from work due to your injuries
- Lost earning capacity if your injury renders you incapable of returning to work
- Pain and suffering for the economic and non-economic losses that you suffered due to your injury
- Loss of consortium
- Funeral expenses in the event of the wrongful death of a loved one
Contact a Skilled Personal Injury Lawyer in Austin
Regardless of the type and severity of your injuries, you should work with an experienced personal injury attorney, who will advocate for you and defend your rights. Your attorney will navigate the complicated legal process that is often involved with personal injury cases, investigate your accident, speak to potential witnesses, and handle all of the details for you. During this difficult time, you need to focus on your health and recovery. Call one of the qualified personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of George Salinas, located in Austin, Texas, at (512) 851-1004—or online—to schedule your free consultation and to learn about how we can help.