Catastrophic Injuries Caused by Car Accidents

By Grant Law Office on August 21, 2019

While modern automobiles are much safer than their predecessors, the act of getting into a car is still the most dangerous thing many of us do on a given day. Advances in design; the development of lighter, stronger metals; and safety features like airbags and shoulder harnesses make the likelihood of surviving a collision greater today than 20 years ago. Still, thousands of Americans are killed or catastrophically injured in motor vehicle accidents every year.

Catastrophic injuries can have a life-altering impact on a victim and his or her entire family. There may be years of future medical care, the loss of a career, added costs of in-home care—and that’s not to mention the stress and emotional toll of the injury.

If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic injury in a motor vehicle accident, the experienced personal injury attorneys at Atlanta’s Grant Law Office may be able to help you recover your losses. Call (404) 995-3955 to set up a free case evaluation.

Common Catastrophic Injuries from Automobile Accidents

The following are some of the more common life-altering injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents:

Traumatic Brain Injury

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes traumatic brain injury (TBI) as “a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury.” The result of a TBI may be temporary or permanent, and can affect the victim’s:

• Thinking: Memory, reasoning, focus, and ability to understand instructions.
• Physical Movement: Sight, balance, coordination, control of limbs, etc.
• Communication Abilities: Ability to speak and understand language, react to visual cues, express feelings, etc.
• Emotions: May cause personality change, depression, anxiety, aggression, social inappropriateness, loss of inhibitions, lack of emotional control, etc.

In severe cases, a TBI victim may be unable to care for himself and need constant care in a facility or at home.

Neck and Spinal Injuries

Even a low-speed car crash can cause damage to the spinal cord, the conduit that carries neural transmissions from the brain to the rest of the body. It’s how the brain sends messages (such as how to walk) to the lower body. When the spinal cord is damaged or severed, the result is partial or complete paralysis. Paralysis can prevent someone from working, caring for his or her children, living alone, and take away his or her ability to take part in activities once enjoyed.

Amputation

Th loss of a limb can occur during a motor vehicle accident due to traumatic amputation, or by surgical amputation right afterward for reasons caused by the accident. When a limb is crushed or the bones are shattered, it may be impossible to repair. In such a case, a doctor may decide to cut off a limb to prevent infection or gangrene. As with other catastrophic injuries from automobile accidents, the loss of a limb will affect the patient’s entire future. He may need modifications of his home or vehicle to accommodate his disability, and prosthetic limbs are very expensive.

Burns

Because most cars are powered by gasoline and also have electrical systems, a collision can sometimes cause a fire. Burn wounds are very painful, as are the medical treatments for burns, which may include skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries for years to come. Burns can also cause scarring and disfigurement, which can severely affect the injury victim’s personal and social life. 

Internal Injuries

The impact of an automobile collision can severely damage a person’s organs, resulting in the need to have them removed or replaced through transplant. In a case where a kidney is damaged or lost, the patient may have to undergo dialysis treatments for the rest of his or her life. Internal bleeding is another type of impact injury that may require surgery and can also be fatal.

After Suffering a Catastrophic Injury, Call a Lawyer

If you or a loved one as suffered a catastrophic injury in a car accident, you’re going want compensation from the liable parties involved. To get the verdict or settlement that is worthy of your losses, call Grant Law Office. For over 25 years, our husband-and-wife law team has helped accident victims throughout The Peach State in the aftermath of a serious injury. For a free case evaluation, call our Atlanta office at (404) 995-3955.