You don’t expect to be involved in a car accident while driving along I-77, Uptown or anywhere else across the Charlotte metro area. You don’t expect to sustain serious injuries in an accident, either. Serious accidents happen to other people. That’s how many of us think until we are involved in one or a loved one is injured or killed.
Without question, serious accidents happen across North Carolina each day. In as much as heartbeat, your life can be turned upside-down due to serious injuries that require years of physical rehabilitation. Medical bills may skyrocket. You might never return to work. Life may never be the same again.
The experienced legal team at Hull & Chandler, P.A., understands how devastating a car accident can be for victims and their loved ones. If you did nothing wrong to cause your accident, you shouldn’t have to pay out-of-pocket for your injuries and other expenses. Our Charlotte accident attorneys understand that many of the state’s most serious car crashes are caused by reckless drivers. We work hard to obtain accident victims the compensation they deserve and hold negligent parties accountable – whether they’re involved in a drunk driving accident, a distracted driving accident or some other type of car accident.
Our firm has over a decade of experience fighting to protect the rights of car accident victims. Some of the most common and serious types of car accident injuries we have seen include the following:
In some accidents, such as rear-end accidents, the impact of the crash can cause your head to rapidly pitch forward and snap backward, causing a soft-tissue injury known as “whiplash.” One of the most common car accident injuries, whiplash accounts for more than one million neck injuries each year and can cause debilitating pain. Being both difficult to diagnose and carrying a negative connotation with insurance adjusters, whiplash can lead to a complex accident claim. Victims may find difficulty obtaining compensation for their injuries after an accident. That’s why it’s critical to have an experienced whiplash lawyer at Hull & Chandler, P.A., on your side.
What are the signs and symptoms of whiplash? A serious neck injury might or might not become apparent directly following an accident. Symptoms often include:
All too often, insurance companies will try to minimize the amount they pay on a claim by engaging in unethical negotiating tactics. Some adjusters might try to push you into accepting a “low ball” claim before the true extent of an injury is known. Others may try to act like they’re your friend and looking out for your best interests. They’re not. Don’t let an insurance company or adjuster bully you into collecting less compensation than you deserve. Contact us today.
Head injuries sustained in North Carolina car accidents can dramatically change your life. Such injuries range in severity from a mild concussion to permanent brain damage. Even the smallest of car accidents can potentially lead to a traumatic brain injury that leaves you unable to think clearly or function normally. You need to act fast if you or a loved one has suffered a head injury resulting from a car accident.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a person suffers a violent and sudden blow to the head that causes brain injury or damage. This can happen in a rollover accident after a driver or passenger hits their head on a solid object in the car upon impact. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, half of all traumatic brain injury victims receive their injuries as a result of an automobile accident.
Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury may be apparent right away. Symptoms that may be immediately diagnosed after an accident include bleeding, swelling/bruising of the brain, seizures, loss of consciousness or coma. Sometimes, these symptoms don’t surface for months or years after the accident. Common long-term symptoms include loss of memory, mood swings, aggressiveness and headaches.
Some of the most serious injuries resulting from all types of car accidents are broken bones and fractures. These injuries, depending on their severity, may require months of rehabilitation or might leave a victim with permanent, irreparable damage. Injury victims might be faced with escalating medical bills, loss of income and a serious disruption in their lifestyle due to their inability to participate in the activities they once enjoyed.
Bone breaks can be categorized in a number of different ways. A complete fracture occurs when a bone breaks in two. An incomplete fracture occurs when a bone is partially broken, but does not break. A compound or open fracture occurs when a bone breaks through the skin. A simple fracture is a hairline crack. No matter the break, it’s common for injury victims to face a painful recovery process and months or years of physical therapy.
Pedestrians and bicyclists, due to the unprotected nature of the victim, can suffer from very serious bone breaks and fractures. Insurance companies may try to downplay the seriousness of your injuries or even say you’re at fault for the accident. We know that it’s not fair, which is one of the reasons why we work so hard for clients. We want to help you get back on track. Contact us to discuss your legal options.
Passengers in a car accident might have had no way to keep the accident from happening. Depending on the type of car accident, passengers may suffer injuries much more serious than the driver. Passengers might be thrown through the windshield, slammed against the dashboard, or crushed against the roof. As long as they did not contribute to the reckless operation of the vehicle, passengers are not held liable for the crash.
Passengers can suffer serious car accident injuries when involved in a car accident in part because, unlike the driver, they have little time to react to an accident that is about to occur. Children, especially, are vulnerable to injury because their smaller, developing bodies are more subject to harm. Common types of passenger injuries include:
It can be hard to knowing what to do when you’re a passenger injured in a car accident. You might not know whose insurance policy will cover your losses. Medical bills may rise and you may be unable to work. Insurance companies may play hardball. If you were a passenger who sustained injuries as a result of a car accident, you can take steps to make sure your rights are protected. You might have a claim of negligence against more than one of the parties involved, including the driver of the car you were in. These claims can be complicated, but our law firm has the experience and resources to help clients get the justice they deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation. Call 704-375-8488.