Around 7,000 people are injured in car crashes every day in this country, and perhaps you joined their number not long ago in South Bend, Indiana. Fortunately, you can be eligible for compensation under this state’s negligence laws as long as the defendant was deemed to be 50% or more at fault. Before filing your claim, you will need to take stock of your injuries, which may have included the following.
Traumatic brain injuries
Head trauma may have led to a concussion or traumatic brain injury. Know that TBI symptoms, which range from headaches and nausea to dizziness and neck pain, tend to appear after a delay of several days or even weeks. TBI victims may bleed under their skull, in which case they will need surgery.
Neck and spinal cord injuries
Chances are that you suffered whiplash, an injury to the neck muscles and ligaments caused by the rapid snapping back and forth of your neck. This injury may also necessitate surgery if the neck vertebrae were dislocated.
High-impact car crashes can cause the discs in the spinal cord to be pushed or twisted out of alignment. The muscles can be torn or strained, too. The more serious spinal cord injuries can lead to reduced sensation or perhaps paralysis.
Injuries arising from the seatbelt
If you hurt your collarbone or ribs, this may have been due to the shoulder belt. Another possibility is that crash victims wore their lap belt incorrectly and consequently pressed their body weight against it during the crash. The result can be damage to the heart, liver and other internal organs.
Not all internal injuries are physical. Accident victims may have been psychologically scarred, even to the point of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Under personal injury law, plaintiffs can legitimately seek compensation for emotional distress.
A lawyer to assist with your case
You may want to consult with a personal injury lawyer before filing your claim against the driver responsible for your losses. A lawyer may determine how much you might recover in damages and, then, negotiate for that amount out of court, leaving litigation as a last resort.
