Per the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in 2022, Mississippi recorded the most amount of auto accident fatalities per 100,000 individuals across the nation, and those who survive these events may suffer injuries, some of which can be severe and potentially permanent. However, car accident victims might be able to acquire compensation to ease the financial burden of their injuries. Discover what the common car accident injury claims entail, learn how to recover losses, such as by obtaining whiplash injury compensation, and find out how Lott Law may aid drivers with dealing with insurance claims and filing personal injury lawsuits; call us today at (228) 215-2787 to schedule an appointment with a Mississippi auto accident attorney.
Understanding Common Car Accident Injury Claims
When a driver experiences a motor vehicle accident, they may sustain a variety of injuries, ranging from mild ailments such as bruising, sprains, and cuts to more impactful ones like abrasions, burns, contusions, and broken bones. Learn the answer to “What is the most common injury in a car accident?”, as well as further details on other common severe auto accident injuries below.
Neck Injuries and Whiplash
Car accident victims often sustain neck injuries such as whiplash (one of the most common injuries sustained in auto accidents) because of the sudden jerking movements to the spine, head, and neck they might experience, even when utilizing a seatbelt, during these incidents. In more severe collisions, auto accident victims might suffer from compression fractures, which occur due to a similar jerking motion that crushes or compresses a motorist’s neck vertebrae, resulting in shooting pain from the neck down to the back, potentially a long-term injury requiring swift medical treatment to prevent permanent damage.
Brain and Head Trauma
Another common head injury in auto accidents is a concussion, which motorists or passengers may experience after the force of a collision pushes them into the seat, airbag, or dashboard ahead of them. While seatbelt use by motorists may reduce the chance of suffering a concussion, it does not prevent it entirely. If a party involved in a car accident experiences dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, fainting, difficulties with concentrating, and memory issues, this may indicate brain trauma, a more serious condition where the recommended approach is to seek immediate medical attention.
Spinal Cord and Back Injuries
Car accidents can lead to victims sustaining back injuries such as nerve damage or cervical disc damage, possibly resulting in chronic pain, herniations, or paralysis. Injured cervical discs may require physical therapy, steroid injections, and surgery to correct.
Gain additional insights into common car accident injury claims, and explore how a Mississippi motor vehicle accident attorney can help injured parties recover damages, such as whiplash injury compensation. Contact Lott Law today to arrange a confidential discussion with our legal team.
How Do I Get the Most Compensation for a Car Accident?
According to the Mississippi Insurance Department, motorists may want to ensure they have a thorough understanding of their auto insurance policy prior to driving just in case they have to file a claim related to a breakdown or accident, including the policy’s deductible and liability limits, while also storing proof of insurance in the vehicle (which is a legal requirement in Mississippi). If involved in an auto accident, follow these steps to safeguard a victim’s legal rights and maximize their available compensation.
Seek Medical Assistance as Soon as Possible
Immediately following the incident, motor vehicle accident victims may want to seek medical attention, even if they do not appear to have severe injuries, as some conditions such as internal injuries, concussions, and whiplash may not be noticeable at first. This safeguards the person’s health and enables them to get written records of their injuries, serving as valuable evidence in an insurance claim that insurers are likely to find challenging to dispute.
Secure Evidence
The key way to build a solid case and maximize compensation in a car accident claim is to acquire strong evidence demonstrating what happened and how the incident has impacted the victim, ideally as soon as possible after the collision. Examples of valuable evidence include the police report (containing accurate facts surrounding the events of the accident), pictures/videos of vehicle damage, road conditions, visible injuries, and the scene of the collision, and witness contact details and statements (if these individuals are willing to give one).
Identify Damages
Identifying the damages incurred in an auto accident is more complex than adding together motor vehicle repair/replacement costs and medical bills. Motor vehicle collision damages include other economic losses as well, referring to tangible expenses like lost wages and future medical bills, recorded in documents such as bills, pay stubs, and receipts, alongside non-economic losses. This latter category of damages covers losses that are challenging to quantify such as emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of life enjoyment, but as with economic damages, accurately calculating these can help maximize an insurance claim.
Worth noting is that many severe injuries might require long-term care, impacting a person’s ability to complete work and daily activities. Thus, considering future damages is necessary to identify the true value of a claim and maximize compensation, often achieved by consulting with financial planners, medical professionals, and vocational specialists.
Delay Accepting Settlements
Insurers often attempt to secure quick settlements. While tempting, these are typically lowball offers, meaning they are vastly below what a claim is worth. Once a victim accepts, they cannot seek additional compensation should their injuries and other losses worsen; hence, a more effective approach is to delay accepting settlements until the extent of a claimant’s damages is clear. Motorists may consider asking an attorney to handle such interactions on their behalf so as to not accidentally admit fault for the collision.
Avoid Social Media
Sharing updates online such as via social media can risk an auto accident claim’s success since defense attorneys and insurance carriers may use posts, photos, and videos on these platforms to argue a victim’s injuries are less serious than they claimed. To safeguard a claim, avoid using social media entirely until the end of the process.
Find Out How a Mississippi Auto Accident Lawyer Can Help Secure Whiplash Injury Compensation and Other Reparations
To obtain maximum compensation from car accident injury claims, victims can develop a solid case, supported by all available evidence, and negotiate with insurance adjusters to convince these individuals to offer a fair settlement. Those who lack confidence and/or the necessary negotiation and investigative skills might consider consulting with an auto accident lawyer, saving claimants energy and time so they can focus on their recovery. Learn more about common types of car accidents and injuries, and find out how a knowledgeable Mississippi car accident attorney from Lott Law can help motor vehicle accident victims; contact our firm today at (228) 215-2787 to discuss the available options for obtaining whiplash injury compensation and other reparations.