If you are involved in a car accident, there is a good chance that you will suffer some injury. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 2 million people are injured in car crashes each year. While most of these injuries are minor, some can be quite serious.
At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., we have years of experience helping people just like you get the money they need to move on with their lives. We are committed to providing our clients with the highest level of service and will work tirelessly to get you the best possible outcome in your case.
What Should I Do If I’m Injured in a Car Accident?
If you are injured in a car accident, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention. Many injuries don’t show up right away, so it’s important to get checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. After that, you should contact an attorney. Car accident cases are complex, and an attorney will ensure you are treated fairly during the legal process.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Several types of injuries can occur in a car accident. Some of the most common injuries include:
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries include damage to the muscles, tendons, or ligaments. While soft tissue injuries usually heal after a few weeks of rest and physical therapy some can last much longer.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are relatively common in car accidents. Depending on the severity of your break, you may need surgery or other medical treatment to repair your bone. In severe cases, broken bones can lead to long-term disabilities.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic Brain Injuries are caused when a significant force is exerted on the brain. It can be caused by your head being thrown back and forth by significant force, such as a rear-end collision. As a result of such force, your brain can strike the inside of your skull, causing a brain injury. To suffer a traumatic brain injury, you do not have to hit your head on something hard, like the dashboard or the window.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a common neck injury in rear-end collisions. This occurs when the head and neck are forced forward and immediately back again, resulting in pain, stiffness, difficulty moving the head/neck area, and headaches.
Chest Injuries
Chest injuries can range from minor to severe, and when a person is hit in the chest with great force, it can cause serious internal damage.
Arm and Leg Injuries
The arms and legs are commonly injured in a car accident. Some of the injuries include:
- Fractures
- Sprains
- Strains
- Dislocations or dislocate joints (e.g., shoulders, knees)
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries occur when internal organs or tissues are damaged. Common examples include:
- Hematomas – When blood vessels break and cause blood to collect in an organ or tissue.
- Broken ribs – When these bones puncture the lungs, it causes them to collapse.
Lacerations and Cuts
Lacerations and cuts are considered minor car accident injuries and occur when you are cut by broken glass or some other sharp object during the accident. They may require stitches, but they will heal on their own over time in most cases.
Back Injuries
Back injuries are also prevalent in car accidents. They often occur when victims twist their bodies to avoid impact with an object during an accident. These injuries can be severe and may require surgery or other long-term treatment.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The spinal cord is a column of nerves that runs through the center of your back and sends signals from your brain to the rest of your body. It also has many nerve cells, called neurons, which control various breathing and heart rate functions.
Spinal injuries are some of the most serious injuries because they can lead to paralysis and other long-term disabilities.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Car accident victims suffer mental and emotional injuries as well. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition caused by traumatic events, such as car accidents. PTSD causes people to relive the event repeatedly in their minds, which can lead to nightmares, flashbacks, and severe anxiety.
How Long Does It Take for a Car Accident Injury to Appear?
Sometimes pain is felt right away, but often you may not know you were hurt at the scene of an accident. This is often because your adrenaline is flowing. In addition, it sometimes can take time for the symptoms to manifest themselves. It is important to see a doctor as soon as you have symptoms following a car crash, even if you think the injury is minor. If your injury is not promptly treated, the damage could worsen and require long-term treatment.
What a Car Accident Attorney Can Do For You
When you have been injured in a car accident that was not your fault, it is important to contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible. A qualified attorney can help you get the money you need to cover your medical expenses and other losses.
The Washington, D.C. car accident lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have a proven track record of success helping clients obtain the maximum compensation possible for injuries they have suffered due to the negligence of others. Our firm has consistently demonstrated we have the expertise needed to help our clients see that justice is served. We have the resources needed to perform thorough investigations of all the circumstances contributing to a motor vehicle accident, gathering the evidence needed to establish liability and negligence.
Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has achieved more than $500 million in verdicts and settlements, and our attorneys have more than a century of combined legal experience. Two of our partners are certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Our firm has also earned the highest AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, one of the most respected attorney-ranking service organizations in the United States. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. attorneys work passionately on behalf of our clients to help them secure fair compensation – there is no type of case that is too complex for us to litigate.
We Get Results
Here are some of the settlements our car accident lawyers have obtained for car accident victims:
- $6 million for a client who suffered a brain injury after being involved in a rear-end collision.
- $4.8 million for a severely injured client after another vehicle struck his motorcycle.
- $1.9 million for a client who suffered a permanent back injury due to a car accident.
- $1.5 million for a client who had to undergo multiple surgeries after a negligent motorist cut off his motorcycle.
- $1 million settlement obtained on behalf of our 19-year-old client who was a passenger in a car in which the driver lost control, causing a collision. As a result, our client suffered extensive brain damage with cognitive impairment. He was in a coma for an extended period of time. Although he has regained consciousness, he is unable to care for himself. The law firm asked the Court to appoint him a guardian to care for him. The law firm is helping to establish a special needs trust so that the proceeds from the settlement will be protected against any medical liens.
- $1 million settlement on behalf of a client who suffered a brain injury when the driver of the car in which he was a passenger lost control of his vehicle.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney Today
If you are looking for the highest level of representation available for your personal injury case, turn to Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Our firm has helped clients recover more than $500 million in compensation, and we have more than 100 years of combined experience. All of our partners are recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers®, and our firm includes three past presidents of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C.
We work to help our clients obtain fair settlement offers to compensate them for the injuries they’ve suffered, but our attorneys are extremely well-equipped to go to trial if needed. Call (202) 659-8600 or contact us online to get the proven legal representation you deserve.