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The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reports that a person was injured in a car accident once every eleven minutes in the state in 2014. While many of these injuries were thankfully minor, unfortunately, others were extremely severe, even life altering. Here, the experienced Seattle car accident attorneys at Khan Law Firm, PLLC discuss some of the most common types of serious car accident injuries. Lacerations Motor vehicle collisions, even moderate ones, often result in broken glass, torn metal and other debris being thrown throughout the inside of the car. This debris can cause deep cuts and lacerations. In some cases, lacerations may require stitches or even surgery. Further, as with a deep cut, there is a risk that a victim will lose a large amount of blood or develop a serious infection. Lacerations require medical treatment. Broken Bones Due to the blunt force impact of an accident, high speed crashes frequently result in broken or fractured bones. In a crash, the most vulnerable part of a person’s body is usually their arms or their legs. Though, many other bones, including ribs, are also at risk of breaking upon impact. Casting and or surgery may be required depending on the severity of the injuries. Whiplash Whiplash is one of the most common types of auto accident injuries. Due to the complex nature and delayed onset of this injury, it is imperative that whiplash victims seek immediate legal assistance following an accident. Insurance companies often try to undervalue whiplash and other soft tissue damage. Internal Injuries Serious car accident injuries can also involve internal organs. Not only is internal damage difficult to detect and diagnose, but it can lead to severe complications that can require major surgical operations. These injuries always require emergency medical treatment. Concussions Much like whiplash, head injuries often occur with a delayed onset. Doctors note that it can take 24 to 72 hours to feel the full effects of a car accident head injury. Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) always require medical attention. Neck, Back and Spinal Cord Injuries Neck, back and spinal cord injuries can vary widely in both kind and severity. In the worst cases, these injuries can result in partial or permanent paralysis. In other cases, a major back injury may keep a person out of work for months or even years, preventing them from earning a living. Psychological Trauma Finally, it is important to recognize that car accidents can lead severe mental health injuries. The psychological trauma that develops in some victims after auto accidents can be debilitating. These mental health injuries require medical attention just the same as does any purely physical damage.
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Few car accidents are truly unavoidable. The vast majority of the time, a crash could have been prevented if only proper safety precautions been taken. Indeed, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that driver mistakes cause of 94 percent of all U.S. highway accidents. Here, the car accident lawyers in Seattle at Khan Law Firm, PLLC discuss the driver errors that most frequently cause serious collisions. The Most Common Cause of Car Accidents Speeding Highway speed limits exist for a reason. When drivers exceed the speed limit, particularly when they exceed it by more than ten miles per hour, the risk of an accident rises dramatically. With every mile per hour a faster a car goes, the driver loses reaction time. Not only does speeding make an accident more likely to occur, but speeding makes an accident more dangerous should one happen. Running Red Lights and Stop Signs Many car accidents in Washington are caused by drivers blowing through red lights or stop signs. Notably, this is particularly dangerous in urban centers like Seattle because there are often many pedestrians and bicyclists near intersections. Unsafe Lane Changes When a driver makes a lane change, there is always a potential that something could go wrong. Motorists in Washington have a legal obligation to ensure that the lane they are planning on entering is completely clear before they begin maneuvering their vehicle. Yet, too often, drivers make lane changes without looking at their mirrors or turning their head. This carelessness causes many avoidable accidents. Following Too Closely Drivers must leave an adequate amount of space between their car and the vehicle that they are following. How much space is required will depend entirely on the speed that the cars are travelling and the road conditions. The most important thing to remember is that there should always be sufficient space for a driver to stop should the car in front of them slam on the brakes. Unfortunately, many drivers follow too closely, leading to rear-end accidents. Distracted Driving Distracted driving is a growing problem on our roadways. Many drivers fail to keep their attention on the road while they are behind the wheel, either because they are talking on the phone or trying to steal a glance at their text messages. Drivers owe it to every other person on the road to keep their full attention on the task at hand at all times. Intoxicated Driving Finally, intoxicated driving causes many preventable accidents in Washington state every year, Drunk driving and drugged driving make it impossible for a motorist to operate their vehicle in a truly safe manner. Additionally, the dangers of intoxicated driving are often compounded by other unsafe behaviors, such as speeding or distraction. Schedule Your Free Case Evaluation Today At Khan Law Firm, PLLC, our Seattle car accident lawyers have handled claims involving virtually every type of accident cause. If you were hurt in a crash, we can help you fight for the full and fair compensation you rightfully deserve. From our offices in Seattle and Tukwila, we represent victims throughout the region, including in Bellevue, Renton and Tacoma. Auto accidents are a major public safety problem in Seattle and throughout the state of Washington. Indeed, in 2014, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) reported that 13,971 accidents occurred in the city of Seattle alone, with these crashes resulting in more than 4,300 injuries, and tragically, 17 fatalities. If you were injured in a Seattle auto accident, due to the negligence of another party, you are entitled to full and fair compensation for your damages. Unfortunately, in far too many cases, that compensation can be very difficult to obtain. Most auto accident injury claims involve large insurance companies, and those companies are always looking for ways to limit a victim’s recovery, sometimes even outright denying valid claims. To protect their rights, highway accident victims should always work with an experienced Seattle car accident lawyer. Your lawyer will be able to review the facts of your case, assess your damages and then determine exactly what needs to be done to help you recover every penny that you rightfully deserve under the law. Common Car Accident Injuries Car accident injuries vary tremendously, both in their kind and in their level of severity. Thankfully, in some cases, injuries are relatively minor, perhaps nothing more than a mild bruise. However, in many other cases, car accident injuries can be debilitating and even life altering. Some examples of serious injuries that are frequently seen in Washington car accidents include:
To hold another party legally liable for your car accident injuries, you must be able to prove that they were at fault for your crash. Under Chapter 4.22 of the Revised Code of Washington, fault for a Seattle car accident is controlled by the state’s comparative negligence standard. Under this standard, victims must prove that another party’s negligence, in some manner, contributed to their accident. What is Negligence? Negligence is defined as the failure to take due care. What actually constitutes due care will always depend on the specific facts of the case. Indeed, assessing negligence requires a highly fact intensive and context specific review of the individual circumstances of each accident. That being said, all motorists are held to a high standard of care. If another driver did something unsafe, and that unsafe action at least partially contributed to your accident, you can hold that driver liable for your injuries. Unique Considerations for Shared Fault Accidents Notably, Washington state is a comparative negligence jurisdiction. This means that two parties can share liability for the same accident. In fact, the victim of the crash can even share partial liability for their own accident. In these cases, a victim’s financial recovery will be reduced in direct proportion to their percentage of liability. For example, if you were found to be 20 percent at fault for your own injuries, then your recovery would be reduced by a corresponding 20 percent. This highlights the importance of protecting yourself from an unfair share of the blame for a crash, as being unfairly held at fault will take money directly out of your pocket. Compensation Available for Car Accident Victims
Injured car accident victims have a legal right to recover compensation for the full value of their damages. However, doing so can be extremely challenging in many cases. To obtain the full recovery that they rightfully deserve, victims must be able to properly document their losses. If damages are not properly established, then the insurance company may attempt to undervalue the claim or even deny it outright. Specific types of losses that Seattle car accident victims can seek financial relief for include:
Following a car accident, injured victims need to be prepared for any conversations they might have with insurance adjusters. You may receive a phone call from an insurance company very soon after your crash, sometimes even within a few days. To help you prepare for this important interaction, please consider the following list of five tips for handling insurance adjusters:
Many victims worry about the cost of legal representation. As the common misconception goes, lawyers are expensive. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. At the Khan Law Firm, PLLC, our top-rated Seattle auto accident lawyers take on all claims on a contingency fee basis. This means that there are never any out-of-pocket costs for our clients. Instead, we will recoup our legal fees as a percentage of your settlement offer or court judgment. If we do not win your case, we do not get paid. It is as simple as that. Request a Free Legal Consultation Today from a Car Accident Lawyer in Seattle If you or a loved one was injured in an auto accident, you need to take immediate action. To protect your legal rights and financial interests, contact the experienced Seattle car accident lawyers at the Khan Law Firm, PLLC today to set up a free, fully confidential review of your claim. |