We can help you claim
compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
Call: 0800 10 757 95
Car accidents happen every day and the people involved are left with injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to severe head injuries. In 2003, 3,508 people were killed in road traffic accidents and 33,707 were seriously injured. Many people will be involved in an accident at least once in their life time and many more will know someone who has been deeply affected by the impact of a road traffic accident.
Depending on the injuries that have been sustained in a car accident, the people that are involved may take many months or years to come to terms with what has happened. If you or a loved one has had a car accident that was not your fault then you are legally entitled to make a compensation claim. You can get compensation for your pain and suffering and for any financial losses that have you have experienced since. No matter what injuries you are suffering from, we can help if you have had a serious personal injury or have only injured yourself slightly you will receive advice and support.
Whiplash
Whiplash injury occurs in around 22% of rear impact accidents. The injury happens when the force of being hit by another car creates a sudden extension (backward movement of the neck) and flexion (forward movement of the neck). The injury affects the soft tissue in the neck and in some severe cases injury to the intervertabral joints, discs, ligaments, cervical muscles and nerve roots. The symptoms include neck pain, back pain, headaches, dizziness, pain in the hands, tingling in the arms and hands, sleeplessness and irritability.
Treatment for whiplash used to involve immobilisation in the form of a cervical collar although these days doctors tend to suggest that gentle movement is better. Today a variety of techniques can be used to ease the symptoms and thankfully most symptoms do disappear within a month.
The following shows the treatments used:
If symptoms last longer than 6 to 8 weeks then an x-ray or other diagnostic tests may need to be carried out to determine the level of damage.
Spinal injury
Some 36.8% of all spinal injuries are caused by road traffic accidents, with 15% being sustained in a car accident. A spinal injury is very serious as the patient may be paralysed and unable to carry out many of the tasks that they once took for granted. Round the clock care may be necessary for people who have sustained such an injury and their lives and their loved ones lives may be altered dramatically.
A spinal injury can affect any part of the spine from the top of the spinal cord to the base of the cord. The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system and is connected to the brain. From the brain the cord runs down the back and is surrounded and protected by the bony vertebral column. The cord is surrounded by fluid called cerable spinal fluid that acts as a cushion to protect the delicate nerve tissues.
The severity of the paralysis is determined by how much damage is done and to what part of the spine.
C4 Tetraplegia:
Upper cervical vertebrae (neck), total paralysis from the neck down
C6 Tetraplegia:
Thoracic vertebrae, attached to the ribs, partial paralysis in hands and arms and lower body
T4 Paraplegia:
Thoracic vertebrae, paralysis below the chest
L1 Paraplegia:
Lumbar vertebrae lower back, paralysis below the waist
Back injury
Back injuries are very common and arise after all kinds of accident. Back injuries can vary from bruising through ligament tears and muscle ruptures (often through indirect impacts such as seat belt injuries) to full-blown fractures and, in the most serious cases, paralysis. Some patients can take a long time to recover from a back injury because they use other muscles to compensate and therefore put unnecessary pressure on other parts of the back including the spine.
Back injury can be particularly debilitating for sufferers. Every day tasks can become difficult to carry out and remaining in certain positions for a long period of time can be very painful.
Shoulder injury
The shoulder is the most movable joint in the body. However, it is an unstable joint because of the range of motion allowed. It is easily subject to injury because the ball of the upper arm is larger than the shoulder socket that holds it. Car accidents quite often result in a shoulder injury due to the impact of the accident.
Common shoulder injuries are shoulder dislocation (where the joint pops the ball of the humerus out of the shoulder socket), a shoulder separation (where the collarbone (clavicle) meets the shoulder blade (scapula). When the ligaments that hold the joint together are partially or completely torn) and tendonitis, bursitis, and impingement syndrome (where the rotator cuff and bursa are irritated, inflamed, and swollen, they may become squeezed between the head of the humerus and the acromion).
Ankle injury
Although the ankle is a strong joint it is particularly susceptible to injury. Sprains are very common. These are injuries to the ligaments and soft tissues around the ankle. Sometimes an x ray is essential to determine whether there is a fracture or just severe bruising.
Brain injury
Brain injuries range in severity and the patient may either make a full recovery or in serious cases may sustain permenant brain damage leading to a life dependant on others.
Head injury
the points of impact. The bones at the front of the skull have a rough, irregular texture that can literally shred the frontal cortex of the brain so extensive damage can occur during an accident.
People who experience head injury during a car accident may be lucky and only suffer slight concussion and nausea. In severe cases acute vegetative state may occur. This means that the patient is unable to communicate and has to be cared for.
Personal injury compensation
If you have been involved in a car accident and have sustained an injury as a result then we may be able to help you. If it can be shown that the accident was not your fault then you are legally entitled to free legal advice and to make a personal injury claim.
Call now on 0800 10 757 95 for free information about being involved in a car accident. If you prefer you can fill in our online claim form and we will call you back.
