Los Angeles Car Accident Injuries

Thousands of people are injured in car accidents in California each year, leaving them with long-lasting pain and suffering and significant economic losses. When these accidents are due to the negligence of other drivers, however, it is possible to obtain compensation by pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. Nonetheless, a successful claim hinges on a number of factors, which makes it essential to have proper legal representation.

J&Y Law Firm has extensive experience representing individuals who have been injured in car accidents in Northern and Southern California. We provide a powerful combination of legal knowledge and negotiating skills that are necessary for pursuing successful personal injury claims.

Common Car Accident Injuries in Los Angeles

While the extent of an injury often depends on the severity of the accident, victims can suffer a wide range of injuries, including:

• Broken Bones and Fractures
• Head and Back Injuries
• Whiplash
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Loss of Limbs
• Paralysis (Paraplegia /Quadriplegia)
• Traumatic brain injuries

Broken Bones and Fractures

Car accidents often lead to fractured and broken bones that typically require ongoing medical care, pain medication, and physical therapy. Additionally, broken bones can lead to damage in the tissues around the bone such as torn ligaments and tendons as well as muscle spasms. Because fractured and broken bones can time a long time to heal, many victims are left with lingering pain and limited mobility as well as expensive medical costs.

Head and Back Injuries

Drivers and passengers involved in a collision can strike their heads against steering wheels, dashboards or windows, suffering injuries ranging from mild concussions and skull fractures to traumatic brain injuries. Although front and side airbags are designed to protect passengers, high impact collisions and rollovers can lead to serious head injuries that require extensive medical treatment.

Back injuries, such as herniated discs and spinal cord damage are also common, leaving victims with reduced sensation and control over their extremities, as well as tingling sensations, muscle weakness or pain in the arms and legs.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a neck strain resulting from a sudden impact that causes a person’s head to jerk forward or backward. Even low impact collisions can result in injuries to the muscles and tendons in the neck. In some cases, the pain can be immediate. On the other hand, it can also take several hours or even days before an injury becomes apparent. While some whiplash injuries may be minor strains, other more severe injuries include nerve or disc damage, ruptured ligaments or fractured vertebrae. Depending on the severity, recovering from a whiplash injury can take a few weeks or as long as three months. Without proper treatment, whiplash can lead to chronic pain and an increased risk of future neck or back injuries.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury involves damage either to the spinal cord, nerves in the spinal canal, or the vertebrae, ligaments or disks of the spinal column. While a severe injury can lead to paralysis (quadriplegia/paraplegia), lesser injuries may result in partial loss of movement and sensation.

Additionally, bleeding, swelling, inflammation and fluid buildup in the spinal cord can also occur.

If the injury occurs in the neck, then arm movements and the ability to breathe can be affected. An injury to the chest or lower back can impact the torso, legs, bladder and bowel function, and sexual capacity. Although there is often no cure for the effects of spinal cord injuries, they often require extensive surgeries, lengthy recovery times, ongoing physical therapy and even long-term medical care.

Loss of Limbs

imbs that are badly damaged in a car accident, such as a crushed bone or a partially severed limb, may require amputation. This is a serious surgical procedure that can greatly affect a victim’s quality of life. Everyday activities such as walking, driving or cooking can be severely hampered while even lost fingers and toes can have a dramatic impact on a person’s ability to work or engage in physical activities.

Paralysis (Paraplegia /Quadriplegia)

Paraplegia is caused by a brain or spinal cord injury that results in the loss of feeling and movement, to some degree, of the legs. Although paraplegics are able to move their arms and hands, complications of paraplegia include skin care issues, loss of bladder and/or bowel control, and loss of sensory and/or motor function.

Quadriplegia is the loss of the use of all limbs/extremities below the neck. Quadriplegia injuries are extremely dangerous and usually require surgery followed by physical therapy and a lifetime of assisted care. Many quadriplegics cannot function sufficiently to care for themselves and require a full or part-time therapist or nurse to assist them.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury or TBI is the result of an external force that causes the brain to malfunction. In the case of a car accident, this force is usually a jolt to the head or body. Recovering depends on the severity of the brain injury. A mild TBI, for example, may lead to temporary dysfunction of the brain along with physical and psychological effects. A more serious TBI, however, can cause bruising or bleed in the brain, as well as tissue damage, leading to a permanent mental or physical impairment, paralysis, or death.

Why You Should Call the J&Y Law Firm

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, you may be afraid and not know where to turn. Our experienced attorneys will fight for your right to meaningful compensation, and help you get the medical care that you need. We know that being injured in an accident is an overwhelming experience and will provide you with knowledge and compassion and help you get back on your feet. Call our office today for a free consultation or complete the contact form on our website.

J&Y Law Firm represents clients in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, San Bernardino County, San Francisco County, Sacramento County and all of Northern and Southern California.