Charlotte Car Accident Lawyer
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Being in a car accident is scary and stressful, even more so when you or a passenger are injured. Your head may be spinning with the steps you need to go through to properly inform your insurance company and get medical help. But, in a time of crisis it can be difficult to think clearly. Have you gotten all the information you need? What information do you need? If you are injured, even in a minor car accident, you may not be able to fulfill the actions and obtain the information that will be important later.
You need a legal advocate who knows the process of filing a personal injury claim if the car accident was no fault of your own. Your Charlotte injury lawyer, Harry Albritton, has the experience and knowledge to construct a case that protects your rights and gets you the compensation you need. At Irons & Irons P.A., we know how important it is for you to be informed so that you are prepared for a civil case to pursue compensation for your damages.
Damages
Damages refers to the financial and emotional burdens you may have after the accident. Recovering damages after a car accident helps you to cover the financial losses and expenses you incur. If you were injured in a collision, you can have medical bills and other expenses that pile up after an accident. When you seek damage compensation, you are asking for these damages to be paid for by the defendant who is responsible for the accident. This can be an individual’s insurance coverage or a company’s–the party that is liable.
Damages are classified in two categories: Special and General.
It’s possible to be awarded different types of damages. You deserve to be compensated for all the suffering you experience, be it financial or mental. A Charlotte car accident attorney like Harry Albritton can determine the damages that you are entitled to and ensure you are able to recover all of them. Without an experienced car accident attorney, it’s easy to miss specific damages that are allowed in your case.
Current and future medical bills
You can incur not only bills for medical visits, emergency room care, and prescriptions at the present time but also in the future. These will need to be totalled for a personal injury case. For example:
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- Hospital bills
- Medication and medical supplies
- Chiropractic care
- Transportation to and from medical appointments
- Physical therapy
Loss of both current income and future lost wages
You may not be able to work after having a car accident and, as a result, you may lose wages. If you can’t work in the future, this information needs to be obtained and calculated for the amount of compensation you are seeking.
Other expenses
After an accident you may have expenses for car repairs and property damage that resulted from the defendant’s negligence in causing the accident.
General Damages
General damages, also called economic damages, refer to compensation for intangible losses. Such losses include but are not limited to:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of companionship
These are complex issues. It is often difficult to assess these damages and determine a compensatory amount since it requires assigning a dollar amount on things that are highly subjective.
Types of Car Accidents
Car accidents fall into certain types. At Irons & Irons P.A., we see these most commonly:
- Rear-end accidents
- Head-on accidents
- T-bone accidents (also called angle collisions)
- Drunk driver accidents
- Distracted driving accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
The auto crashes that result in fatalities most often are angle collisions with head-on collisions being second.
Causes of Car Accidents
Car accidents, for the most part, are avoidable if all drivers follow traffic laws and are diligently focussed on driving. But, as is evident, this doesn’t happen. Recent studies have shown that distracted driving is the leading cause of car crashes. There are many reasons why drivers can be distracted–from using a cell phone to taking care of a child in the back seat to looking for something in the floorboard. Careless inattention causes most auto accidents in 2023. However, it isn’t the only cause. Here are some of the most common:
Distracted driving
Speeding
Drunk driving or under the influence of drugs
Reckless driving
Running red lights and stop signs
Weather-related
Tailgating
Drowsy driving
Teenages
Night-time driving
Animal crossings
Construction sites
Unsafe lane changing
Improper turns
Wrong way driving
Vehicle malfunctions
Potholes
Tire blowouts
Failing to obey the rules of the road
Curves
Injuries from Car Accidents
Car accidents cause significant damage to drivers and passengers, from whiplash injuries to fractures, sprains, and more. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSA) shows that over 3 million individuals are injured each year in vehicle accidents across the U.S. Automobile accidents cost the U.S. government a total of $230.6 billion or $820 per person for treatment each year.
Injuries from vehicle accidents vary depending on the circumstances that lead to the collision. While some injuries heal within a few days with very little medical care, some take years to heal while others lead to permanent physical disability. There are hundreds of different types of car accident injuries you can sustain if you are involved in a vehicle crash. However, injuries can be grouped into different categories–head injuries, orthopedic injuries, soft tissue damage, neurological damage, and internal injuries.
Head Injuries
During a car accident you can hit your head on the side of the car, a headrest, the airbag, or steering wheel and have head trauma that ranges from mild to severe and even traumatic brain injury. Symptoms of mild head injuries include:
- Confusion
- Headache
- Nausea
- Poor balance
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ear
- Mild blurring of vision
- Temporary amnesia
Symptoms of severe head injuries include:
- Inability to focus
- Unusual eye movement
- Bleeding from deep wounds in the scalp
- Loss of consciousness
- Vomiting
- Convulsions
- Poor muscle control
Orthopedic Injuries
A car accident can cause many orthopedic injuries from a broken arm or leg, a broken back, a fractured collarbone, and broken ribs. These are some common examples of broken bones caused from auto crashes:
- Femur fracture
- Fibula/tibia fracture
- Rib fracture
- Hip fracture
- Arm fracture
- Wrist fracture
- Back fracture
- Skull/facial fracture
- Pelvis fracture
- Clavicle fracture
The symptoms and signs of a broken bone after a car accident include:
- Swelling of the injured area
- Severe pain that worsens with movement
- Inability to move
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- Obvious deformity
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are injuries to muscles, tendons, and ligaments such as strains, sprains, and bruises. There are two types of soft tissue damages that occur after a car accident–acute tissue injuries and chronic injuries. Acute tissue injuries occur immediately after the accident while chronic injuries are long-lasting and can affect the victim’s quality of life. Some of the most common symptoms of soft tissue injuries are:
- Pain
- Discomfort
- Soreness
- Swelling
- Stiffness
- Bruising
- Cognitive issues
- Back issues
Whiplash is the most common soft tissue injury resulting from a car accident. It is a cervical sprain or strain or hypertension injury. These injuries may not be visible immediately so they are more difficult to diagnose and do not appear in X-rays.
Neurological (Nerve) Injuries
Nerve damage can be caused by lacerations or serious trauma, resulting in temporary or permanent nerve damage that leads to a loss of feeling, muscle twitching, and body weakness. Nerve injuries affect the central nervous system and can exist even when the victim does not realize they are there. Nerve damage can affect the function of the brain and often affects the toes, brain, legs, face, feet, hands, shoulders, finger, and other parts of the body.
Some nerve damage that can occur after a car crash include:
- Spinal nerve – interferes with the movement of the body
- Sensory nerve – interferes with sensation
- Digital nerves – results from simple cuts to hand trauma
Symptoms that show nerve damage:
- Difficulty speaking
- Tingling sensation in extremities
- Limbs falling asleep
- Abnormal pain and sensitivity
- Paralysis
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Loss of muscle strength and muscle atrophy
Internal Injuries
When a car crash causes your body to forcefully impact an object or your body is struck by debris, you can sustain injuries to your internal organs. In this situation, you must have emergency treatment. Internal injuries cause damage to organs in the abdominal, cranial, and thoracic cavities. Common types of internal injuries from auto accidents include:
- Abdominal aorta aneurysm – caused by a compressed stomach
- Broken ribs – broken ribs can damage blood vessels and lungs
- Internal bleeding – occurs when blood vessels are broken and can’t repair themselves
- Organ injury – damage to internal organs that lead to internal bleeding
- Pneumothorax – occurs when a broken rib punctured a lung
- Ruptured spleen – leads to internal bleeding
Symptoms of internal bruising include:
- Tenderness and pain in the body
- Bruising under the skin
- Limited range of movement
- Hematoma
- Blood urine
After a car collision, you may self examine to check for any injuries sustained. However, it is advisable to see a doctor in order to fully examine for injuries that may not be obvious such as internal injuries that can be diagnosed through a body scan.
Reasons to Hire a Charlotte Auto Accident Attorney
A personal injury claim has a lot of details and complexities that require diligent attention and time in order to put together a strong case. Our car accident lawyers can help you get the best outcome in your personal injury claim after the incident. Here are some of the ways our experienced injury attorneys can help recover damages from your accident.
We Specialize in Helping Car Accident Victims
Our expert legal knowledge of car accident claims puts us in the position of helping you get the best outcome in your personal injury case. We have years of experience getting what our clients need and deserve when recovering damages. Typically, the insurance company for the at-fault driver tries to reduce what they pay or even dispute your account of the accident. Harry Albritton knows how to negotiate and/or bring a case to court that is complete and thorough.
We Know How to Determine Your Damages
The car accident has cost you in time, money, and emotional energy. But, you may not know exactly how much the total in damages is. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you account for all damages you should be compensated for. This can be complex and require expertise that we have.
We Will Do the Work For You
Being successful in getting the compensation you need after a car accident can require a lot of work, time, energy, and certain resources. Our auto accident attorney, Harry Albritton, takes on the work required because we know the ins and outs of how an accident claim is built. We will compile the evidence, prepare the demand letter, and all aspects of the case.
We Will Negotiate a Settlement For You
Our experience has shown that the insurance company will try to offer you a settlement that is far less than what you need. At Irons & Irons P.S., we will negotiate a settlement with the insurance adjuster that is fair to you. We have your best interest at the top of our objectives.
We Are Your Advocate
You need a professional advocate on your side when going up against the insurance company and the at-fault party. We will act on your behalf and get the best possible outcome, using proven strategies and actions throughout the car accident case process.
Contact Our Charlotte Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Case Review
Charlotte auto accident attorney Harry Albritton, with the team at Irons & Irons P.A., is tireless in advocating for you and your case. Our dedication has won our clients millions of dollars in compensation for financial and emotional damages. We are committed to get you the fair compensation you deserve. If your settlement isn’t received, you don’t pay anything for our services. Call 252-215-3000 today or fill out the contact form below to learn more about our services and schedule a consultation.
