Orlando Auto Accident Attorney
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says 2.27 million Americans suffered auto accidents injuries in 2011 and more than 32,300 people were killed. Car accidents are among the top 10 causes of death for Americans of all ages and are the leading cause of death for children, teens and adults up to age 34, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here in Florida, more than 181,600 people were injured in auto accidents in 2011, and 2,400 were killed, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Motor vehicle crashes account for approximately $99 billion in medical expenses and lost work costs annually in the U.S., the CDC says.
When a motorist acts recklessly, carelessly, or negligently and another person is injured, the victim has the right to file a personal injury lawsuit to obtain appropriate compensation for their medical bills, property losses (i.e., the vehicle), loss of income, and other losses and expenses.
Orlando auto accident attorney, Frank M. Eidson, P.A., helps those who have suffered serious injury in car, truck and motorcycle accidents obtain the compensation they are due. We have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of past clients, and we can help you too.
Personal injury lawyer Frank M. Eidson has seen firsthand the devastating consequences a severe auto accident injury can have on victims. From sky-high medical bills and rehabilitation costs, to life-long disabilities and lost wages, victims must overcome serious obstacles to get their lives back in order.To discuss your potential car accident claim with an experienced car accident injury attorney, contact Orlando auto injury attorney Frank M. Eidson, P.A., today.
Common Auto Accident Injuries
Drivers and passengers in a car that collides with another motor vehicle or a stationary object keep moving forward as the vehicle suddenly stops. Their bodies slam into a part of their vehicle, such as a restraint device (seatbelt or airbag) or the steering wheel, dashboard, windshield, the back of a seat, etc. Any of these objects, even the ones meant to protect people in an auto accident, can cause injury.
Other times, car occupants are hit by unsecured cargo that becomes airborne in a crash. Occupants of a car or truck may also be thrown about the inside of the vehicle and injured, such as in a rollover crash, or be thrown from the vehicle.
Any part of the body can be injured in a car accident. Multiple studies of motor vehicle crashes have shown the following impact injuries to be the most common among car, truck and motorcycle accident victims:
- Head / Traumatic Brain Injury. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is any injury that causes bruising, torn tissues, bleeding or other physical damage to the brain. TBI ranges from a concussion that clears up after a couple of weeks of rest, to brain damage that causes chronic cognitive loss (memory, learning, judgment, etc.), communication problems, and behavioral and emotional changes. A TBI victim may have to readjust many areas of his or her life and may be unable to continue living the way that he or she did before their brain injury. This damages the quality of life of the TBI victims’ family members, too.
- Back / Spinal Cord Injury. The Mayo Clinic says auto accidents are the leading cause of new spinal cord injury cases each year, accounting for approximately 50 percent of new injuries. A spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in loss of function (paralysis) in one or more limbs (paraplegia), or over larger portions of the victim’s body (tetraplegia or quadriplegia). Paralysis may hinder mobility or manual dexterity, significantly reducing car crash victims’ ability to work for a living or in some cases to care for themselves. Even a mild SCI or back injury can cause chronic pain that reduces the victim’s quality of life.
- Amputation. Sometimes a crash victim’s fingers, toes, hands, feet, or even an entire limb are so severely damaged by the crush of a car accident that reconstruction is not an option. An amputation may be required after a car accident to prevent further damage or to save a person’s life. An appendage may also be severed in the accident itself, which will result in potentially fatal bleeding and shock.
- Whiplash. Whiplash is a traumatic injury to neck muscles, ligaments and spinal disks most commonly caused by the sudden jerking experiences in a rear-end car accident. Mild whiplash may be treated with over-the-counter pain medications and clear up in a few weeks. But many whiplash victims report recurring pain a year or more later. They may suffer from chronic pain and develop psychological problems, like depression.
- Chest /Abdominal Injuries. The crushing impact of a collision or penetration by a sharp object torn from a crumpled vehicle can cause internal injury to the heart, diaphragm (the muscle that propels respiration), liver, spleen, kidneys, bowels, etc. These types of injuries usually require surgery to repair.
- Fractures. Broken bones can range from incomplete or “greenstick” fractures to compound or open fractures, in which a broken bone pierces the skin. Typically a broken arm or leg requires a cast for six to eight weeks. A more severe fracture may require pins and screws to help broken bones set and heal. Victims of severe or multiple fractures may be placed into traction, a system of weights and pulls, to realign bones. Severe fractures do not totally heal in many cases and can cause chronic pain and persistent functional problems with activities or daily life, work, recreation and mobility even several years later.
- Soft Tissue Injuries. Injuries to soft tissue (skin, muscle, tendons, ligaments) include cuts (lacerations), bruises (contusions), sprains, strains and tears. Deep cuts cause profuse bleeding, which if not treated quickly can cause a victim to go into shock. Severely torn muscles, ligaments or tendons, also known as musculoskeletal injuries, may require surgery followed by rehabilitation to recover use of injured limbs, hands or feet.
A Florida resident severely injured in an auto accident will face expensive medical treatment that may include hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, ongoing therapy (including psychological care) and/or assistive care. Crash victims who lose the ability to work for a living during their recovery or who cannot ever return to gainful employment suffer additional losses.Serious and long-lasting injuries directly affect the victim’s quality of life and may cause emotional problems, such as depression, for not only the car crash victim but for their spouse or other close family members as well.
All of the costs and losses a car, truck or motorcycle accident victim faces now and in the future must be considered if they are to be properly compensated for their injuries.
Orlando auto accident attorney Frank M. Eidson understands these costs, and he considers all facets of a victim’s financial recovery as he builds a case for them to recover compensation for their injuries and other losses. Through his investigations of several personal injury cases specifically about brain injury, he has gained a deeper understanding of the long-term consequences of TBI and other catastrophic injuries. His firm, Frank M. Eidson, P.A., has recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of Florida residents who have been injured in motor vehicle accidents, and they can help you, too.
Contact Our Orlando Auto Accident Attorney For Injuries
If you have been injured in a Central Florida car accident, Orlando auto accident injury attorney Frank M. Eidson can help you obtain the compensation you will need now and in the future for medical expenses, property damage, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.
For more than two decades, Frank M. Eidson’s dedicated work for car accident victims has helped to recover millions of dollars that have helped families in Daytona Beach, Melbourne, Deland and other Central Florida communities. Frank M. Eidson, P.A., is a single-lawyer law practice, and every one of its clients soon comes to know that they can trust and rely upon their car accident attorney.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a motor vehicle accident, contact Frank M. Eidson, P.A., to put an experienced Florida car accident injury lawyer to work for you. Experience is what matters when negotiating with insurance companies and their lawyers for compensation you need and deserve, and you have it when Frank M. Eidson is on your side. Call today for a free initial consultation about your legal options.
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7 Fatal Mistakes Victims of Accidents Make In Florida