Just about any kind of accident can result in a devastating injury that can lead to years of pain and problems. You or a loved one may have been in a car wreck due to road debris, or you may have slipped on a wet grocery store aisle. Whatever type of injury you suffered, if the accident that caused it happened because of someone else’s negligence, you will likely be able to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover your lost damages.
The attorneys with Keller, Melchiorre & Walsh have decades of experience fighting for the rights of people who suffered severe harm due to no fault of their own.
Common Injuries Caused Accidents and Negligence in Florida
The following is just a partial list of the many types of injuries that can stem from accidents caused by negligence.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Millions of people across the country suffer terrible TBIs every year. And unfortunately, so many of them are preventable. A TBI could, for example, occur due to a vehicle collision caused by a distracted driver, or when a workplace does not put a big enough emphasis on worker safety.
The effects of a TBI can be horrible, making it almost impossible for a victim to be able to perform even the most basic of everyday tasks. To make matters worse, many victims also suffer emotional issues as well, like anger, depression, mood swings, and a whole host of other issues.
Brain injuries are one of the most devastating types of injuries, for obvious reasons.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries can be seriously devastating to a person’s life. People who previously led active, fulfilling lives often find themselves unable to move as they used to or in a wheelchair because of someone else’s negligence.
Some people who suffer spinal cord injuries may be able to regain movement after years of extensive, painful treatment and rehabilitation. Many others, however, will be paralyzed for life.
No matter what, if someone suffers an injury to their spinal cord, there is no doubt they are in for a significant amount of pain and suffering.
Burns
The pain caused by a severe burn injury is excruciating. It can lead to nerve damage, infections, and can possibly cause the victim to be disfigured for life.
Even when a victim is able to regain full physical function, they will often be left with permanent changes to their appearance. This can result in deep emotional trauma that can take years of recovery.
Some of the most common burn injuries include thermal burns (flames or hot surfaces), chemical burns, and electrical burns. These can happen during car accidents, in workplace accidents, and in other situations involving negligence.
Breaks and Fractures
The force of a collision—for example during a bicycle accident or boating accident—can result in severely broken bones.
A broken arm or leg is obviously very painful, and it can be months before the affected limb gets back to normal. In far too many instances, however, a limb is so badly shattered that a normal recovery is impossible.
Breaks and fractures can also include other bones besides the common arm or legs. For example, ribs, bones in the ankle or foot, or serious breaks in the hip or pelvis.
Chest Injuries
Severe chest injuries can result when a driver or occupant in a vehicle slams into the steering wheel or dashboard. Any sort of trauma to the chest can interrupt the flow of blood and/or prevent the victim from being able to breathe properly.
If, for instance, someone breaks their ribs, pieces of the bones can pierce the lungs, resulting in a potentially life-threatening emergency. Chest trauma can also result in damage to major blood vessels or the heart, which can quickly lead to death.
Back Injuries
A back injury is another type of excruciatingly painful health issue that can rob someone of their quality of life. Thankfully, many back injuries can be successfully treated, with victims eventually returning to normal. There are other times, however, where the damage is so severe it can’t be reversed.
Common back injuries include muscle strains, herniated disc, and fractured vertebra.
Abrasions
When most people think about abrasions, they think of skinning a knee or an elbow, something that’s really not that serious. However, for someone knocked off of their motorcycle at a high rate of speed, the abrasions that result (often called road rash) can be incredibly severe.
The most significant form of this injury is a third-degree abrasion. It results in the deepest layers of the skin being so badly damaged that the nerves are affected. If the proper treatment isn’t provided as quickly as possible, that could result in a potentially severe infection. But even if a serious abrasion is treated, the injury could still lead to permanent scarring.
Amputations
When someone is involved in a major truck accident or car accident, they can sometimes suffer crushed limbs. If the damage is too severe, or if blood flow is cut off for too long, the affected limb may need to be amputated.
As you can imagine, amputation injuries can create a whole host of unimaginable issues. These include severe pain, emotional trauma, and lasting financial issues.
What Causes These Types of Injuries?
As stated earlier, even a momentary lack of focus can result in an accident that causes one of the injuries listed above. Truck accidents, for example, pose a high risk of catastrophic injuries due to the massive size difference between a passenger vehicle and a big rig, which can weigh up to 80,000 pounds.
Some accidents involving personal injuries occur in the workplace. Construction sites, for example, are incredibly dangerous, with workers suffering debilitating injuries far too often.
Not all injuries are caused by negligence. But when they are, victims don’t deserve to deal with all the consequences on their own. Luckily, the court system has paved a way for victims of personal injuries to get compensation for their losses.
How Can I Receive Compensation for My Injuries?
If you’ve suffered a severe injury, or tragically lost a loved one due to another’s negligence, you are facing a mountain of expenses. Not only do you have medical bills, but you probably also have lost wages and other expenses. There’s also a high likelihood you’ve suffered emotional trauma as well.
How do you go about obtaining the compensation needed to recover the financial losses, or damages, that you’ve incurred?
You need the help of a skilled, experienced attorney. A legal representative can conduct a thorough investigation of your accident, and uncover the evidence needed in order for you to have the strongest possible case – and the best possible chance of getting the money you deserve.
The law firm of Keller, Melchiorre & Walsh has the experience and skill to help. Learn more by calling or using our online form for a free case review. We don’t get paid unless we recover for you!