The Most Common Injuries in Car Accidents
A car accident can leave devastating injuries that cost drivers and passengers much more than medical expenses. Some injuries can be serious, even fatal. When your car accident injuries are directly caused by the reckless actions of another party, you want to hold them liable. Learn more about some of the most common injuries in car accidents and how a San Diego car accident attorney can help you file a personal injury claim for compensation!
What Are Some Frequent Car Accident Types?
Whether you are on the I-805, I-8, or even the 101, chances are you’ve seen a car accident along the road. San Diego is a large county, with highways and streets typically congested at peak rush hour times with motorists making their usual commutes. What are some constant car accident types that can result in significant injuries? These accidents may be:
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Intersection collisions
- Multiple car pileups
- Single-vehicle accidents
- T-bone accidents
- Sideswipe accidents
- Hit-and-run accidents
How Are Car Accidents Caused?
A 2024 report found that San Diego County had the second highest total number of motor vehicle injuries compared to other counties in California. With a population of more than 3,300,000 people throughout the county, it can be safe to say that there are many drivers hitting the road daily. With a high number of drivers, comes the higher chance of car accidents. Vehicle accidents can be caused by many factors, such as:
- Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Fatigued drivers
- Distracted drivers (texting, eating, fiddling with the radio, etc.)
- Aggressive drivers
- Inexperienced drivers
- Speeding
- Vehicle defects
- Road conditions
- Weather conditions
Being involved in a car accident can be overwhelming for unsuspecting drivers. Whatever the initial cause of the collision may have been, consulting with a San Diego car accident lawyer can help you determine whether a personal injury claim is the proper step to take.
What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?
Injuries from a car accident can be incredibly painful and debilitating. The force of the collision, whether your vehicle strikes another vehicle or a fixed object, can lead to severe life-threatening injuries. One 2023 report from the National Safety Council showed that motor vehicle crashes accounted for more than 4,040,000 injuries in the country. Common car accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures and broken bones
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- Burns
- Internal injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Chest injuries
- Lost limbs or amputations
What if Someone Dies from Their Injuries?
Some injuries can be so traumatic that a person involved in a car accident may end up losing their lives. If your loved one passed away due to extensive injuries from a car accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. Speaking with a car accident lawyer from BD&J in the San Diego area could help you learn more about wrongful death lawsuits, as well as the process of filing a claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Could Be Held Liable for My Car Accident Injuries?
Were you involved in a car accident and not sure who could be held responsible for your injuries? There are a few parties that could be held liable. Typically, those deemed responsible could include:
The Other Driver
It is the norm for the other driver involved in a car accident to be held liable for injuries caused. For example, if a driver who is texting while driving and rear-ends another driver at a stoplight would be liable for the injuries the other driver sustained. Drivers on the road have a duty to be safe and drive responsibly. Failing to do so and causing harm to other drivers, passengers, or pedestrians, would result in the acting driver to be deemed at fault in a claim.
The Car Manufacturer
It’s estimated that more than one out of five cars in the United States is on the road with open recalls. A recall for a car means there is usually a defect in the design, manufacturing, etc. If a car accident was caused by faulty brakes, defective wiring, or another defect in the car itself, the car manufacturer would be held liable for injuries.
The City
Sometimes, the state of the roads themselves can be to blame for car accidents. Improper maintenance (i.e. potholes, fallen debris, etc.), lack of appropriate road signage in the case of roadwork or similar events, and overall dangerous (defective) road design can be factors in car accidents. If a car accident occurs because of the aforementioned reasons, a city could be held responsible for any injuries caused.
How is Fault Determined in a Car Accident Claim?
Fault in a car accident claim can be determined by evidence proving a party had a duty of care (for example, a driver has the duty to practice safe driving), there was a failure to uphold this duty, and as a direct result, injuries and damage were sustained. When building your personal injury claim with a San Diego car accident lawyer, this fault can be proven by evidence in the form of injury documentation, photos and videos, eyewitness statements, and more.
What is the Timeline for My Personal Injury Claim?
There is no set answer for this. Some personal injury claims can take a couple of months, while others can take years. This can ultimately depend on whether a personal injury claim goes to trial to determine liability, compensation, etc.
How to File a Personal Injury Claim with a San Diego Car Accident Lawyer
Filing a personal injury claim requires a few crucial steps. These steps are:
- Collecting evidence. – Proving liability can be done through plentiful evidence. This could entail collecting photos and videos of the accident scene, eyewitness statements from your passengers and other drivers, as well as identifiable information from the liable driver if present.
- Filing within the statute of limitations. – Not many people are aware there is a deadline to file their personal injury claim. For car accidents, injured individuals have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. Once the deadline has passed, compensation cannot be recovered.
- Consulting with a personal injury attorney. – 95% of personal injury lawsuits are settled out of court, which means you need to consult with a skilled attorney that has the negotiation skills to bring your claim forward. A San Diego car accident lawyer from the BD&J firm can do this and much more!
San Diego Car Accident Attorneys Protect Injured Drivers
San Diego car accidents can lead to hospital visits, physical therapy, and even permanently alter a person’s life. Many people are left unable to work after a car accident due to injuries, kicking off a cycle of debt and delayed recovery. Holding the liable parties accountable in a personal injury claim can help people recover monetary compensation for their injuries. For San Diego residents, BD&J is the trusted law firm you can call to fight for you. With more than $2 billion* recovered for injured Californians, our team of car accident lawyers will always advocate for clients! Book your free consultation with us now.
