Statistics and Common Injuries

According to the Florida DMV, more than 200,000 car accidents occur annually in the Sunshine State. A minor fender bender can be a nuisance, and a major accident can change your life. Even a seemingly small accident can affect your life and health in many ways. After a car accident, you may feel angry, frustrated, and in pain. Your car has been totaled and there is a sharp pain in your neck. Here is where your Sarasota car accident attorney comes in. At Pallegar Law, P.A., we want to make sure that you get the medical attention that you need first and foremost. While you are getting treated, we work with the insurance companies of each driver involved to make sure that you receive just compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and property damage.

The state of Florida requires every driver to be insured with $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP). If you are in an accident, PIP will cover your injuries and any lost wages. If you are injured in excess of $10,000, your skilled Sarasota car accident attorney will work with each insurance company and make sure that you are compensated for all of your injuries.

Why Car Accidents Happen

Car accidents happen because of many reasons, including distracted driving, bad weather or visibility, or reckless driving. Distracted driving may happen due to texting while driving, eating while driving, or any kind of cell phone use while driving. Distracted driving also may happen due to alcohol or drug impairment.

In 2015, more than 350,000 car accidents occurred in Florida. 150,000 of those crashes resulted in some kind of injury. More than 2,500 of those crashes resulted in fatal injuries. One nationwide CDC study found that 2.1% of Florida drivers admitted to driving after drinking too much within the last month. According to another 2015 study, alcohol was involved in 28% of traffic fatalities.

Possible Injuries: You May Not Hurt Right Away

A large majority of car accidents in Florida involve what are called possible injuries. These are injuries that are not easily visible, but cause the person pain, discomfort, or unconsciousness. Many head, neck, and back injuries fall under this category. It is common to be involved in an accident and feel fine at the scene, but experience pain or discomfort in the days after. Many of these invisible injuries may take a few days to appear or cause pain, so it is important that you closely monitor your health after an accident. Call an experienced Sarasota car accident attorney at Pallegar Law, P.A. so that we can start helping you.

Head injuries are perhaps the most serious injuries that can happen in an accident. During an accident, the driver or passengers may be thrown forward into the windows, dashboard, or steering wheel. High-speed collisions can result in particularly serious head injuries, or what we call traumatic brain injuries. Head injuries often require long-term care and in-depth medical treatment. Loss of hearing, dizziness, or vision loss can often be the first sign of a head injury.

Perhaps the most common or well-known car accident injury is whiplash. Whiplash injuries are caused by sudden movement or jerking of the head and neck, resulting in muscle and ligament damage. These injuries can range from moderate to severe, depending on the kind of accident and the health of the person involved.

Neck and back injuries may take a few hours to a few days to appear, like head injuries. It’s important that you pay attention to your body and seek medical attention as soon as you can. Spinal cord injuries can result in nerve damage throughout the body. You may feel tingling or reduced sensation in your extremities. Herniated disks are also common, resulting in numbness, muscle weakness, and generalized back pain.

Call Pallegar Law, P.A. Today

If you or someone you know has been in a car accident and is injured, call a knowledgeable Sarasota car accident lawyer at Pallegar Law, P.A. today. Call 941-893-5816 for help.